BMC Medical Education (Jun 2020)

Embedding international medical student electives within a 30-year partnership: the Ghana-Michigan collaboration

  • Emma R. Lawrence,
  • Cheryl Moyer,
  • Carrie Ashton,
  • Bolade A. R. Ibine,
  • Nauzley C. Abedini,
  • Yaera Spraggins,
  • Joseph C. Kolars,
  • Timothy R. B. Johnson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02093-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Global health experiences are an increasingly popular component of medical student curricula. There is little research on the impact of international medical electives embedded within long-standing, sustainable partnerships. Our research explores the University of Michigan medical student elective experience in Ghana within the context of the Ghana-Michigan collaborative. Methods Study participants are University of Michigan medical students who completed an international elective in Ghana between March 2006 and June 2017. Post-elective reports were completed by students, including a description of the experience, highlights, disappointments, and the impact of the experience on interest in future international work and future practice of medicine. A retrospective thematic analysis of reports was carried out using NVivo 12 (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Results A total of 57 reports were analyzed. Benefits of the elective experience included building cross-cultural relationships, exposure to different healthcare environments, hands-on clinical and surgical experience, and exposure to different patient populations. Ninety-five percent of students planned to engage in additional international work in the future. Students felt that the long-standing bidirectional exchange allowed them to build cross-cultural relationships and be incorporated as a trusted part of the local clinical team. The partnership modeled collaboration, and many students found inspiration for the direction of their own careers. Conclusions Embedding clinical rotations within a well-established, sustained partnerships provides valuable experiences for trainees by modeling reciprocity, program management by local physicians, and cultural humility—all of which can help prepare learners to ethically engage in balanced, long-term partnerships in the future.

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