Global health training during neonatal fellowship: fellow and program director perspectives
Sharla Rent1, Gregory Valentine2, Danielle Ehret3
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Sharla.Rent@gmail.com.
Objective:
This study explored the availability and perception of Global Health (GH) training opportunities in US-based Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship programs.
Study Design:
Electronic surveys, containing discrete choice and open-ended questions, were distributed to current and recent fellows and to Program Directors (PDs).
Results:
Fifty-eight PDs and ninety-eight fellows completed the survey. Fellows reported declining GH participation from 48% in medical school to 21% in fellowship. Among the 42% of fellows reporting GH opportunities at their programs, 30% personally participated. Fewer than 30% of these programs offer structured classroom or online learning; 10% offer research opportunities. 72% of fellows stated that GH availability is moderately to extremely important, compared with 58% of PDs. PDs cited cost, scheduling, mentorship, and lack of suitable global partners as barriers to supporting fellows in GH.
Conclusion:
NPM fellows place high importance on GH opportunities during fellowship, but only a minority engage in GH work.
Related Concept Videos
International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
International Nursing Organizations I
ICN member organizations work to advance the field of nursing and healthcare via policies, partnerships, lobbying, professional...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...


