The Duke Program - Internal Medicine Residency Program ::

but even more importantly in the resource-contrained countries of the developing world. Having residents train in both environments ensures that we create the best physicians possible for the Flat World of the 21st century."

G. Ralph Corey, MD

Director, Center for Global Health

International Health Program

In 1986, the Department of Medicine embarked on the creation of an International Health Program to educate our physicians about life and diseases in other countries.

In addition, we brought international physicians to North Carolina for educational and research endeavors. Almost 20 years later, this program is one of the most extensive international health programs for housestaff in the United States.

East Africa

Our first program was in East Africa, where the prevalence of tropical diseases offers a highly educational experience for our residents. Working with Tanzanian physicians at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, our residents help care for a wide variety of illnesses ranging from hypertension to malaria.

In addition, with American physicians guiding them, our residents spend three months in the western highlands of Kenya, working in a large, well-funded missionary hospital. The medical experience is unique and exciting in both locations, and a trip to the Masai Mara gives a glimpse of the spectacular wildlife which migrates through East Africa.

China

As a result of close personal ties with faculty at Beijing Hospital, another exchange site was created in China. In addition to ward experience at this 1,000-bed hospital, Duke residents are able to rotate to Peking Union Medical College. Each housestaff lives with a Chinese resident in the hospital complex who acts as interpreter, guide, and friend during the three-month rotation. One Beijing Hospital resident, in turn, is selected to come to Duke for a year of clinical experience.

Taiwan

Andrew Huang, MD, professor of internal medicine and oncology, was instrumental in developing our program with National Taiwan University.

This program provides our residents with a unique blend of First World research opportunities and Second World diseases (such as rheumatic valvular disease). Supervised by Dr. Huang, this has been an excellent opportunity to learn about a different culture while broadening one's medical experiences.

Brazil

Another opportunity in Vitoria, Brazil, developed as a result of the interaction between our infectious diseases faculty and that of the Universidade Federal de Espirito Santo.

Supervised by Reynaldo Dietze, MD, who is both an infectious disease and tropical medicine expert, our residents have unique opportunities to study tropical medicine in the hospital, in the laboratory, and in the field.

The prevalence of diseases such as leishmaniasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, leprosy, and paracoccidioidomycosis provides a basis for clinical research projects as well as clinical teaching.

Oxford, England

As a result of a visit to Duke by John Bell, MD, the Chair of Medicine at Oxford, several new collaborative initiatives are being undertaken between our two universities. One of the most exciting is a chance for one Duke Medicine resident to spend three months in Oxford, England.

Opportunities include rotating on clinical wards, learning the basics of clinical research, or spending time in one of Oxford’s world-class basic research laboratories.

Australia

During our visit to Oxford, discussion began with Dr. Paddy Philips, a faculty member and cardiologist Dr. Philips is now chairman at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. As a result he has hosted several of our residents and fellows for three-month rotations.

Flinders University is unique in that it is has a main campus in Adelaide and other campuses in Alice Springs and Darwin. This allows our residents to spend time studying indigenous populations as well as tropical medicine, if they so desire.

Mission of The Duke Center for Global Health

Reduce the burden of disease and health inequalities around the world through collaborative research, service, and education
Promote a greater understanding of the social and ethical implications of health care imbalances between developed and less developed countries through the support of research with service and experiential learning opportunities
Mentor a future generation of students and health care professionals to become globally experienced, socially responsible, and service oriented citizens.

The Center for Global Health’s team of committed faculty and program staff have spent considerable time living and working in developing countries and share a passion for improving health inequities.

What We Do

Inspire young students and professionals by exposing them to potentially life-changing experiences within the global village
Develop mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships which address the needs of local communities
Support research efforts in resource poor locations around the world while striving to serve the health care needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations

To learn more, visit the Center for Global Health’s Web site.

Global Health Residency Program

Duke has recently developed a multidisciplinary Global Health Residency Program (GHRP). The program is jointly sponsored by the Duke Global Health Institute and the Hubert Yeargan Center for Global Health . Participants in this program will learn firsthand how to effect systemic change for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people through comprehensive advanced training, education, and fieldwork in a resource-poor setting.

Distinctive features of the Global Health Residency Program include cross-departmental participation (the innaugural class included residents from four different departments), an opportunity to complete a Master of Science in Global Health degree, and an intensive nine-month field rotation. During the field experience, residents will have an opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in both a clinical and research capacity while developing leadership skills in community coalition building, program development, and cultural competency.

For more information on the Global Health Residency, visit the Hubert Yeargan Center for Global Health website.