The opportunities below represent a selection of the Clinical Elective programs offered by affiliated institutions and other organizations. Students also have the opportunity to identify elective opportunities independent from the listed affiliated institutions. All elective sites listed below are subject to review for safety as per the US State Department Travel Advisories
AFRICA
Tanzania:
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCMC)
This is a six-week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Dr. Mtui arranges the elective with physicians at KCMC directly for the student. No host mentor letter required because Dr. Mtui handles the scheduling of the elective with KCMC physicians directly. Dr. Mtui is the WCM mentor. (up to 3 students per year)
Contact: Dr. Mtui epmtui@med.cornell.edu
Weill Bugando Medical College
This is a six-week clinical elective. Students must first meet with Dr. Fitzgerald to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Dr. Fitzgerald coordinates the elective with physicians at Weill Bugando or asks Dr. Robert Peck who is based in Mwanza to assume this task. No host mentor letter required because of the arrangement we have with Weill Bugando. Dr. Fitzgerald is the WCM mentor. (up to 3 students per year)
Contact: Dr. Fitzgerald dwf2001@med.cornell.edu
ASIA
Bhutan:
Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences & Chulalongkorn University Medical College in Bangkok
This is a four week clinical elective in Thimphu, Bhutan and a two week continuation at the Chulalongkorn University Medical College in Bangkok, Thailand. The students must first meet with Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan to discuss reasons why they want this elective, and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan coordinates the elective in collaboration with the Bhutan Foundation, in collaboration with Khesar Gyalpo University, to arrange the elective placement in Thimphu. Drs. Greisman and Sundararajan serves as the liaison with the Bhutanese. Dr. TJ serves as the WCM faculty mentor for the Thailand part of this elective. No host mentor letter is required (1student per year)
Contacts:
Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Dr. TJ thj2002@med.cornell.edu
China:
Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine
This is a six-week clinical elective. Students must first meet with Dr. Zhu to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Dr. Zhu coordinates the elective with physicians at Xiangya School of Medicine. No host mentor letter required because of the arrangement we have with Xiangya School of Medicine. Dr. Zhu is the WCM mentor. No language requirement, although Mandarin is a plus. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Dr. Yuan Shan Zhu at yuz2002@med.cornell.edu
India:
Christian Medical College, Vellore
This is a four-week or six-week elective at CMC Vellore. Students must first meet with Dr. Finkel to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Dr. Finkel coordinates the elective with physicians at CMC Vellore. No host mentor letter required because of the arrangement we have with CMC Vellore. Dr. Finkel is the WCM mentor. (1-2 students per year)
Contacts: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu
Singapore:
National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first meet with Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan coordinates the elective with physicians at NUSYLLSM. No host mentor letter required because of the arrangement we have with NUSYLLSM. Drs. Laura Greisman and Radhika Sundararajan are the WCM mentors. (1-2 students per year)
Contacts: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu
South Korea:
Yonsei University College of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first meet with Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan coordinates the elective with physicians at Yonsei. No host mentor letter required because of the arrangement we have with Yonsei. Drs. Laura Greisman and Radhika Sundararajan are the WCM mentors. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Taiwan:
National Taiwan University College of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first meet with Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan to discuss reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Students then complete the IMSE application for approval. Once approved, Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan coordinates the elective with physicians at National Taiwan University. No host mentor letter required because of an arrangement between IMSE and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary. Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan are the WCM mentors. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Thailand:
Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Dr. TJ introduces the student(s) to the International Coordinator at Chulalongkorn who then schedules the elective for the student. The student and the International Coordinator work together to schedule placement at one of the Chulalongkorn's teaching hospitals in Bangkok. No host mentor letter is required because the International Office at Chulalongkorn handles the scheduling of the elective with Chulalongkorn physicians directly. Dr. TJ is the WCM mentor. (up to 5 students per year)
Contact: Dr. TJ thj2002@med.cornell.edu
AUSTRALIA
University of Sydney Medical School
This is an eight week clinical elective, two weeks of which will be in the Outback. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain from the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at the University of Sydney to set up the elective. The student will be placed at one of the University of Sydney Medical School's teaching hospitals in Sydney and will spend one week at the hospital in Broken Hill. No host mentor letter is required because the International Office at the University of Sydney sets up the elective in collaboration with the student. Drs. Greisman and Sundarajan are the WCM mentor and coordinates with the University of Sydney international office staff. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
EUROPE
Austria:
American Austrian Max Kade Foundation
This is a four week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. After the international committee provides approval, the second step is to apply to the Max Kade program directly. The American Austrian Foundation and the Max Kade Clinical Elective program provide a travel stipend and pocket money, as well as accommodations during a one-month rotation in Austria. A working knowledge of German is helpful but not a requirement. No host mentor letter is required because the Max Kade Foundation sets up the elective in collaboration with the student. Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan are the WCM faculty mentor and coordinates with the Max Kade staff. (up to 15 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
France:
American Hospital in Paris
This is a four week clinical elective, as well as study of the French health care system. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at the American Hospital of Paris Foundation to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-3 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Rene Descartes Ecole de Medicine
This is a four week clinical elective, as well as study of the French health care system. Students must first speak with Dr. Selesnick to discuss this elective. Students then should complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Dr. Selesnick will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at Rene Descartes to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. Proficiency in French is a plus. (1-3 students per year)
Contact: Dr. Selesnick shselesn@med.cornell.edu
Hungary:
The Medical University of Pécs
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at the Pecs medical school to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-3 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Israel:
The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at Technion medical school to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Turkey:
Hecettepe University Faculty of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at Hecettepe medical school to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Spain:
University of Zaragoza School of Medicine
This is a four-week clinical elective focusing on medical ethics. Pre-requisite: You must have at least intermediate-advanced Spanish language skills to be considered. The elective focuses on bioethics as a way to frame the student exposure to Spanish medicine. A bioethics paper is a required component of the elective course. Students are required to meet with Dr. Fins to discuss this elective and complete a pre-interview process. Then the student should complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Dr. Fins will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at Zaragoza medical school to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Dr. Fins jjfins@med.cornell.edu
United States-European Union Medical Exchange Program (US-EU):
The US-EU program is a four-week clinical placement that focuses on a study of the host country’s health care system. Students should meet with Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan to discuss this elective and placement. Then the student should complete the IMSEE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at the host medical school to set up the elective.
Kings College (London, England) (1 student per year)
Ludwig Maximilians University (Munich, Germany) (1 student per year)
University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1-2 students per year)
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Madrid, Spain) (1-2 students per year)
University of Cologne Faculty of Medicine (Cologne, Germany)
Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
For the Glasgow placement, students should contact Dr. TJ in order to set up a placement. This is a Pediatric placement only.
Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Glasgow, Scotland) (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Dr. TJ thj2002@med.cornell.edu
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil:
UNESP School of Medicine Botucatu
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at Botucatu medical school to set up the elective. No host letter of support necessary. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Costa Rica:
Universidad Ciencias Meddicas de Costa Rica
Six-week clinical elective in rural Costa Rica. Medical students taking this elective will participate in health care delivery with a focus on primary care. Students will learn the intricacies of coordinating health care within a system that covers a diverse population of Costa Rican and Panamanian agricultural workers as well as indigenous tribal people. Students stay at the home of Dr. Pablo Ortiz, the host mentor. Students must first speak with Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan and then complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Greisman or Sundararajan will introduce the student to Dr. Ortiz to set up the elective. Proficiency in Spanish required. No host letter of support necessary. (1-2 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Peru:
San Marcos University School of Medicine
This is a six week clinical elective. Students must first complete the IMSE application stating reasons why they want this elective and what they hope to gain by the experience. Once approved, Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan will introduce the student to the electives coordinator at San Marcos medical school to set up the elective. Spanish proficiency required. No host letter of support necessary. (1-3 students per year)
Contact: Drs. Laura Greisman or Radhika Sundararajan at imsedirectors@med.cornell.edu.
Additional Programs:
Saving Mothers/ Salvando Madres
Face Aid's Global Health Corps
The Global Health Corps works to connect young leaders with organizations that promote global health equity on the front lines internationally and domestically. Funding for a yearlong fellowship is available.
Global Health Council
Global Health Council is a U.S.-based membership organization concerned with global health.
International Federation of Medical Students Association
International Federation of Medical Students Association is an NGO with branches and 88 countries dedicated to introducing medical students to global health issues.
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international organization working to ease poverty and hunger world wide.