Global Seminar: The Global Future Physician

Welcome to the Global Seminar for the Future Physician series. This is a new opportunity for students who have completed the Future Physician series (AHS 1600, 1601, 1602) to travel abroad and learn more about becoming a physician in a global market by exploring a developing economy.

Who is this seminar for?
Pre-med and pre-health students who have taken the Future Physician course series will be given first preference. This seminar is limited to a maximum of 26 students.

Where will we be going?
The global seminar will be held at the Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies (VIIS), in Mysore, India. VIIS is an educational institution of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a leading NGO in the field of health and development in India.

The seminar will be based out the VIIS campus in Mysore, India, and will include many field visits to tribal and rural areas of the Mysore district. The seminar will also include visits to ancient temples, rural development projects, water resource utilization projects, as well as health institutions and medical colleges in India. Mysore is a mid-size city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is known for its beautiful palaces, temples and cultural activities.

When are we going?
Trip dates are scheduled for December 26, 2011 - January 14, 2012. The application deadline is September 9, 2011.

What will students study?
Students who take part in this seminar will look at health care and public health in the context of a rapidly developing economy. Special emphasis will be paid to a comparative look at health care between India and the United States. In addition, students will travel to the rural, tribal communities south of Mysore to explore the regional development and health challenges specific to that region.

Who is leading this seminar?
Shailey Prasad, MD/MPH and Tricia Todd, MPH, who are both faculty members from the Future Physician series, will be leading this seminar. Faculty members at the sites in India will also be involved. See below for faculty member biographies.

Can I earn credit?
Yes. This is a 3 credit global seminar and will qualify as part of your spring 2012 registration which means you can use financial aid to assist in covering the cost of the trip. This trip may fill a global liberal education requirement. The course has been submitted for review.

What will the trip cost?
The total cost of the trip will be approximately $4,450. The entire amount is counted toward your spring semester registration for credit and financial aid. In order to have your financial aid package adjusted to reflect the increase in educational expenses for the spring semester, you must meet with the Office of Student Finance. They will go through your award package and let you know more of the specifics, but in most cases students are able to access additional loan funds since the cost of attendance will go up.

You can apply for scholarships through the Learning Abroad Center, and individually, or as a group, you will be encouraged to do some fundraising as well. You can find more detailed information on the Learning Abroad Center website.

What is the cost breakdown?
Total cost when you add program, flight, passport/visa, insurance and other incidentals is estimated to be $4,450. This is the cost that you will provide to financial aid for spring semester.

Program – The program costs include the cost of the 3 credit class, field trips; lodging and meals; and insurance. The program cost is $1,945.00.

Flight – You will be responsible for reserving and paying for your own flight. We have reserved a block of seats, which guarantees a base price. Prices are subject to fuel surcharges up until the time tickets have been issued to the entire block. The current estimated cost of the flight is $1900. Information about flight reservations will be sent to you once you have been selected into the program.  The intention is to confirm students as quickly as possible so flights can be booked quickly (before rates go up). 

Passport/visa – You will be responsible for assuring your passport is up to date  and you have the correct tourist visa. Information will be sent to you regarding the purchase of a visa when you have been chosen for the program. 

Vaccinations – It will be your responsibility to visit a travel clinic and obtain the correct vaccinations for India. It is likely that this cost will be included in your insurance, but check to find out so you can budget accordingly. More information will be provided once you are accepted.
 

How do I apply?
This opportunity is available first to students who have taken the Future Physician courses.  Applications will be available between the first week of August and will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until September 9, 2011. Once you have submitted your primary and supplemental applications, each applicant will be reviewed and you will be contacted regarding your acceptance.

Application Process
1) Go to the Learning Abroad Center web site at http://umabroad.umn.edu/programs/asia-oceania/globalphysician.php

2) Click on "Apply" and follow these instructions:

a. Log in using your university log-in information.
b. Choose “The Global Future Physician” from the drop down menu.
c. Complete the application and hit submit.
d. Complete the supplemental application (found on the Learning Abroad Center website). Send the completed supplemental application to Tricia Todd, MPH (todd0002@umn.edu).

3) We will review your applications as they come in and send a notice to Learning Abroad Center to change your status to “accepted” if selected.

4) Learning Abroad Center sends an email to students letting them know they have been accepted. Students then need to complete the confirmation and any other forms within two (2) weeks.

5) Your UM Account will be charged for the program deposit. Note that the balance of the program fee will be billed to your UM Account in the fall.

6)  We will send you the information about next steps.

Primary Application
The primary application will be found on the Learning Abroad Center website at http://umabroad.umn.edu/programs/asia-oceania/globalphysician.php

Supplemental Application
The secondary application can be found on the Learning Abroad Center website (above) and includes short set of questions to answer, which will help us if we have to choose among more than 26 applicants. Send the completed supplemental application to Tricia Todd, MPH, at todd0002@umn.edu 

**Team Leader Application** (Optional)
Included in the secondary application is an option to apply to be a team leader. There are five (5) “Team Leader” positions available for students who would like to take on some additional responsibility.

Application Deadline:
Applications will be reviewed on a “rolling basis” between the first week of August and September 9, 2011.

Additional Information:
Once accepted, you will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation and one pre-departure class, still to be scheduled.  Details will be made available after acceptance into the program.

For more information or additional questions, please contact Tricia Todd, MPH, at todd0002@umn.edu or 612-624-6767.

Faculty in India

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam is a physician and development activist. After his M.D., he earned his M.Phil. in Hospital and Health Systems Management from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani and an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University. He has spent the last 26 years of working with rural and tribal poor in the India and is the founder of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement a leading development NGO in India. He is a consultant to various Indian and international agencies and is a visiting scholar at Cornell University and an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa.

Dr. M.S. Nagaraj Rao, MA (Indology), PhD (Archeology) is a former director of the Archeological Survey of India and Professor of Indian Studies at Cleveland State University. He is currently the director of the Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies (VIIS), Mysore, the On Site Director at VIIS for the University of Iowa, Director, Mount Allison Summer Program, Canada and the Co-director, India Program, University of Michigan.

Dr. M. R. Seetharam, MD, MS is the president of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Iowa, Member, Consultative Committee on Youth Services and Sports, 11th Five year Plan, Planning Commission of India, Member, Board of Studies, University of Mysore.

Dr. Sridevi Seetharam, is a pathologist by training with a special interest in bio-ethics. She has a M.A. (Erasmus Mundus Masters in Bioethics) from Katholiek University, Leuven, Belgium; Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands and Università degli di Padova, Padova, Italy. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Iowa; Faculty, Centre for Studies in Ethics and Rights, Mumbai, and is in the Editorial Advisory Board, Indian Journal of Medical Ethics.