![A doctor listens to a patient's heart](/sites/default/files/styles/16x9_full_default_1x/public/2024-02/adobestock_196113650.jpeg?h=d42affda&itok=oWG09ilA)
Global Health Programs
Our global health programs are supported by the Office of Global Health and offer opportunities that broaden medical students' perspectives on health and the world.
Deciding to Travel
Global health is important. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this. It is not only health problems that cross borders or are common to countries around the world; solutions to these problems can also cross borders and be shared, regardless of the level of development. All countries can learn from each other and share their experiences and information. An enlightened new definition of global health paints the picture of a two-way street: shared problems, shared solutions.
Health problems, issues, and concerns transcend national boundaries, may be influenced by circumstances or experiences in other countries, and are best addressed by cooperative actions and solutions.
The Institute of Medicine
Accordion Content
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Dozens of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students participate in our international health travel programs each year, often for one or more of the following reasons:
- Broaden cultural competency for domestic and international work. These experiences may be relevant in New Brunswick/New Jersey communities, given population trends.
- Assist in developing expertise for a career that focuses on the health needs of developing countries.
- Sharpen physical exam skills, increase understanding of cost-constrained care, and the importance of public health.
- Improve the ability to advocate for the needs of the most under-served patient populations in the world.
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It's never too soon to begin thinking about global health travel as part of your medical school experience. Most programs require students to sign up at least six months or more in advance. The Office of Global Health recommends following this general timeline when considering global health travel:
August–January
- Find and apply for a program
- Fill out global health grant application
- Attend the annual Global Health Fair
- Get a passport
January–February
- Attend required meetings
- Determine when to apply for a visa
- Shop airfare
- Begin immunizations
March–April
- Global health grant application due
- Attend required meetings
May
- Complete prophylaxis
- Set up international cell service or phone
- Alert credit card companies to travel and ensure ATM access
- Shop for any necessary items
- Pack (note if there is a required dress code)
June–July
- Go!
August–September
- Come back and share what you’ve learned!
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There are many things to consider when deciding where to travel, including:
- Personal goals for the experience (e.g., to improve language skills, gain exposure to diverse cultures, develop an understanding of public health concerns)
- Region or country of interest
- Type of program—language immersion vs. medical (women’s health, traditional medicine, rural medicine, surgical, ortho) or combination programs
- Language requirements
- Weather in destination county
- Budget constraints
- Past student recommendations
Programs
We work with institutions and organizations around the world to offer specific study abroad programs each year. Explore our current programs below and find deadline and registration details, along with additional international health travel information on the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Intranet (NetID required).
Africa
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International Health Care Volunteers, Inc. (IHCV)
- A two-week elective for medical students, residents, and fellows
- Develop clinical skills and cultural competencies in a unique and low-resource environment. Each learner will be assigned a medical mission mentor.
- A committee will select participants based on requirements of good academic standing, an assigned essay, interviews, and availability of mission mentors.
IHCV Program Details (NetID Required)
- A two-week elective for medical students, residents, and fellows
Asia
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Kobe University
- Opportunities for MS-1, MS-3 & MS-4
- MS-3, MS-4 A two-week rotation with two departments, for a total of four weeks, is recommended.
- MS-1 Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Max 2 students
Kobe Program Requirements (NetID Required)
- Contact the Office of Global Health for more information.
Hyogo Medical University
- Medical students from Asia, Europe and the US take part in a four-week rotation at the university hospital and can enjoy both educational and cultural experiences during their stay.
- Opportunities available for MS-1 MS-3 & MS-4
- Max 2 students
Program information and Application Requirements (NetID Required)- Contact the Office of Global Health for more information and consultation prior to sending applications.
University of Fukui
- Opportunities available for MS-1, MS-3 & MS-4
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine rotations
- Training at the JCHO Wakasa Takahama Hospital in Takahama town for 2–5 days
- Housing: The Matsuoka Campus, where the School of Medical Sciences is located, has a dormitory for international students at a rate of 8400 yen per month. Housing for Takahama Hospital depends on availability, but the staff dormitory is free of charge (view a map of the hospital).
- Max 2 Students
Fukui Program Information - Contact the Office of Global Health for more information.
- Opportunities for MS-1, MS-3 & MS-4
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慈濟大學 Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, eastern Taiwan
- The Global Health Experience at Tzu Chi University School of Medicine in Taiwan has a curriculum tailored to MS-1, MS-3 & MS-4 students that consists of:
- Silent Mentor Program—an invasive clinical procedures soft-body training program
- Community health mobile unit to aboriginal villages
- Inpatient hospice care
- There are two program formats to choose from:
- Four-week TzuChi Hospital program
Hospital Program Application - Six-day clinical skills training/Silent Mentor Program (if timing permits, this program can be integrated with three weeks of observation at another department)
Clinical Skills Application
- Four-week TzuChi Hospital program
- Tuition: Free for Robert Wood Johnson Medical School medical students through a partnership with Tzu Chi University. Contact Dr. Karen Lin for details.
- Travel Grant: Rutgers Center for Chinese Studies will offer small travel grants ($250 each, up to four awards) to supplement students' travel to China (or other Chinese-speaking communities more broadly) for research/study in the summer of 2024. Interested students should write a 1–2 page proposal outlining their research plan and/or program of study with relevant dates and an estimated budget, as well as info about their status at Rutgers. Email proposals to RutgersCCS@gmail.com, with "Travel Fund" in the subject line. Apply as early as possible; applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the fund runs out.
- Contact the Office of Global Health for more information and consultation prior to sending applications.
Kaouhsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaouhsiung Taiwan
- Clinical Rotation: 2–4-week clinical elective program for international medical students
- Preferred time frames (apply three months prior):
- Mid-September to mid-January
- Late February to mid-June
Clinical Rotation Details Download the Application
- Contact the Office of Global Health for more information and consultation prior to sending applications.
National Taiwan University - The School of Medicine
- Clinical electives are available to foreign exchange students at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). Applications are open all year round except Chinese New Year. Clinical rotations start on Mondays and end on Fridays, with a minimum duration of two weeks for each course.
Program Details How to Apply
- The Global Health Experience at Tzu Chi University School of Medicine in Taiwan has a curriculum tailored to MS-1, MS-3 & MS-4 students that consists of:
Europe
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Medical University of Graz
Clinical Rotations
- Four-week clinical rotation
- There is no rotation calendar—students are welcome throughout the year, however, we do not encourage rotations in December and the beginning of January due to the Christmas holiday.
Clinical Rotation Details Explore Graz, Austria
- There is no rotation calendar—students are welcome throughout the year, however, we do not encourage rotations in December and the beginning of January due to the Christmas holiday.
Educational Courses in Pediatric Medicine
- Four-week program held twice a year, consisting of clinical rotations, lectures, interactive case presentations, or research talks in the afternoon
- Opportunities for M1–M4, preferably students interested in pediatrics
- February 2025 Session, applications due August 31st, 2024
- July 2025 Session, applications due December 19th, 2024.
Pediatric Course Details
- Contact the Office of Global Health to discuss the program and registration.
Max 2 students
- Four-week clinical rotation
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West University of Arad
- Four-week internship, 6-8 hours per day, at the Faculty of Medicine
- Developed for medical students and young physicians eager to know and explore other cultures, as well as the functionality of other healthcare systems.
- A week of knowledge and understanding of the teaching process at the school of medicine, participating in various curricular and extracurricular activities, accommodation with the location, the culture and the history of the place with our students,
- A week of participation in activities in primary healthcare services, carried on in the practices of the family physicians in rural or urban environment, or in partner centers of recovery where a first contact with the patient from the Romanian medical system is to take place,
- A week of participation in clinical activities in the medical academic clinics, depending on the applicant's field of interest, for instance hematology, oncology, imagery, neurology, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency, cardiology, gastroenterology etc.
- A week of participation in clinical activities in the surgical academic clinics, depending on the applicant's field of interest, for instance general surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopedics, multiple traumas, surgical emergencies, etc.
- Option to replace the week of participation in clinical activities with research activities carried on at the Institute of Life Sciences
Download Program Information
- Option to replace the week of participation in clinical activities with research activities carried on at the Institute of Life Sciences
- Contact the Office of Global Health to discuss the program and registration.
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Hospital Miguel Servet & University of Zaragoza School of Medicine
- Four-week didactic program for first-year medical students, incorporating:
- Seminars on the Spanish health care system
- Clinical rotations at Psychosomatic Medicine Service, Hospital Miguel Servet, and an opportunity for rotations at other medical services
- Rotations through community primary care clinics with particular emphasis on common medical problems in Spain
- Advanced Spanish proficiency is preferred
- Program begins in June
- Max of five students
Download Program Details Zaragoza Guidebook - Contact the Office of Global Health to discuss the program and registration.
- Four-week didactic program for first-year medical students, incorporating:
South America
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International Health Central American Institute (IHCAI)
P010A – Intensive Medical Spanish Course and Introduction to Tropical Medicine
- Spanish level: beginner
- Intensive four-week medical Spanish course
- Primarily classroom-based, utilizing simulated patient-physician interactions
- Emphasis on clinical interview skills and understanding of cultural differences
- Clinical site visit to the Costa Rican health system is severely restricted and students will not be able to visit clinical sites. The clinical sites will be replaced by conferences and discussions on the subject.
P010A Program Details Register Now
P07A – Medical Spanish and Introduction to Tropical Medicine with Observational Clinical Rotation in the Costa Rican Health System
- Spanish level: intermediate or advanced proficiency
- Four-week Spanish course and observational clinical rotation for Robert Wood Johnson Medical School junior medical students, incorporating:
- Brief Medical Spanish course
- Introduction to tropical medicine
- Critical approach of the Costa Rican health system
- Shadowing clinical experience
- Contact the Office of Global Health to discuss the program and registration.
P07A Program Details (NetID Required)
Other Programs
The Office of Global Health and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School do not endorse these programs but provide this list as a service to students. Additional links to international health organizations that provide travel opportunities and other useful information can be found in our Global Health Database on the medical school Intranet (NetID required).
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The IFMSA is an independent, non-governmental and non-political federation of medical students’ associations from more than 100 countries around the world.
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Himalayan Health Exchange will organize medical camps in the remote North Western Himalayan regions of India and the Indo-Tibetan Borderlands in 2025. Participation is open to physicians/residents, medical students, and allied health students. Each camp is designed to provide care to approximately 2,000 underserved patients and an opportunity for global health experience to participants. Fourth-year medical student and resident participation is limited to 20 on each trip.
- Duration: Four weeks, including international travel time
- Clinical Supervisors: US-based and board-certified physicians
- Cost: US $2,980 plus airfare. Cost includes in-country ground transportation, accommodations, meals, pick-up and drop-off at airports. Detailed breakdown included in individual trip itineraries.
Learn More About the Exchange
2025 Schedule
- Outer Himalayas (Winter Camp): Medical camp in the north Indian State of Himachal Pradesh; February 1–28, 2025
- Dharamsala: A four-week medical and dental expedition to Tibetan Settlements, schools and villages located around Dharamsala (North India), home to The 14th Dalai Lama and Tibetans in Exile; April 1–28, 2025
- Kargiakh (Medical and Wilderness Medicine): High-altitude medical and wilderness medicine trek to a remote Trans-Himalayan tribal village located in southern Zanskar; August 1–28, 2024 and 2025.
Contacts
- Carolyn Leous
info@himalayanhealth.com
404-929-9399 - Shawn Vainio, MD FAAFP
shawnvainio@gmail.com
907-942-9039
Pre- and Post-Travel
Prepping for Travel
When you decide to pursue an international health travel program, there are several steps you'll need to take to prepare, including:
- Meet with the Office of Global Health to discuss your travel plans
- Book flights early
- Review potential funding sources and programs and apply for grand funding
- Ensure you have a valid passport and visa and meet country-specific entry/exit requirements
- Secure travel health and SOS insurance and registering for international travel with Rutgers University Finance and Administration
- Complete and submit externship or non-credit clinical experience forms (M1 students)
- Read Rutgers University guidance for international travel
- Get vaccinations and prophylaxis required for immunization clearance
After Your Trip
We can't wait for you to come back and share what you've learned, but don't forget these important steps when you return:
- Complete and submit externship or non-credit clinical experience forms (M1 students)
- Complete requirements for the Global Health Travel Stipend (recipients only)
Find detailed program information and requirements, links to forms, checklists and packing tips, resources, and more on the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Intranet (NetID required).
Student Experiences
![Jersey Chen stands in front of a sign at Hyogo Emergency Medical Center in Japan](/sites/default/files/styles/max_width_embed_default_1x/public/2024-03/jersey-chen-reflection-final.jpg?itok=DEvov7Ci)
I think there are a few key differences in how physicians in the US and Japan are trained, but at the end of the day, I have seen that the heart of a doctor is the same.
Jersey Chen
Kobe University, Japan, 2023
Kobe University, Japan
Medical University, Graz Austria
TzuChi Medical University
- Emily Kwon (New Jersey Medical School)
Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
Medical Spanish Course
Through the use of interactive small group classes, community service opportunities, and cultural competency lectures, the Medical Spanish Course Non-Credit Elective is designed to give medical students an opportunity to learn and practice many of the expressions, common questions and answers, and terminology used when interacting with Spanish speaking patients. The overall goal is to improve medical students’ conversation for use in medical interviewing and patient communication.
Throughout the academic year, the course offers 10 small group sessions (1.5 hours/session), lectures on the proper use of a medical interpreter and Latino culture, and community service experiences.
Eligibility
This course is only open to medical students.
Enrollment
Enrollment is done electronically. Email notices will be sent to the class listserves about the informational session and course registration process.
Classroom Sessions
The Medical Spanish classes are divided into four levels of fluency: beginner, intermediate-low and intermediate-high, and advanced. The beginner and intermediate levels consist of small group didactic and interactive role-playing classes to maximize students’ potential to learn key concepts. The advanced level curriculum is primarily interactive role-playing with concepts commonly used in a clinical setting. Each level is taught by a Medical Spanish instructor and has a maximum class size of 25 students.
Objectives
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Translate basic anatomy from English to Spanish, and vise versa
- Initiate conversation with Spanish-speaking patients
- Apply medical Spanish terminology to obtain a basic history and facilitate the performance of a physical examination of patients
- Advocate the use of a qualified interpreter when the encounter goes beyond the student’s level of understanding
- Discuss cultural practices and health beliefs unique to the Hispanic community
- Discuss the Office for Civil Rights and other legal guidelines for physicians caring for the Limited English Proficient Patient
Credit Requirements
Students who successfully fulfill the requirements will receive a notation of completion on their academic transcript. To receive credit for the course, participants must fulfill the following by May 31:
- Complete 10 out of 12 classroom/lecture sessions
- Participate in two community service events that serve patients whose primary language is Spanish.
Contacts
Sonia Laumbach
Faculty Advisor
sgarcia@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Cynthia Ferrer-Cespedes
Program Coordinator
ferrercl@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Medical Mandarin Course
The Medical Mandarin Course Non-Credit Elective aims to provide students with sufficient Medical Mandarin knowledge to facilitate effective patient communication and medical interviewing.
Eligibility
The course is open only to medical students. However, no prior experience in Mandarin is required.
Course Content
The course consists of a Beginner class and an Advanced class, which are both one hour in length. Participants in the Beginner class gain a basic foundation in Mandarin vocabulary and interview skills, whereas Advanced participants gain more in-depth clinical interviewing skills in Mandarin.
Clinical Experiences
Throughout the year, students participate in Mandarin-speaking community service events where they are paired side-by-side with American-Chinese physicians and health care professionals to provide medical care to a non-English-speaking population. Students also have the opportunity to complete a Global Health rotation in Taiwan or China during the summer after M1 year or during the spring of M4 year.
Instructors
Two second-year medical students teach the Advanced class, while the Beginner class is led by a second-year medical student and a Mandarin-speaking Rutgers graduate student.Objectives
Objectives
- Patient Care: Apply medical Mandarin terminology to obtain a history and perform a physical using Mandarin. Participate in community outreach activities with Mandarin-speaking patients.
- Medical Knowledge: Learn the vocabulary of common diseases and complaints in Mandarin and English.
- Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Advocate for the use of qualified interpreters if encounters exceed student’s proficiency level.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Initiate conversations with Mandarin-speaking patients.
- Professionalism: Discuss cultural beliefs and practices unique to the Mandarin-speaking community.
- Systems-Based Practice: Facilitate improved patient access by bridging the language barrier between Mandarin-speaking patients and English-speaking physicians and staff.
Credit Requirements
Students who successfully fulfill the requirements will receive a notation of completion on their academic transcript.
To receive credit for the course, participants must:
- Attend at least eight lectures
- Participate in two community service events that serve patients whose primary language is Mandarin
Contacts
Elective Directors
Calvin Wang, cw1028@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Celina Zhou, cz422@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Emily Wang, ew461@rwjms.rutgers.edu
George Hung, gah103@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Matthew Silverman, ms3648@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Faculty Advisor
Karen Lin
The Global Health Experience
The Global Health Experience (course number MDC 9070) is designed to enhance students' awareness of international issues relevant to health, exposure to other languages and cultures, and knowledge of other health care systems.
Global health elective opportunities will be offered in several countries and will follow the guidelines outlined below. Some countries may offer some unique experiences and these will be determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, for some students, Medical Spanish would become a primary goal in the international rotations. Others may like to learn about international research collaborations.
Eligibility
This course is open to third- and fourth-year medical students.
Experiential Component (Clinical)
This includes working in primary care clinics, hospitals, and community settings under the supervision of a physician. Students will assess the cultural and environmental context in which patients present and elicit the needed information on the subject’s medical, social, and personal condition; make or update a diagnosis; decide and apply interventions; and properly record information on the encounter. After the clinical time, a case discussion will be held with the supervisor.
Scholarly Project (Review Project or Case Presentation Project)
At the beginning of the elective, the student will agree with the mentor on a scholarly project. The project could involve a case presentation or a literature review, four–six pages, double spaced. The case presentation, besides the standard sections, should include a discussion of global health issues affecting the presentation, treatment, and prognosis of the case. The literature review must deal with a subject relevant to global health in the specific region chosen for the elective. It can also include contrasts and comparisons between the US and the host country’s health care systems and lessons learned that can be applied here. In order to receive credit, students will also be required to complete a student feedback form about their learning experience at the global health site.
Objectives
Objectives of the regular clinical outpatient training for medical students include:
- Enhancing the six core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, and systems-based practice
- Enhancing cultural sensitivity and competence in medical students
- Encouraging students to consider global health careers or practice in communities where there is a shortage of linguistically competent providers
Evaluation
The evaluation will follow the general parameters in use at the medical school. The student will carry the evaluation form (available from the Registrar’s Office) abroad and request their on-site supervisor to complete the form. The student will return the completed evaluation form to the Office of Global Health with a final version of the scholarly project.
Karen Lin, associate dean for global health, will use the evaluation that the on-site supervisor provided and an evaluation of the scholarly project, to complete the evaluation grade form. This grade will be submitted by the Office of Global Health to the Registrar’s Office on the student’s behalf.
- Attendance
- Knowledge
- Rapport /Communication /Professionalism
- Scholarly project
Global Health Interest Group
The Global Health Interest Group (GHIG) is designed to raise awareness of international health issues through a close collaboration with the Office of Global Health. GHIG offers a "Global Health Elective" that includes lunch lectures and events with speakers who have worked in different capacities in global health. Topics covered throughout the year will broaden students' perspectives on different cultures and world medical problems that are not seen in the United States. In addition, GHIG assists students who visit abroad during the summer between first and second year or during the fourth-year electives with fundraising and information sessions. The GHIG coordinators are also members of the steering committee for the Office of Global Health.
Explore the Group (NetID Required)
Student Leaders and Contact Information
George Hung
President
gah103@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Shreya Gupta
Vice President
sg1496@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Neha Chauhan
Treasurer
nc879@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Arsala Khan
Secretary
ak1709@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Global Surgery Student Alliance
Global Surgery Student Alliance (GSSA) is the national student-run global surgery working group for the United States, affiliated with InciSioN (the International Student Surgical Network). The GSSA mission is to educate, inspire, and unite students through engagement and mentorship in global surgery, including anesthesia and OB/GYN.
The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School chapter of GSSA was founded in early 2018 by Erin Scott, Paul Truche, Ardi Mendoza, and Shahyan Rehman. It is a student-run advocacy group for global surgery to educate interested students early on what global surgery is and how they can integrate global surgery work into their medical school education. Gregory Peck and Joseph S. Hanna serve as the GSSA faculty advisors.
Explore the Group (NetID Required)
Contact Information
George Hung
President
gah103@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Sophia Tumsuden
Vice President of Research
st1185@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Diana Vitkovska
Vice President of Education
dv427@rwjms.rutgers.edu
International Global Health Observership
The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School observership is a cultural exchange program that provides insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of our doctors in their respective specialties. Each participant in the observership (no hands-on) will be matched with a faculty member who will serve as their mentor. It is the goal of the observership to give an insight into the United States medical system by observing our medical teams. Depending on the departments, the observership will allow observers to:
- Experience new techniques and treatments
- Have discussions with responsible physicians and medical teams
- Observe surgeries and other invasive interventions
- Familiarize themselves with best-practice methods at a high medical level
- Learn how cultural practices affect health
Timeline
The observer ship is for a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of four weeks. Apply at least six months ahead of desired time frame, mid-February to June or September to November. The program accepts a maximum of two students per four weeks and a maximum of two students per institution each year.
Placement Availability
Placement is based on the availability of our global health faculty. Students should first consult their international office to receive approval to apply for our observership. The international office should then send us an email on behalf of the student including the student's email address and CV.
Eligibility
- Full-time non-US citizen medical students in their final year of study outside the United States, in good academic standing from a partnering institution
- Partnering institution has nominated you to participate in the observership program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Completion of core clerkships prior to starting date of approved observership: internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and family medicine
- Dean’s letter or letter of good standing from registrar supporting good academic standing and expected date of graduation (must state "expected date of graduation")
- Must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to observership start, including COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, and flu vaccine
- English language proficiency
- CV and transcript
Requirements
- Complete forms
- We will send the documents to the approved/nominated students
- Supply supporting documents
- Confirm dates of placement and duration of stay
- HIPAA to be completed after acceptance and placement
- Proof of malpractice coverage from your institution. If not covered by your institution, you will need coverage.
- A valid passport and proof of visa. Visas are needed to enter the US. See your institution for the best option. International students in the past have used the Visitors Visa. We do not sponsor students for any visas. Please start your visa application early.
End-of-Program Info
Students are required to do a short presentation on their time at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to the Office of Global Health. An end-of-observership evaluation is also required.
The Office of Global Health will collect feedback from faculty mentor(s) at the end of their observership, which will be sent to the student and their institution in a letter.
Round trip transport to the US |
Depends on the location of departure |
Daily transport (if needed) |
Estimated $10–$15 (train) |
Housing |
$1,000–$1,500/month |
Meals |
$10/day or $500/month |
Medical insurance |
Depends on insurance |
Malpractice/professional liability insurance |
Depends on insurance |
Please note that these costs may change depending on the time you travel.
Resources for International Students
Explore resources for our observership participants and learn more about things to do during your time at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Housing
- Rutgers Faculty and Staff Short-Term Housing
- Airbnb
- Community Facebook groups:
Transportation
- Public transport
- NJ Transit (if on the Northeast Corridor)
- Rutgers–New Brunswick Campus Buses/Shuttle Service
- Uber or Lyft
Entertainment
- Things to do in New Jersey:
- Explore cafés, restaurants, and performance venues in New Brunswick
- Venture to New York City, 40 minutes via train, and other historic towns in central New Jersey, such as Princeton
- Watch a virtual tour of Downtown New Brunswick
- Find things to do in New Brunswick
- Things to do at Rutgers:
FAQs
Accordion Content
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Our global health faculty are dedicated physicians who, in addition to their clinical duties, are dedicated to doing global health work around the world, as well as community-based global health.
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These rotations are only two–four weeks long.
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Depending on the faculty you are assigned to you will typically have a combination of outpatient and inpatient services as well as didactics within the department.
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No, these are observerships. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has a hands-off policy for international medical students.
For surgical specialties, you will be in the operating room observing, but not scrubbed in for any procedures.
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No, this is an observership and the goal of the program is cultural exchange. Our faculty's preference for these rotations are students from other countries who want to come to the US to experience the local culture, the medical system, and the language.
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Expect an 8–10-hour day on any given service. Surgical specialties may have longer days.
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It depends on the service and the specialty. For some surgical specialties, you will be required to do a 24-hour call.
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In general, the dress code is business casual attire, and your white coat. If your institution does not have a white coat, we will provide one for you. Your ID should be always be displayed. You should refer to yourself as a medical student if you are a student or resident physician if you are a resident.
Student Experiences
![International student Kai Okubo takes a selfie on a sidewalk in New Brunswick with the sunshine behind him](/sites/default/files/styles/max_width_embed_default_1x/public/2024-04/kai_obuko.png?itok=GUW0ITxO)
Having the opportunity to witness clinical study abroad role models up close is a valuable experience. It is definitely enjoyable, so if you are unsure about studying abroad, I encourage you to take the challenge without hesitation!
Kai Okubo
Fukui University, Japan, 2023