Purpose

To recognize medical students who demonstrate exceptional knowledge in global health, cultivate a strong service orientation toward global health communities, and develop critical thinking skills to address global health challenges.

Students who complete all requirements will graduate with a distinction in global health on their medical degree.

Please Note: Students can only graduate with one distinction on their medical degree.

Who Can Apply

MS1 students in good academic standing after completing their first semester.

Program Requirements

Students will successfully complete the following throughout medical school:

• International Elective in Global Health

  • Completed in MS1 or MS4 (IME-structured or an approved student-structured elective).

• Pillars of Global Health Modules

  • Completion certificate required.

• Global Health Seminars

  • Participation in total 8 seminars.

• Global Health Discovery Project

  • A problem-solving initiative centered around a UN Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG). Students will present their GHDP at a Global Health Symposium in the Spring prior to their graduation.

• Patient Care

  • 12 hours of direct patient care.

• Community Service

  • 40 hours, either locally or internationally.

• Peer Education

  • 4 hours active involvement in educating peers within the program.

• Mentorship in RDGH

  • 4 hours engaged as a mentor and mentee within the program.

• Information Sharing

• Scholarly Activity

Available 2026 International Electives

Students must participate in an international elective either during the summer between their MS1 and MS2 years, or in February of their MS4 year.

Electives offered for MS1 students are structured by IME with our international partners and are either clinical electives for 4 weeks or research electives for 8 weeks.

Students participating in an international elective during their MS4 year will work alongside IME to structure their own clinical elective experience.

• Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo  (Clinical MS1) – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

• Chung Shan Medical University (Clinical MS1) – Taichung, Taiwan

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain (Clinical MS1) – Busaiteen, Bahrain

• Kyoto University (Clinical MS1) – Kyoto, Japan

• Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Clinical MS4) – Lima, Peru

• University of Oxford (Research MS1) – Oxford, England

• Cardiff University (Research MS1) – Cardiff, Wales

• Sri Sharada Medical Center (Clinical MS1) – Bangalore, India**

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Dublin (Clinical MS1) – Dublin, Ireland**

• Universidad San Sebastian (Research MS1) – Santiago, Chile**

**Pending approval from International Medical Education

Scholarship

International Medical Education will provide funding in the form of scholarship for the international elective requirement. Scholarship amounts will be based on scholarship funding for that year, as well as elective tuition. Scholarships will be used to pay elective tuition costs. Any funds remaining after elective tuition has been paid may be used by the student to offset some costs, however, students will incur some out-of-pocket expenses that vary based on location.

If you become ineligible, are unable to travel for any reason, do not fulfill the pre- or post-travel requirements, or withdraw from the program, you may be required to return the scholarship in full to International Medical Education.

Scholarship opportunities will give preference to students who have not yet received a scholarship for an international elective from International Medical Education. Any students who received scholarship for an international elective, either through MSEP or RDGH, will be considered after first time students have been awarded scholarships and pending remaining scholarship funding.

Application

Applications are open from December 8, 2025 – January 5, 2026 at 5 p.m., CST.

Only completed applications will be reviewed. In addition to the application questions, you will be required to submit the following:

• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• 3-5 minute introductory video to help us understand your motivations, interests, and goals related to global health

All applications are reviewed by the committee. All applicants will receive either an acceptance or denial email. The decision by the committee is not reversable.

Selection for interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

All communication is by direct email. Please be sure to include the correct email address.

Application Timeline

1. Submit application (December 8, 2025 – January 5, 2026 at 5 p.m., CST)
2. Application Review
3. Interview
4. Acceptance and Offer
5. Elective Offer (if applicable)
6. Pre-departure Requirements

Contact

For more details, reach out via email: RDGH@uab.edu