| Checklist for International Health Experiences for CHM
Clinical Students 1/16/06 1. Check out the CHM web site http://internationalhealth.msu.edu for information on CHM sponsored programs, scholarships, and websites of other organizations that provide international programs for medical students. This is not an endorsement of other programs but a listing of sites for programs other medical students have used. 2. The policy of MSU College of Human Medicine is that students must complete their required six clerkships (each eight weeks in length) and be in their fourth year before they can take any electives. A year-long experience abroad is best after the third year. After you have found an international clinical elective or clinical research, discuss this opportunity with your community administrator. Your community administrator will let you know if this is an acceptable off campus experience. The Off Campus Clerkship requires a program description, dates, and a letter from the international site stating that you have been approved for the elective. 3. Clinical students must apply for study abroad at least one month before departure through the MSU Office of Study Abroad (OSA). You must first contact OSA Assistant Director Cindy Chalou, chalouc@msu.edu, (517) 432-4345, before you apply to OSA. Then apply to OSA online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu. If you will receive MSU/CHM credits for the experience, then click on MSU Study Abroad Program and then check College of Human Medicine International Study. Fill out the application. You need not write an essay for the program application. If you apply earlier, you could also apply and be considered for a scholarship through OSA. See http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/msuosascholarships.html. Submitting a program application automatically generates a $100 fee. However, you will not be charged the full $100, but only the $.80 cents per day fee that covers the costs of supplemental health and evacuation/repatriation insurance. The total fee covering the number of days for your program plus 3 additional days to allow you to return to the US will appear on your student account. You can indicate on the application if you want financial aid. You are responsible for informing and providing documentation to the Office of Study Abroad about the costs associated with the international elective – airfare, lodging and meals, in-country transportation, fees. In most instances you will receive an increase in loans. Your application will generate an acceptance letter from OSA that includes a copy of the Study Abroad Student Handbook with practical information, a liability waiver form and a health information form. You must fill out and return these forms in order to officially accept your admission. Your health form will be sent to the Travel Clinic at Olin Health Center on campus. If there is any question about your health status, you will be contacted by the Travel Clinic. After receipt of your forms and a month before departure, you will be sent an insurance card which includes evacuation/repatriation services. Should you apply very close to departure, contact Cindy Chalou and she will send you an electronic version of your card. CHM requires all students going on official study abroad experiences for CHM/MSU credit to have evacuation/repatriation insurance. 4. Submit your MSU Office of Study Abroad acceptance letter, your letter of approval from the international site, which includes the clerkship dates, and a brief program description to your community administrator. This information will be attached to the Off Campus Clerkship Request form and will be sent to the appropriate department for approval. If approved, the department will forward the information to the CHM Records Officer who will return the information to the appropriate community administrator. 5. You will need a valid passport and you may need a visa to enter a country. You should apply for both months in advance. Check your post office for passport applications. See http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html for useful information on obtaining a passport. Kinko’s Copy Center is one site that takes official passport photos. Check the State Department website for visa information – www.state.gov/travel/ The State Department website will inform you if there is a travel warning issued for the country you are planning to visit. MSU/OSA and CHM policy is that students are not allowed to travel on authorized (for credit) programs to countries for which travel warnings have been issued. Requests for exceptions must be submitted 4 to 6 months in advance. 6. At least 2 months before you travel, we recommend that you visit the MSU Travel Clinic at Olin Health Center or another Travel Clinic for advice on immunizations and preventive medications, if they are needed. MSU Office of Study Abroad policy is that if immunizations or medications are appropriate, they recommend, but do not require, that you get these before your departure. In some cases you need immunizations to get into or out of certain countries. Call (517) 353-3161 for an appointment, to get some information, or visit the website at www.travelclinic.msu.edu or at www.who.int/ith/ Be prepared to bring your immunization record with you to the clinic. (If you are at a community campus contact the area county health department which can advise you about travel immunizations.) 7. The Office of Study Abroad will have from your application form your emergency contact number(s) for you and for family contacts in the U.S. should an emergency arise in the country abroad. If an emergency occurs, refer to the laminated card you will receive and call COLLECT the MSU Emergency Assistance line at (517) 353-3784. This number can be accessed world wide at all times. Emergencies are defined as serious threat to safety, security or health. Your evacuation/repatriation insurance card will also provide numbers to call. Margo K. Smith, MA |