Travel Study

Take Your Curriculum Abroad—and Gather Rich Global Experiences

Achieving the goal of patient and client centered care requires clinicians to pay attention to the context in which they practice. For a global perspective, we offer MGH Institute-sponsored travel study to observe or participate in care delivery in another country. Students in full-time, on-campus programs have the opportunity to apply for a global health experience as part of their curriculum. Our faculty shape research and clinical experience relationships with communities and universities around the globe.

Global Academic Partnerships

Our partnerships with higher education around the world enable students and faculty to share knowledge and ideas, drive research and innovation, and build skills through teaching and learning and in practice. We seek partnerships with schools that have a strong health professions program portfolios, relationships with clinical training sites, research success, and are safe for travel as outlined by the U.S. State Department.
 

a green lawn with buildings in the background and a mountain in the distance across a body of water

University of Iceland

UI is located in capital city and cultural center Reykjavík. They are a global leader in sustainable energy and environmental research. Landspitali, the national university hospital of Iceland, has its main building at Hringbraut within the UI campus area. We've developed a research exchange where UI medical students travel to MGH IHP to study within our programs.
 
white and blue building 5 stories tall surrounded by smaller houses

Universidad Hispanoamericana

A major private university in San José, Costa Rica with focused programs in business administration, engineering, psychology and medical studies. With four campuses, UH has the best simulation hospital in the region, their own Health Journal, and a nursing consultation service that provides free healthcare to surrounding communities.
 
large concrete building with many windows, 6 flags on top and statue in the front

Universidade de Lisboa

The largest medical school in Lisbon, Portugal, their academic health center includes: Faculty of Medicine (medical school), Hospital Santa Maria, and Institute of Molecular Medicine. In addition to medical students, scientists and research staff, their portfolio includes basic science and acute care research, and are expanding their focus to ambulatory and clinical research. 

 
lush green trees frame a photo of a large white building with a city and the ocean in the background

Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (USC)

Sagrado is a private Catholic university in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Largely focusing on undergraduate education, Sagrado has over 4,000 students and a large undergraduate nursing program as well as an exercise science and health promotion program.
 

Student Immersion Programs

Use this map to view global student immersion programs. By clicking on the location icon, you can view details about the program.

One of the reasons I came to the MGH Institute is the humanitarian work that Dr. Chung does. This trip changed my outlook and reminded me that audiology is more than about technology and procedures; it is about human connection, communication, and restoring a sense of normalcy in people’s lives.

Payton Kober
Audiology Student, Poland Trip

Not only were we able to make great use of the equipment that was already there, but our group had brought over some more equipment that proved to be very useful throughout our visit and hopefully will continue to be helpful for those at the clinic. The community itself expressed no shortage of gratitude which helped make this such a rewarding experience, knowing we were able to make a difference during our time there.

Nick Cardenas
Physical Therapy Student, Guatemala Trip

This was a unique opportunity to learn what occupational therapy looks like abroad. The interprofessional aspect intrigued me because you not only see where we fit in and show the unique lens of occupational therapists, but you can educate some of our American colleagues [physician assistant and pharmacy students traveling with us]. It was interesting to hear [village resident's] family history and what he does to manage his diabetes, and to hear the pharmacy students ask about the medication side so they could understand what he was doing.

Isabella Moreno
Occupational Therapy Student, Ghana Trip

Travel Study Resources

Faculty members and students interested in academic travel may choose to collaborate with a third-party vendor to arrange logistics. The preferred partner is Child Family Health International (CFHI), which has been vetted for health, safety, and security.

Students applying to CFHI should use the Academic Partnership code MGHIHPappfee, which will waive the application fee.

CFHI's Global Health Education Programs are field experiences often referred to as global health internships, clinical electives, away rotations, service-learning, global health scholars programs or externships. They combine exposure to clinical practices, public health, social services, social determinants of health, culture, human resources for health, and much more to provide a reflective, transformative Global Health educational experience.

Offered in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, CFHI programs immerse you within a global community to see health, life, and culture through the community lens. Programs offer first-hand experiences alongside local physicians and public health experts and combine instruction, experience, service, and reflection, to create a model that supports physicians, clinical sites and communities abroad.

CFHI has over 40 programs in 11 countries, open to all with an interest in global health. Programs are tailored to each participant's educational level and interests and lay the foundation for a career in global health, furthering your understanding of health care and development in communities who are struck by poverty, resource limitations, and a multitude of challenges leading to high burdens of illness, death and reduced quality of life.

To be designated as Institute sponsored, student travel must meet two criteria:

  • An Institute faculty member must accept responsibility for seeking departmental and school approval, designing learning objectives, and implementing a risk management and emergency preparedness plan. The faculty leader or a designee approved by the academic program must accompany students to each location visited.
  • Students must travel under the auspices of an approved course. The course must pass the regular departmental or Faculty Senate review process to verify that it contains sufficient academic content.

Students whose travel is designated as Institute-sponsored are covered by insurance and travel emergency assistance serviced under Partners HealthCare TravelSafe (Partners' sign in required) program, managed by Partners Risk and Insurance Services.

Depending on the nature of the travel activity, insurance coverages include medical professional liability, business travel accident, medical assistance, evacuation coverage, general liability, and security assistance.

All travelers must have personal health insurance that covers worldwide claims.

 

To participate in Institute-sponsored travel, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Sign an acknowledgment of risk form
  • Provide proof of personal health insurance with worldwide claims coverage
  • Obtain medical clearance along with documented mandatory immunizations
  • Participate in pre-departure training on safety, ethics, and professionalism
  • Secure passport and visa, if needed
  • Pay full amount of enrollment fees determined by faculty leader
  • Obey the Guidelines for Conduct in the Student Handbook

The Institute may deny participation if a student does not complete the above actions in a satisfactory and timely manner.

 

In accordance with the regulations in the Student Handbook, approved student organizations may fundraise and seek charitable donations on behalf of the Institute.

Funds raised using the Institute name may not be used for personal travel expenses.

Use of the Institute’s name in any fundraising materials must receive prior approval by the Office of Student and Alumni Services.

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