Our program's goal is for graduating fellows to have the necessary skills to work with local healthcare providers and government officials to assess international healthcare systems and identify pertinent emergency medical health issues. Fellows will engage in study through textbooks in wilderness medicine and international health. Expert faculty will assist fellows in learning areas such as:
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Public health
- Marine envenomation
- International and domestic disasters
- Humanitarian response
- Medical education
Our faculty have been involved in outreach efforts in Peru, Pakistan, Haiti, Honduras, Guyana and the Dominican Republic. We partner with Operation Smile and Physicians for Peace locally, which gives fellows unique opportunities to aid in planning humanitarian missions. Fellows also participate in a 12-day Wilderness Medicine course in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains to gain additional expertise practicing in austere environments.
Clinical activities
Fellows receive faculty appointments as clinical instructors at EVMS and work 1,100 hours per year, which equals out to 27 hours per week when not abroad. This limited clinical workload leaves time for fellows to devote to international medicine activities and advanced degree work.
During this time of further study and training in CHKD's high-volume Pediatric Emergency Department, our fellows keep their clinical skills sharp. Clinical shifts are scheduled to allow fellows to have two months of continuous time annually to participate in overseas medical experience. Fellows may choose to use their three weeks of vacation time to extend their abroad experiences by up to 11 weeks.
Teaching activities
Fellows participate in Pediatric and Emergency Medicine departmental educational activities, which afford them the opportunity to improve their teaching, presenting and academic skills. Fellows lecture on international medicine-related topics at conferences.
Research activities
The Pediatric International Emergency Medicine fellows receive protected time to develop and execute research or child advocacy projects based on personal interests. IRB and manuscript writing support is readily available within Pediatrics.
