Global Health develops academic leaders in global health who work to reduce human suffering caused by health disparities. There are two ways to get involved: Participation in the Global Health Pathway or by taking a global health clinical elective.
Jointly administered by the Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health and Duke Global Health Institute, the GH Pathway delivers tailored postgraduate training experiences integrating specialty-specific research opportunities, masters-level didactic training, and close mentorship to develop careers in global health.
Learn more about the program's structure and origins:
Program Structure
Global Health Residents from the Department of Internal Medicine extend the duration of their residency training by 12 months to gain specific global health core competencies. This extended residency includes nine months of coursework which will lead to a Master of Science in Global Health (MSc-GH) and a total of nine months providing clinical care and conducting research at a Duke University international partner site.
While attending master's classes, Global Health Internal Medicine Residents will continue to engage in weekly continuity clinics to meet requirements for board certification in Internal Medicine. Following the master's level coursework, residents will complete their Global Health master's fieldwork and thesis while engaging in mentored clinical and research activities at their global health training site. In addition to a biweekly journal club, there will be ample opportunity to access special events and lectures throughout the training program.
Global Health Residents have worked in Nicaragua, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, India, Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Site options for field training continually evolve as Duke’s Global Health Faculty continues to nurture partnerships abroad. Please refer to the Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health’s website for past and current trainees’ profiles.
Applications
Internal Medicine Residents who have successfully completed PGY1 and have the approval of their Program Director are eligible to apply for entry into the program, which will start in July of PGY3.
Applications are accepted from July to September 1. Preference will be given to individuals who have already demonstrated a commitment to address health disparities and who intend to pursue an academic career in global health. Placements are competitive and contingent upon the qualifications of the applicant, availability, and approval from the Medicine Program Director. For more information including application instructions, visit the Global Health Pathway Website.
Global Health Elective Rotation
Separate from the Global Health Pathway, Internal Medicine residents may apply to participate in a global health clinical elective. This opportunity includes 8-weeks of clinical elective during SAR year (or final year of training for combined residents) at one of our six longstanding global partner sites in Kenya, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Peru, and New Mexico (Indian Health Service). Additionally, IM residents participate in a longitudinal curriculum including lecture series and debriefing sessions throughout the academic year, together with GME trainees from other Duke residency programs. The curriculum focuses on foundations of global health, health equity, ethics, and health care delivery across diverse settings.
In partnership with the Hubert Yeargan Center for Global Health (HYC) at Duke, these global health elective rotations have a long history of providing valuable clinical experiences for our residents to engage in meaningful global health electives that foster deep professional and personal growth in residency.
Residents from Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine/Psychiatry are eligible to apply. Applications are typically due in the fall of JAR year.
Read more about HYC and the health clinical electives program.