How we developed a locally focused Global Health Clinical Preceptorship at Weill Cornell Medical College

Abstract

Background: Global health educational programs within U.S. medical schools have the opportunity to link their “global” focus with local circumstances by examining the challenges underserved communities face in the United States.

Aim: Students in Weill Cornell Medical College’s Global Health Clinical Preceptorship (GHCP) learn history-taking and physical examination skills while gaining exposure to local health care disparities and building cultural competency.

Methods: First-year medical students in the program are placed in the office of a physician who works with underserved patient populations in New York City. Students receive an orientation session, shadow their preceptors one afternoon per week for seven weeks, complete weekly readings and assignments on topics specific to underserved populations, attend a reflection session, and write a reflection paper.

Results: In three years, 36% of first-year students (112 of 311) opted into the elective GHCP program. Students reported gaining a better understanding of the needs of underserved patient populations, being exposed to new languages and issues of cultural competency, and having the opportunity to work with role model clinicians.

Conclusions: The GHCP is a successful example of how global health programs within medical schools can incorporate a domestic learning component into their curricula.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the following who helped to develop and refine the Global Health Clinical Preceptorship: Andrea Lorenze, Eunee Park, Daniel Shapiro, Carrie Bronsther, and Stacy Chu. The GHCP program would not have been possible without the support and coordination of Dr Joseph Murray and Ms Caryn Davi. Finally, the authors would like to thank the clinicians that volunteer their time to serve as Global Health Preceptors in the program.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.