M4 Elective

Stephanie Ross, fourth year medical student, participates in a journal club, partnering with Instituto de Investigaciones Cientificas Y Servicios de Alta Tecnologia in Panama.

The M4 elective is available to provide students the opportunity to learn about primary health care within a framework for addressing common disease in an underserved community setting from a clinical, epidemiologic and public health perspective. In addition to the didactic portion of the course, the student will spend 2-4 weeks in an underserved community developing country setting.  

Where is it?

Students will spend 2-4 weeks in elective site.

Pre-approved sites are: 

• Jerusalem, Haiti- Primary Care Clinic with Rush Global Health team
• Villa Verde, Dominican Republic- Primary Care Clinic with Rush Global Health team
• Peralta or Azua, Dominican Republic- Surgical sites with Rush Global Health team
• Pop Wuj Spanish School-Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
• Hyderabad, India
• Gibson Hospital (Local & Rural site)
• AAMC Visiting Scholars Learning Opportunities (VSLO)
• Non-approved sites need to be veted by Elective Director, Maraim Aziz

When is it?

Participants must meet with Dr. Aziz as their initial step.  Students will then complete the online curriculum and self-study prerequisites prior to departure, submit a elective proposal 4 weeks prior to departure and submit a completed project within one week of the completion of the elective. All course work, including service-learning trip and evaluation, must be completed to receive credit.

Who can Participate?

3rd and 4th year medical students are eligible to participate.

How much is it?

All M4s are eligible for a $900 scholarship regardless of the costs of the elective.  Student is responsible for remaining cost of program, transportation, accommodation, food, etc.  To receive scholarship, student must meet all requirements of elective.

How was it?

Students share about their experiences in Guatemala while participating in the elective.