Rachel A Umoren1, Adrian Gardner2, Geren S Stone3, Jill Helphinstine4, Emily P Machogu5, Jordan C Huskins4, Cynthia S Johnson6, Paul O Ayuo7, Simeon Mining7, Debra K Litzelman8. 1. Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States. Electronic address: rumoren@uw.edu. 2. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya. 3. Global Primary Care (GPC) Program, Center for Global Health, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States. 5. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States. 6. Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States. 7. Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya. 8. Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, United States; Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Indiana University Center for Global Health, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Global health experiences evoke a profound awareness of cultural differences, inspire learners to prioritize professional values, and provide a lens for addressing global health care challenges. This study compares the long-term career and practice choices of participants in a 2-month Indiana University-Moi University, Kenya elective from 1989-2013 with those of a control group. METHODS: Global health elective (GHE) participants and a random sample of alumni without GHE experience were surveyed on their clinical practice, public health and global health activities. RESULTS: Responses from 176 former participants were compared with a control group of 177 alumni. GHE participants were more likely than similar controls to provide care to underserved U.S. populations (p=0.037), spend time in global health, public health, and public policy activities (p=0.005) and be involved in global health advocacy (p=0.001). Using multivariable analysis, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists (p<0.05), report that healthcare costs influenced medical decision-making (p<0.05), and provide healthcare outside the U.S. for ≥1 week/year (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Many years out of training, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists working with underserved populations, to be cost-conscious in their healthcare decision-making, and to be involved in global health, public health or public policy. IMPLICATIONS: With the primary care provider shortage and need for greater awareness among providers of healthcare costs, our study shows that that global health experiences may yield broader benefits to the U.S. medical system.
BACKGROUND: Global health experiences evoke a profound awareness of cultural differences, inspire learners to prioritize professional values, and provide a lens for addressing global health care challenges. This study compares the long-term career and practice choices of participants in a 2-month Indiana University-Moi University, Kenya elective from 1989-2013 with those of a control group. METHODS: Global health elective (GHE) participants and a random sample of alumni without GHE experience were surveyed on their clinical practice, public health and global health activities. RESULTS: Responses from 176 former participants were compared with a control group of 177 alumni. GHE participants were more likely than similar controls to provide care to underserved U.S. populations (p=0.037), spend time in global health, public health, and public policy activities (p=0.005) and be involved in global health advocacy (p=0.001). Using multivariable analysis, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists (p<0.05), report that healthcare costs influenced medical decision-making (p<0.05), and provide healthcare outside the U.S. for ≥1 week/year (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Many years out of training, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists working with underserved populations, to be cost-conscious in their healthcare decision-making, and to be involved in global health, public health or public policy. IMPLICATIONS: With the primary care provider shortage and need for greater awareness among providers of healthcare costs, our study shows that that global health experiences may yield broader benefits to the U.S. medical system.
Authors: Debra K Litzelman; Adrian Gardner; Robert M Einterz; Philip Owiti; Charity Wambui; Jordan C Huskins; Kathleen M Schmitt-Wendholt; Geren S Stone; Paul O Ayuo; Thomas S Inui; Rachel A Umoren Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2017-08-15 Impact factor: 2.462
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Authors: Paul M Lu; Elizabeth E Park; Tracy L Rabin; Jeremy I Schwartz; Lee S Shearer; Eugenia L Siegler; Robert N Peck Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2018-11-05 Impact factor: 2.462
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Authors: Gabrielle A Jacquet; Rachel A Umoren; Alison S Hayward; Justin G Myers; Payal Modi; Stephen J Dunlop; Suzanne Sarfaty; Mark Hauswald; Janis P Tupesis Journal: Med Educ Online Date: 2018-12