Pediatric and Medicine-Pediatric residents interested in international health can take advantage of our unique Global Child Health (GCH) Program. The Global Child Health Program is the oldest and most established Global Health track in the country that focuses primarily on child health. Implemented in 1987 by Dr. Karen Olness, the Global Child Health Program at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has almost a quarter century of experience.
The GCH Program has two major goals: to teach residents about the health needs of children in developing countries and to equip them on how to address these needs.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has designed the GCH track to be comprehensive and flexible. The track centers on a core curriculum of essential international health information, but also includes interactive components like journal clubs and small group sessions. The track combines core didactic components addressing the global needs of children with clinical correlates. Residents have the option for local experiences such as the adoption clinic or assisting local refugees. Career planning, mentoring and advising are there to help each resident develop a unique global health experience. Residents have the option for an overseas rotation, research and scholarly work, and the ability to attend the annual “Management of Complex Humanitarian Emergencies” Course (3-5 residents annually have the course registration expenses covered by the GCH program) .
If a resident decides to do an overseas elective, the GCH program will help establish and identify research, clinical, and educational opportunities with health centers globally. Residents in the GCH track consider their elective rotations at these health centers among the most valuable experiences they had during their residency. The GCH program provides $1000 in funding to interested Global Health Residents who have completed their preparations for a trip to such a center.
Residents who choose to stay in the country have the option of elective time in the International Adoption Health Clinic, the Child Traveler’s Clinic, Infectious Disease inpatient and outpatient rotations, or the Indian Health Services elective. Volunteering is also available as part of the Intervol team, helping to provide medical supplies for clinics and hospitals in the developing world.
Alumni of the track have gone on to do a variety of work from private practice and academics, to humanitarian and missions work, and still almost all of them have some connection to international health. The more pediatricians we have who are working on improving child health globally, the better it is for children globally. Come join us!
Curriculum and Distinguishing Features
The aim of the Rainbow Global Child Health Program is to include a component of Global Health teaching to any Pediatric or Medicine/Pediatric trainee who is inclined to participate. Highlights include:
- Lecture series: The GCH program has a curriculum with lectures throughout a 3 year program. Topics include infectious diseases, epidemiology, nutrition, neonatal care, humanitarian emergencies, international research, the role and impact of NGOs, ethical issues and others. These lectures are integrated within the residency program and all residents are encouraged to attend. (see 2010-2011 schedule below)
- Journal Clubs: There are 3 journal clubs per year.
- Away Electives (optional): Protected elective time (4 weeks) is available for an international or Indian Health Service Rotation. Residents wishing to participate in GCH elective are given a defined project outline that must be followed, including Pre-elective preparations and post-elective reports.
- Faculty Mentoring: The program has a core of International Health faculty, as well as additional mentors in Family Medicine and Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, with extensive experience abroad who participate in mentoring the residents.
- Presentations: Residents present their experience at the Annual Global Child Health Grand Rounds in May of each academic year. In addition, residents have had the opportunity to present their projects and/or research at national conferences.
- Course: “Management of Humanitarian Emergencies: Focus on Children and Families”. This unique and intense week-long course is offered through Case Western Reserve University and is recommended to GCH junior and senior residents who are interested in pediatric disaster response – 40 hours total.
- Unanticipated opportunities: Residents have had the opportunity to join faculty traveling to disasters affected areas. Most recently traveling to Haiti as part of a medical team.
2010-2011 Conferences
September
Introduction to Global Child Health
Pediatric Grand Rounds: Dengue Fever- Dr. Teixeira (Brazil)
October
Pediatric & Pediatric Surgery Grand Rounds: Haiti Relief
Journal Club: Stillbirth, Community projects in Afghanistan.
November
Schistosomiasis
December
Water and Sanitation in Global Disaster Situations
January
International Health Partners- Paula and Denny Lofstrom (Tanzania)
Ethics and Global Child Health: Limited resources
February
Pediatric Grand Rounds: Rainbow in Haiti.
Journal Club: “Global Burden of Disease-Anemia”
March
Child Development in Developing Countries- Denise Bothe MD
April
Journal Club: Child Soldiers and Trafficking
June
Pediatric Grand Rounds: Resident Experience Abroad- Drs. White, Ronis, Davidson, Splitek, Blazer, D’Amico
Travel
Examples of Partner sites and Resident Opportunities
- Laos, Pediatric Residency Elective
- Indian Health Services, Crow Reservation, Montana.
- International Health Partners, Tanzania
- Lamay Clinic, Peru.
Global Child Health Resident Experiences
- Warren Davidson, MD: Philippines
- Kate Splitek, MD: Laos
- Kimberly Blazer, MD: Laos
- Sarah Ronis, MD: Indian Health Services, Crow Reservation
- Leslie White, MD: Haiti
- Beth D’Amico, MD: Haiti
Timeline and Elective Planning
PGY-1:
- Attend >50% of Global Child Health Conferences (3rd Wednesday of the Month)
- Meet with Director to plan experiences over your residency including Adoption Health, Travel Clinic, and community opportunities.
- Identify GCH mentor and begin identifying research opportunities, overseas/ Indian Health Services interests
PGY-2:
- Attend >50% of Global Child Health Conferences (3rd Wednesday of the Month)
- Meet with Director to plan experiences over your residency including Adoption Health, Travel Clinic, and community opportunities.
- Meet with GCH mentor create/ organize your research opportunities, overseas/ Indian Health Services elective.
- Meet with the chiefs so that you can request an appropriate schedule for this opportunity
PGY-3:
- Attend >50% of Global Child Health Conferences (3rd Wednesday of the Month)
- Overseas/ Indian Health Service Elective
- Grand Rounds Presentation
Links-Resources
AAP section on International Child Health
WONDOOR Global Health Program
University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital’s Global Health Residency Program in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Internal Medicine International Health Pathway
University Hospitals Internal Medicine Residents International Health Track
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Center for Global Health and Diseases
The Center provides a coordinating structure to help link the numerous international health resources of the University, its affiliated institutions, and the Northern Ohio community in a multidisciplinary program of research, training and clinical application related to global health