The benefits of international health experiences for Australian and New Zealand medical education

McNeil, H Patrick; Wild, Paul; Harris, Hayley; Dowton, S Bruce

doi:10.5694/mja16.01350

Topics

Embracing structured international health experiences in mainstream medical education is critical to the development of future doctors

Globalisation has dramatically changed and continues to change the way the world works. Societies, businesses and individuals are increasingly adapting to a world with fewer borders and geographical constraints than in the past.1 Global health has been defined as:

1 Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW
2 MQ Health, Sydney, NSW

Correspondence: paul.wild@mq.edu.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Lee K. Globalisation: what is it and how does it affect health? Med J Aust 2004; 180: 156-158. <MJA full text>
2. Mitchell RD, Jamieson JC, Parker J, et al. Global health training and postgraduate medical education in Australia: the case for greater integration. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 316-319. <MJA full text>
3. Drain PK, Primack A, Hunt DD, et al. Global health in medical education: a call for more training and opportunities. Acad Med 2007; 82: 226-230.
4. Holmes D, Zayas LE, Koyfman A. Student objectives and learning experiences in a global health elective. J Community Health 2012; 37: 927-934.
5. Miranda JJ, Yudkin JS, Willott C. International health electives: four years of experience. Travel Med Infect Dis 2005; 3: 133-141.
6. Law IR, Worley PS, Langham FJ. International medical electives undertaken by Australian medical students: current trends and future directions. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 324-326. <MJA full text>
7. Medical Training Review Panel. Nineteenth report. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2016. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/work-pubs-mtrp-19 (accessed Apr 2017).
8. Potts D. Outcomes of learning abroad programs. Canberra: Universities Australia, 2016. https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/uni-participation-quality/students/outbound-mobility/IEAA-Research-on-Learning-Abroad#.WOSGK2mGNEZ (accessed Apr 2017).
9. Monroe-Wise A, Kibore M, Kiarie J, et al. The Clinical Education Partnership Initiative: an innovative approach to global health education. BMC Med Educ 2014; 14: 1043.
10. Bruno DM, Imperato PJ. A global health elective for US medical students: the 35 year experience of the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, School of Public Health. J Community Health 2015; 40: 187-198.
11. Thompson MJ, Huntington MK, Hunt DD, et al. Educational effects of international health electives on US and Canadian medical students and residents: a literature review. Acad Med 2003; 78: 342-347.
12. Jacobs F, Stegmann K, Siebeck M. Promoting medical competencies through international exchange programs: benefits on communication and effective doctor-patient relationships. BMC Med Educ 2014; 14: 43.
13. Australian Medical Council. Standards for assessment and accreditation of primary medical programs by the Australian Medical Council 2012. Canberra: AMC, 2012. http://www.amc.org.au/accreditation/primary-medical-education (accessed Apr 2017).
14. Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Data collection instrument for full accreditation surveys 2016-17. 11.3 Oversight of extramural electives. http://www.lcme.org/publications (accessed Apr 2017).
15. Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. Information paper: TEQSA’s approach to regulating the offshore provision of regulated HE awards. September 2013. http://www.teqsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/RegulatingOffshoreProvisionOfRegulatedHEAwardsInfoSheetv2.pdf (accessed Apr 2017).
16. Fox GJ, Thompson JE, Bourke VC, Moloney G. Medical students, medical schools and international health. Med J Aust 2007; 187: 536-539. <MJA full text>

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.