Study Abroad

I soon realized that although I was in a very different physical environment, I was still in a largely similar western medical environment. Although the crash cart was a rust bucket; the ACLS algorithms were still followed. Although the CSF samples had to be brought to the lab by a patient’s family; appropriate workup was still ordered. Although the ECG leads were placed with suction cups; the attendings still pimped the residents on the readings.

I was very impressed with the system CHAD had in place for maintaining community health. They identified communities which needed help, they established a low cost system of care, and they maintained appropriate follow up.  Screening was done in the communities by physicians, progress was monitored in the communities by nurses, and only when necessary were patients instructed to seek more costly care at CHAD or CMC. This system successfully minimizes social obstacles which may otherwise limit these patients from seeking care.

While most of the medical care that I participated in in India was not too unlike what I have become familiar with at home, the environment in which that care is practiced is very different.  Some of those differences were challenging like the advanced pathology or the overwhelming patient numbers. But other differences were pleasantly refreshing like the personalized systems of care established in poorer communities and the appreciation and respect of patients for their medical providers. This rotation was an excellent opportunity to not only further my medical knowledge and skills, but also to experience differences in other health care systems. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.

While many differences exist between the countries and healthcare models, the drive to provide the best possible care for patients is constant.  Physicians are educated in an apprenticeship model similar to the United States and may spend their entire life working in the same hospital and providing care to their community.  The mutual decision-making model is used and made with the patients best interest in mind.  Education is emphasized with daily journal discussions and formal weekly journal clubs with physicians fluent in academic literacy.

As a future physician, my goal aims to provide a sustainable approach to providing economically viable care within the community and clinics for underserved populations and demographics.  The challenges of delivering healthcare in an urban and rural setting–issues of access, cost, and culturally aware care–are at the forefront of medical practice everywhere as America possesses an aging, diverse population.  These are the critical issues that are important to me and this rotation provided a unique perspective.

I learned that psychiatrists incorporate family members in treatment more than the United States. In India, if a family member is hospitalized in the inpatient psychiatric unit, their spouse or father or mother is also provided a room next door to keep an eye on the patient during their entire stay. Family members are always involved in occupational therapy with the patient too. I realized that you are not only treating the patient, but you are also offering guidance and education to their family members. I will learn to keep this “family” approach in mind whenever I am dealing with a patient who is from India.

During my family medicine rotation, I learned the true art of physical exam maneuvers. My first day, I witnessed the attending do a thoracentesis without any imaging, just pure physical exam maneuvers such as “percussion”. This was very eye opening to me, because as physicians we forget we have the “tools” to figure out problems just with our hands.

Overall, going to India has made me into a better future physician in many ways. It has allowed me to understand pathology in a way I have never understood it before. It has allowed me to be more confident with my physical exam maneuvers. Finally, it has showed me how crucial it is to truly understand your patients so you can fully heal them. Taking the time to ask patients about their cultural backgrounds is critical so no one is ever offended. and most importantly to allow for a speedy and comfortable recovery!

If I could describe the hospital in two words, it would be “sensory overload.” The hospital campus was vast, set at a busy intersection in the heart of Vellore. Amidst the sounds of honking horns and shouting vendors, every square inch of the hospital floors was teeming with either patients, relatives, physicians, nurses, hospital workers, or security guards. It took the first two weeks to fully get my bearings around the hospital grounds; however, the hospitality of the workers and security guards in guiding my disorientated feet never made me actually feel like I was lost. Although it seemed chaotic outside, I soon learned there was a fine balance that ran the hospital in a systematic way; patients were seen in turn, lines were somewhat formed, and no patient was left behind.

As there are countless patients to see in a day, each patient is only seen for about 5-7 minutes. Yet the patients are never frustrated, and the physician makes sure that all of their concerns are addressed before sending the patient off.

Each day started with 5 hours of intensive one-on-one Spanish lessons followed by either time in a government run free community clinic located 30-45 minutes outside the city or activities and lectures aimed at expanding our understanding of conversational Spanish and/or Xela as a community.

The one-on-one teaching quickly allowed us to move past the rudimentary “what do you study” and “name your favorite foods”, to discussions on the challenges and approaches to medical care in Xela. Often our conversations would comment on the similarities in care with regard to high rates of diabetes and heart disease seen in our communities, but also provided insight on the challenges Guatemala faces with regard to conditions less commonly seen in the populations I have worked with in the US.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible generosity of my host family who not only provided me with place to stay and three meals a day for 3 weeks, but also with patience while I practiced my Spanish around the dinner table. Although there is still so much to learn, I am immensely grateful for this unique and invaluable experience to build a base in my Spanish language skills. With this base, I am excited to continue to expand my Spanish skills and to continue to practice with my future patients.

Each week I worked on different service which was beneficial for experiencing a wide breadth of doctor-patient interactions, disease presentations and unique management/therapeutic interventions. The doctor-patient interactions in India were very different than in the United States. Patients in India were very respectful and thankful of the doctors, valuing their time (albeit very brief) and their medical recommendations. However, patients had to wait long hours in large queues for very short appointments without much privacy.

The disease presentations were also interesting, as the private patients presented for prevention or with early staged diseases while the public patients presented very late in the disease course. This was an opportunity to see first-hand how low income, low health literacy and socioeconomic disparities can drive pathology.

This trip also helped to solidify global medicine as an interest of mine. Even as a medical student I felt that I was making a difference for the patients.

Cultural and social determinants play a significant role in patient compliance and disease prevalence. I left India with a vastly different perspective and point of reference about the challenges faced in both the healthcare field and surrounding community. This experience has made me more aware of the social challenges faced by patients that ultimately affect their health, disease state, and compliance with treatment, and I hope to carry this with me as I enter the healthcare profession.

was surprised by the similarities in healthcare practices and surgical procedures when compared to the US. It made me realize that effective healthcare and evidence-based medicine can be achieved in countries and settings where resources and technology have not yet caught up with more developed countries.

The International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) is an established federation of medical student associations from across the world. IFMSA is recognized as an important non-governmental organization and collaborative partner by WHO, UNESCO, other UN agencies and several NGOs, such as the Global Health Forum. Through IFMSA over 7,000 students participate in clinical clerkships (available to all levels of medical students) every year. IFMSA exchanges are well-established and offer medical students the opportunity to further their training by studying medicine in a different cultural context, in a clinical elective across the world.

Annually, thousands of future physicians attempt to complete a course of international study; thousands more profess an interest in learning more about the issues that shape our global health dynamic. Yet medical school curricula are full, and typically offer limited opportunities and services for students with international interests.

• IFMSA

The College of Medicine can contribute $500.00 towards the expenses of UIC students approved for international electives. Please contact visitcom@uic.edu for details.

The “Joly-O’Morchoe Exchange Fellowship Fund” was created by the former Regional Dean, Dr. Charles C.C. O’Morchoe of Poulsbo, Washington.. Dr. O’Morchoe made this gift in honor of his late wife, Dr. Patricia Jean O’Morchoe, his grandfather, Charles Jasper Joly, and his grandfather’s cousin, John Joly (see further details below). The Joly-O’Morchoe Exchange Fellowship is for students enrolled at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and from the School of Medicine at the University of Dublin, Trinity College.

The Joly O’Morchoe Scholarship allows a student from each of these institutions to study abroad at the other institution for at least a four-week period. Each year, a student from the UI-COM will receive a stipend to spend 4+ weeks at Trinity College in Dublin.

Criteria

• M4 student in good academic standing
• Ability to accept the terms of the program
• Ability to travel abroad

Applications should include:

• A curriculum vitae
• Official transcript
• Brief proposal on how the experience is expected to enhance your career in medicine
• Specific plans for what you will accomplish while at Trinity (Ex. elective clerkships, research )

Fellowships will be awarded to students based on their academic merit and on their potential for career advancement through study abroad. Students selected for a Fellowship award shall have an excellent academic record and shall have demonstrated a level of commitment and responsibility commensurate with that deemed appropriate for study at another institution.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2025

Submit application materials to: 
Dr. Ara Tekian
Associate Dean for the Office of International Education
Tekian@uic.edu
(312) 996-8438.

Drs. Patricia Jean and Charles C.C. O’Morchoe are graduates of Trinity and have served on the faculty of both Trinity and the University of Illinois. Charles C.C. O’Morchoe was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1966. Both were Professors at the University of Illinois from 1984-1998. They have devoted their professional careers to administration, research, teaching and service within the higher education setting. They have consistently demonstrated concern for and interest in the academic success and career development of students and have served as role models to countless students at Trinity, the University of Illinois and other institutions in which they served.

Charles Jasper Joly graduated from Trinity and subsequently joined its faculty where he became The Andrews Professor of Astronomy.and The Royal Astronomer of lreland from 1897 to 1906 when he died at an early age from typhoid fever. He is best known for his many publications on the subject of quaternions. He was elected a Fellow of Trinity and a Fellow of the Royal Society. John Joly also graduated from Trinity and joined its faculty where he became Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, a post he held from 1897 to 1933. He is considered to be one of Trinity’s most distinguished scientists in its 400 year history having published some 300 articles on topics as wide ranging as geology, physics, color photography, botany and cosmic radiation. He too was elected a fellow of Trinity and of the Royal Society.

• Elective Options

While you are in medical school, there are opportunities to carry out summer research, receive funding for your medical studies and to apply for a funded year abroad during or after medical school. The best approach to finding funding is to think creatively about yourself and your goals. As you search for funding sources remember that diverse aspects of you may connect with awards such as the nature of your research, your ethnic background, the country your research is taking place in, your career goals, etc. Be persistent and patient and you will likely find awards to help you.

While you are in medical school, there are opportunities to carry out summer research, receive funding for your medical studies and to apply for a funded year abroad during or after medical school. The best approach to finding funding is to think creatively about yourself and your goals. As you search for funding sources remember that diverse aspects of you may connect with awards such as the nature of your research, your ethnic background, the country your research is taking place in, your career goals, etc. Be persistent and patient and you will likely find awards to help you.

The Office of Special Scholarship Programs at UIC assists professional program students with applying for scholarships. Begin by researching awards and follow up with office with questions and for assistance with applying with Beth Powers at bpowers@uic.edu

UIC awards and resources:

• Summer opportunities
• Special Scholarship Programs

Resources listed by UIC’s Graduate College may apply to professional program students in some cases.

• Funding Search Engines and Databases  
• Chancellor’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program for multidisciplinary research

Additional Search Engines

• AMA Grants, awards and scholarships
• ACOG Grants, awards and scholarships
• University of California, Irvine, external scholarships list
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research
• American Public Health Association
• Society for Public Health Education SOPHE awards
• Harvard School of Public Health external award search engine

Nationally Competitive Awards for a Year Outside Medical School

Fulbright Fellowships – The Fulbright offers students the chance to do research or study abroad. Students could apply during M2-M4. Candidates set up their own arrangements. OSSP can assist with advice. Students apply through OSSP. Strong applicants begin preparing in spring.  UIC Deadline: mid-September; National deadline: October.

Whitaker International Fellows Program in Bioengineering – for students who have already completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or are currently enrolled in a PhD program, to undertake a project abroad for one year in bio/biomedical engineering. Deadline: January.

Zuckerman Fellowship – individuals who have, or are pursuing, an MBA, JD, or MD degree AND are seeking an additional degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard School of Public Health. Deadline: January,

Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship Program – for those who would like to spend a year focusing on anesthesiology research and receive additional training, and who have completed their core clinical rotations but have not yet graduated. Deadline: January

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Research Fellows Program – supports a year of full-time biomedical research training for medical, dental, and veterinary students. Deadline: January.

The William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India – Pairs highly skilled young professionals with leading NGOs and social enterprises in India. Participants commit to ten months of service and fieldwork, in the fields of education, public health, and social enterprise. Deadline: February.

Nationally Competitive Awards to fund medical study: Jewish Federation Academic Scholarship Program – Applicants must be enrolled or enrolling in a professional graduate education program on a full-time basis and must be Jewish, living in the Chicago area, have financial need and be entering a helping profession. Deadline: February.

Jewish Vocational Service (Academic Scholarship Program) – Open to Jewish men and women who were born in the Chicagoland area, or have been working full-time in the area for at least 12 months.  Must be entering a program that provides a service to the community and are in need of financial assistance.  Students must intend to stay in the Chicagoland area after graduation.  Applicants must be juniors, or be in graduate/professional school. Deadline: February.

NSEP Boren Graduate Fellowship – funding for students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world critical to U.S. interests. Deadline: January.

International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons – For students in medicine or dentistry.  Student must be a US or Canadian citizen who is enrolled in a full-time accredited professional school.  For MD students, applicant must be in at least their second year of medical school.  Deadline: March.

British Scholarships – The Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell and Gates Cambridge Scholarships offer students the opportunity to study in the UK for 1-2 years. These highly competitive awards seek students with a 3.7 GPA or higher with a record of research, service and leadership. UIC selects candidates in the spring to help prepare them for fall deadlines.

McKelvie Scholarship – open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in government. The purpose is to promote and strengthen public service leadership in the public sector. Ten to fifteen scholarships ranging up to $2,000 are awarded each year. Deadline: April 1^st.

Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA Scholarships) – For graduate Korean-American students to study in science, engineering, or pre-medicine.  Deadline: April.

DuPage Medical Society Foundation Scholarships – DuPage country resident students must be enrolled in or accepted for admission to a professional education program before applying, and must exhibit a strong academic background in addition to financial need.  Scholarship numbers vary each year. The average scholarship is $1000. Deadline: April 30.

Herbert W. Nickens, M.D., Student Scholarships – The Herbert W. Nickens Scholarship was established to provide third year medical students who have demonstrated leadership in eliminating inequities in medical education and health care.  Deadline: May.

Tylenol Scholarship Program – Students pursuing degrees in healthcare can apply for up to $10,000 in scholarship funds. The TYLENOL® Future Care Scholarship Program helps students in healthcare education to manage the rising costs of education. Deadline: May.

Epilepsy Foundation Research and Training Fellowships for Clinicians – one-year of supervised study and research; individuals with an MD or DO who will have completed residency training in neurology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, or psychiatry by the time the fellowship commences may apply; other clinically trained professionals (i.e. PharmD, Doctor of Nursing) are also eligible to apply. Deadline: Varies.

NIH Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Biomedical Research Training Program – for underrepresented undergraduates& graduate students, paid research training at NIH over 2 years, Deadline: Varies.

James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Fund – Students are invited to honor Rhio’s spirit of self-determination and intellectual curiosity by writing an essay about the use of alternative medical approaches in the treatment of cancer; cash prizes for winning essays. Must email contact on website for application and deadline information.

Pilot International Founders Fund – supports  students who will be working with those with brain-related disabilities through various scholarships, including the Ruby Newhall Memorial Scholarship, which supports international students in higher education in the U.S.  Deadline: unclear.

National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – Offers federal scholarships for U.S. citizens pursuing allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medicine, family nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, or physician assistant education.  Applicants to this scholarship must commit two to four years of service to the community.  The scholarship covers tuition, fees, monthly stipends, and educational expenses.  Applicant must be full-time students.

• Application Deadline:  April.
• Scholarship Award Amounts: Renewable for $15,000 – 200,000
• Application Requirements: Application, interview, transcript.
• Applications available online

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship) – This scholarship offers assistance to undergraduate and graduate students who are at least ¼ American Indian or a recognized member of an American Indian tribe.  Applicant must also be a member of AISES, at a $10 fee, and enrolled in a full-time accredited university.  Demonstration of financial need is required.

• Application Deadline: early May
• Scholarship Award Amounts: $1000 – 2000
• Application materials available online

Business and Professional Women’s Foundation Advancement Scholarship Program – The Scholarship Program assists women seeking the education for entry or re-entry into the work force, or advancement with a field.  Applicants must be studying biological science, education, engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or seeking a professional degree (JD, MD, or DDS).  Applicants must be 25 or older and female, and enrolled in a university, and have a 2.5/4.0 GPA or higher and be a U.S. citizen. Funds are for the junior year or higher.

• Application Deadline: varies per state
• Scholarship Award Amounts: $500 – 1000.
• Application Materials: Application, essay, financial need analysis, references, self-addressed stamped envelope, and transcripts are required by deadline.  Application is available online.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship Award –This scholarship is offered to Latino students who have a history of serving the public, and who plan to make public service their life’s work.  There is no GPA or major requirement.  Students must have a consistent involvement record, have been accepted into an institution, demonstrated financial need, maintain positive writing skills, and have US citizenship.

• Application Deadline: April
• Scholarship Award Amounts: $5000 (undergraduate scholarships will be paid out yearly, graduate or professional schools scholarships will be paid in a lump sum).
• Application Materials: Application may be downloaded from the website.

M.A. Cartland Shackford Medical Fellowship – The scholarship is offered to women planning study in the medical field, and to work in a general practice excluding psychiatry.  Applicants must be enrolled in or applying to medical school.   Awards will be awarded based on merit and financial need.

• Application Deadline: January
• Scholarship Award Amounts: minimum of $9000
• Application Materials: Application, personal statement, resume, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a self-addressed stamped postcard.  Application may be downloaded from website.

Chinese American Medical Society – The Chinese American Medical Society offers 3 to 5 scholarships a year to medical and/or dental students.

• Application Deadline: April
• Scholarship Award Amounts: varies
• Application Materials: A letter of recommendation from the dean, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, student’s current vitae, and background of financial need considered.  Application may be downloaded from website.

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship – The Fellowships provides funding for two years of graduate study for accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. Candidates must be naturalized citizens, permanent residents or the child of 2 naturalized citizens.

• Application Deadline: November
• Scholarship Award Amounts: Receive up to $45,000/year for two years.
• Application Materials: Applications may be downloaded from website.

Summer Opportunities

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship – Research support for a continual period of a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks, 30 hours or more per week, or an average of 4 hours per week for 12 months over 1 to 2 years, for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership, or professionalism. Deadline: December.

APS/SPR Student Research Program –  to encourage gifted medical students to consider careers in research related to pediatrics. The program is specifically designed for students seeking a research opportunity at an institution other than their own medical school. Deadline: January.

The University of Michigan Medical School Student Biomedical Research Programs –  a mentored, funded 10 week research experience for M1 medical students or those that will enter medical school in the fall of the current year. Deadline: February.

Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship – for medical students who have completed one or two years of medical school and wish to spend a summer working in a neurosurgical laboratory, mentored by a neurosurgical investigator sponsor. Deadline: February.

Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship Summer Program – provides students with a challenging and rewarding experience that exposes them to the opportunities within the medical field of anesthesiology and research. Deadline: November.

Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program – Awards of $2,000 to spend the summer researching in basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, or behavioral research relevant to lupus; preference to graduate or medical students. Deadline: April.

Library

The UIC Office of Special Scholarship Programs library is located in 808 UH and is open M-F, 9-5pm.  Titles include:

• Scholarships for Making a Difference in the World
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for People with Disabilities
• Scholarships for Military Veterans and their Dependents
• Scholarships for Hispanic /Asian American/African American Students
• Scholarships for Graduate Study in the Social Sciences
• Scholarships for Graduate Study in the Bio.& Health Sciences

For questions regarding these scholarships, contact:
Office of Special Scholarship Programs (OSSP)
(312) 355-2477
ssp@uic.edu

MICEFA is currently accepting applications to their medical exchange program, which aims to bring 3rd and 4th-year medical students to Paris to experience a comparative approach to medicine and public health practices. This is applicable to any student who may be interested in carrying out a clinical elective in Paris.

Electives Available

MICEFA can place you in the clinical elective of your choice. Some of the most popular electives chosen are Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology. This list is not exhaustive so do not hesitate to reach out to Heather Mortimer-Charoy, if you are looking for a specific elective or a sub-specialization.

Electives must be a minimum of 4 weeks. Students may request one elective for 4 or 8 weeks or two 4-week electives in different specialties.

Partnering French Universities

• Paris VI – Faculté de Médecine – Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC)
• Paris VII – UFR de Médecine – Paris Diderot
• Paris XI – Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud
• Paris XIII – Paris-Nord – UFR Santé, Médecine, Biologie Humaine
• Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines – UFR Sciences de la Santé

Eligibility

• Approval by home institution (UI COM)
• 3rd- or 4th-year medical student at partnering North American university.
• Students must have at least an A2 (lower intermediate level of French) to be able to participate in the program. Some universities (UPMC and Université Paris Diderot) as well as certain fields of study (Emergency Medicine) will require a higher proficiency of French (B2). MICEFA is able administer a French Language Placement test.

Application & Deadline

Download the application from the MICEFA website. The completed application with supporting documents should be returned to your UI COM international coordinator. UI COM will submit the completed application to MICEFA. Electronic submissions are accepted.

Application must be submitted at least 3 months before elective request date.

For more information, contact:
Heather Mortimer-Charoy
Program Coordinator
6 rue du Douanier Rousseau
75014 PARIS, FRANCE
+33 1 40 51 76 96
hmortimer@micefa.org
programcoordinator@micefa.org
http://micefa.org