Our department's Emergency Medicine Residency Program is committed to training future leaders in global health, among other areas of distinction. One of the most impactful opportunities we offer our trainees is the Global Health Away Elective Program, which allows residents to learn in new clinical environments, collaborate with diverse faculty, and broaden their perspective on emergency care around the world. These immersive experiences are invaluable for professional development — but often come with out-of-pocket costs that can be a barrier for some.
With your support, we can ensure every resident has access to these learning opportunities, regardless of financial circumstance. Donate now to support the mentorship, professional growth, and well-being of exceptional emergency residents who are learning how to collaborate, advocate, and innovate for better patient outcomes and improved community health.
Hear firsthand from past residents about the impact of the Global Health Away Elective Program:
"My time in Chinle was transformative. Practicing medicine somewhere so rural and resource-limited is a completely different art from what I was able to learn in our busy academic and city county centers. I had to be mindful of resources, culture, language, and the history of this beautiful community in a way that was new to me and ultimately very important for my development as a doctor. I was also independent in a new way for me that, just months before graduation, gave me an opportunity to practice all of these skills in a setting where I could make independent decisions."
Participated in an away rotation at Chinle Hospital in Arizona
"Saipan was a highlight in residency and the best elective time spent. Not only were the island, people, and culture incredible, but working in the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation was also special. I felt empowered to practice more independently as I was approaching the end of my fourth year of my residency, and truly enjoyed getting to know medicine outside of the Bay Area/continental United States, and learning more about how to practice in a low-resource setting. I would do it again if I could and am actually thinking about working there in the future!"
Participated in an away rotation at Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
"Saipan was a great opportunity to work in a medium-resourced hospital and learn about island medicine. We had many labs and imaging available to us, but learning what to send off the island and how to do it was very interesting (many people go on commercial flights!). The pace of the island was excellent, and I loved that we were able to contribute to others' learning while we were there with an ultrasound bootcamp. Highly recommend!"
Participated in an away rotation at Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
"Getting the opportunity to do an international rotation allowed us to learn about new health systems and how medicine is practiced differently across the world. There is so much to learn from doctors outside of our institution, including diseases we don’t see as much and practicing in a much more resource-limited setting. This rotation in Tanzania was a life-changing experience."
Participated in an away rotation at Muhimbili Hospital in Tanzania, East Africa
"Saipan was one of my favorite times of residency. It was a much-needed sunny tropical adventure mixed with an excellent and quite unusual clinical experience working in a rural emergency department where we TNK'd [tenecteplased] STEMIs [ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarctions], functioned without specialists, and learned directly from experienced family medicine physicians. I am hoping to return as an attending physician!"
Participated in an away rotation in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands