Synopsis: A Global Child Health Educational Program for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Residents
Charles Schubert MD and the Global CHILD Health Task Force
The world is a smaller place in the 21st century and medical students across our country have traveled and experienced more of our world, including the developing world, than most other generations. They have been moved by tragedies and inequities and want to make a difference. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has an opportunity to be the training institution which will lead this group of future leaders and prepare them to make an impact for all children especially the under-served children in our nation and our world.
This synopsis outlines a comprehensive Global Child Health Educational Program that will empower our residents to make a difference for all children especially the poor and underserved children here and around the world. The Global Child Health Educational Program will include three potential levels of involvement.
1) The Enhanced Global Child Health Resident Experience (for all of our residents)
If the goal of encouraging all Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center residents to be immersed in a one-month global health experience is to be realized, the following will need to occur:
- partnership with a larger number of global health sites
- faculty and administrative support
- financial support
This rotation will encourage residents to view the world differently after their global health experience and will help them to better understand and contribute to the reversal of health inequities in our country and abroad. The residents would be expected to submit an application listing the site as well as goals, objectives and projected costs prior to be approved for additional funding beyond the resident’s book / conference fund.
2) The 3 year Global Child Health Residency Track (5 residents admitted to the track each year)
This track is designed to engage and inspire residents to seek post residency opportunities and training in the field of global health. These residents will apply and be selected to be part of this track mid way through their internship year. They will complete their pediatric residency in the standard three years (and meet all the existing ABP and ACGME requirements) but will participate in at least two global health rotations. They will also take part in the Global CHILD Health curriculum, journal clubs and complete a global health project. These residents will be mentored and upon completion of the track will receive a certificate of achievement.
3) The 4+ year Global Child Health Scholars / Fellowship Program
These selected residents (1-2 per year) will graduate with the training necessary to participate and contribute to the global health workforce. This unique program will encompass four or more years allowing these pediatric residents to not only fulfill the requirements necessary to sit for the boards but allow for the following:
- completion of an MPH, Masters of Epidemiology or Medical Education
- tropical medicine training or improvement science training
- participation in research abroad
- extensive experience among under-served populations in our country and abroad.
Through faculty mentorship these residents will become peer instructors in the Global Child Health curriculum and will complete a global health project or research study. They will graduate with an advanced degree and the experience necessary to be part of the solution for the global health inequities which exist around the globe. There is the potential that this could be a fellowship program though the major barrier to initiating this aspect of the program is adequate funding. There is also the possibility of incorporating the Fogarty Fellowship program into this part of the program as this would program financial support to the fellow.
Summary
In summary these three facets of the Global Child Health Educational Program can vault Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to the front of the pack in pediatric residencies offering training in global child health. More importantly it will allow Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to train future health care leaders who will be equipped to make an impact on the many health care inequities which exist around the world. This program will position us to attract a new subset of highly motivated and talented pediatric residents who will help build the program and propel Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center graduates into leadership positions in global child health.
