Exchange Institution: Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI)

Description: The Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI) is a leading institution in Western Austria, offering a remarkable medical exchange program designed for students seeking to expand their horizons in a dynamic academic setting. Located in the picturesque city of Innsbruck, nestled in the heart of the Tyrol region in the Alps, MUI is renowned for its unwavering commitment to excellence in medical education and pioneering research. At MUI, students will find themselves at a modern medical research hub, focusing on critical fields such as oncology, neurosciences, immunology, and infectology. The university hospital is equipped with cutting-edge facilities, providing exchange students with the chance to engage in advanced clinical training and comprehensive healthcare practices. Beyond academics, Innsbruck offers a rich cultural experience set against a stunning alpine backdrop. Students can enjoy outdoor adventures, explore the city’s historic charm, and immerse themselves in the lively local culture.

Clinical electives: surgery and subspecialties, neurology, anesthesiology, gynecology and obstetrics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine (excluding Cardiology), ENT, psychiatry (knowledge of German required), and ophthalmology

Students will rank their three options in order of preference. MUI will try to accommodate the first preference. Subsequent requests will only be considered if all options are already booked at the chosen time. Knowledge of German is not required, except for psychiatry.

Facts about MUI

Innsbruck Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not Provided
• Housing: Not Provided
• Board: Not Provided

TYPICAL DAY ON A CLINICAL ROTATION

1. Morning Handoff & Team Meeting: Start the day by joining the clinical team for updates on patient status and planning the day’s activities. 

2. Ward Rounds: Participate in ward rounds with doctors, observe patient interactions, and contribute to discussions and documentation. 

3. Clinical Responsibilities: Assist with daily tasks such as patient admissions, wound care, updating charts, and observing or performing basic procedures under supervision.

4. Midday Break: Take time to eat, rest, or review cases and study relevant material.

5. Afternoon Activities: Engage in outpatient clinics, surgeries, teaching sessions, or follow-up tasks depending on the rotation and department.

6. Wrap-Up & Reflection: Conclude the day by reviewing what you’ve learned, discussing cases with supervisors, and preparing for the next day.

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Alethea Desrosiers, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alethea_Desrosiers@brown.edu 

Exchange Institution: Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo

Description: Founded in 1912, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMUSP) develops activities characterized by a combination of education, research, and health care. FMUSP offers undergraduate courses in Medicine, Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, besides post–graduation courses and residency programs. All the activities are held at the University Hospital (HU) and the largest hospital in Latin America - Hospital das Clínicas – HC - FMUSP. Currently, FMUSP holds 14% of the scientific production in Medical Sciences, 4% of the Brazilian scientific production in all areas, 200 research cores, and 62 Clinical Investigation Laboratories.

Visit here for the current available clinical electives.

FMUSP Campus Video

FMUSP Guide

Brown medical student guide

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: $500 or up to $1,000
• Housing: Not provided
• Board: Provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Hugo Yamada, Clinical Instructor in Medical Science, yamada@breakwaterpcri.org

Exchange Institution: Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Description: Zhejiang University is huge, spanning multiple campuses located mostly north of West Lake. The medical school sits on a new campus and boasts modern facilities and technology, as well as a very interesting medical museum. This hospital is a regional leader in medical care. Patients from rural areas and even from different provinces will make the journey to see highly skilled and competent physicians. WAMS students have done radiology, anesthesia, surgery, and pediatrics, so far.

ZUSM Campus Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Provided

Other resources: Guide written by previous students

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Jie Tang, Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, jie_tang@brown.edu

Exchange Institution: Institución Universitaria Visión de las Américas, Pereira (IUVA)

Description: Located in the vibrant city of Pereira, Colombia, IUVA is a leading higher education institution committed to providing quality education and fostering innovation in the medical field. With a focus on developing skilled professionals who are equipped to meet global healthcare challenges, IUVA offers cutting-edge medical programs, combined with practical training and community engagement. The university is dedicated to international collaboration, offering students the opportunity to participate in exchange programs that enhance both academic and cultural experiences. Pereira, known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes, provides an ideal setting for students to grow academically and personally. 

Clinical electives: internal medicine and specialties (such as cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, gastroenterology, amongst others), psychiatry, gynecology,  obstetrics, pediatrics, general surgery and surgical specialties such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology, amongst others), emergency medicine and intensive care, family medicine, and geriatrics.

Additional Program Information 

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Provided

GOALS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

1. Hands-On Learning in Diverse Healthcare Settings
2. Providing real clinical experience in hospitals and community health centers, helping them understand a wide range of diseases and healthcare challenges in Colombia.
3. Build Strong Clinical Thinking Skills
4. Enhancing clinical perspective by encouraging students to make diagnoses, use medical evidence, and practice clinical judgment — all while being guided by expert physicians and real patient cases.
5. Understand Culture and Global Health
6. We prepare students to care for patients from different backgrounds by exploring how culture, language, and social conditions affect health — especially in Latin America.
7. Grow as Professionals and Team Members
8. We help students strengthen key values like empathy, respect, and responsibility, while working closely with nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals as part of a real care team.

TYPICAL DAY ON A CLINICAL ROTATION

1. Morning Sign-Out: Students participate in the patient handover process, reviewing cases from the overnight team.
2. Patient Care and Supervised Activities: Throughout the day, students assess patients, assist in procedures, contribute to care plans, and receive bedside teaching from physicians.
3. Midday Teaching Sessions: Short lectures or clinical case reviews are delivered by residents or guest specialists, covering key topics in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and more.
4. Documentation and Follow-Up: Students write progress notes, review lab and imaging results, and discuss treatment options with patients and families.
5. Community Health Engagement (optional): As part of our Community Health Strategy, students take part in outreach initiatives such as health education campaigns and preventive screenings in rural or underserved areas.

Clinical clerkships at IUVA are more than training — they are opportunities for students to build their identity as compassionate, capable, and research-informed future physicians

Brown Faculty Liaisons:  

• Dr. Dino Messina, Associate Professor of Medicine, Dino_Messina@brown.edu
• Dr. Alethea Desrosiers, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alethea_Desrosiers@brown.edu 

Exchange Institution: Hospitál Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez

Description: In 2004, the Brown Department of Medicine entered into an educational exchange agreement with the Department of Internal Medicine at Cabral y Baez in Santiago, Dominican Republic. In choosing Cabral y Baez as an educational exchange site, the Department considered the relevance of an experience in the Dominican Republic to our patient population in Providence, the relative ease of travel to Santiago, and the desire of many Brown internal medicine residents and medical students to gain international experience in a Spanish-speaking country. At Cabral, we found internal medicine colleagues eager to partner with us in a mutually beneficial partnership and bilateral educational exchange program.

Hospitál Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez (HRUJMCB) is a public regional hospital in Santiago de los Caballeros serving as the main tertiary care center for the northern half of the Dominican Republic.  It is also the main teaching hospital for the three medical schools located in Santiago.

Annually, residents from Cabral y Baez also rotate through the Brown Hospitals in Rhode Island. One of the responsibilities of medical students and residents selected to participate in the exchange is to assist Cabral residents who visit Brown.

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective (February 2nd to February 27th, 2026)
• No. of students: 4 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not Provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Not provided
• Language Requirement: Advanced Spanish*

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Alexis Kearney, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, alexis_kearney@brown.edu

*Students interested, please contact Dr. Kearney and copy david_arango@brown.edu to schedule a Spanish language interview.

Additional information about DR exchange

CURRICULUM

All students will spend at least two weeks on the Internal Medicine Wards at Cabral y Baez. Additionally, students can customize their experience per their preferences by choosing to spend time on the following services: HIV clinic, Emergency Department, night float shift, ICU, and Subspecialty departments such as Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiology, and resident outpatient clinics.

Traditionally, students are paired with PGY2s at Cabral who are proficient in English in order to help the Brown trainees through the week-long rotations. Usually, these PGY2s are also interested in participating in the exchange at RIH.

GOALS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS & residents

1. Understand the clinical presentation and management of common serious illnesses in the Dominican Republic, including dengue, leptospirosis, malaria, organophosphate poisoning, tuberculosis, and HIV infection
2. Understand the structure of the Dominican healthcare system, the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the Dominican Republic, and how they differ from morbidity and mortality in the United States
3. Understand the structure of medical education in the Dominican Republic
4. Develop skill in the cost-effective evaluation of illness in a resource-scarce environment
5. Develop skills in working within the medical education system at Cabral y Baez
6. Increase understanding of Dominican culture
7. Develop increased competence in the Spanish language

TYPICAL DAY ON THE GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE FLOORS AT CABRAL Y BAEZ HOSPITAL

1. Sign-Out: Known as "la entrega de la guardia", the PGY1s that were on for night float ("en servicio") give sign out on all admitted patients to the day teams and overnight updates on any patients previously on the wards.
2. Morning Report led by Residents/Grand Rounds given by Attendings: Sign out is followed by a lecture given by a senior resident on a particular topic or case. These lectures provide good exposure to medical Spanish in a controlled setting with PowerPoint slides. At the end of each lecture, there is a brief discussion/questions session led by the chief resident.
3. Weekly Grand Rounds are given by a senior attending. Most often, the attending presents 1-2 interesting cases that are currently or were recently on the wards. The attending presents the initial H+P of the patient along with a differential diagnosis, management, followed by an academic conversation involving senior residents and other attending physicians
4. Rounds with Attending Physician or Resident Teams: Resident teams will round after the lecture and formally present new patients and quickly follow up on older patients on their service.
5. Afternoon Lecture: Conferences in the afternoon continue with focused lectures given by a resident or medical student.
6. Completing any remaining tasks: After AM rounds, the team splits off to write progress notes, work on the sign-out sheet, and complete the necessary tasks on each patient (labs and imaging studies). If there is an interesting case on the service, you can continue to follow the patient after rounds by reading through their chart, chatting to the patient about their situation, or by assisting the medical students with their tasks.

ADDITIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES THAT BROWN TRAINEES CAN ROTATE ON:

1. Clínica de Enfermedades de Inmunología (HIV clinic), Hospitál Cabral y Baéz: The HIV clinic in Hospitál Cabral y Baéz is run by Dra. Claudia Rodriguez, one of Brown’s main contacts here in the Dominican Republic.  Patients are seen by Pasantes, which are medical trainees doing a mandatory year of service before entering residency.
   • Trainees will have opportunity to practice physical exam as well as history taking in Spanish.
   • Observe and help with clinic visits during regular morning clinic hours.
   • Choose a patient to present later during the day for “Brown Rounds”
2. Emergency Room: If you want to see what happens to people in a country where there are very few enforced traffic laws, stoplights are mere suggestions, and people tear around recklessly on motorbikes without helmets, you can spend an afternoon (or night) with the internal medicine residents in the emergency room.
3. Night float shift
4. ICU
5. Subspecialty departments such as Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiology
6. Resident outpatient clinics

Brown Faculty Liaisons:  

• Dr. Dino Messina, Associate Professor of Medicine, Dino_Messina@brown.edu
• Dr. Alexis Kearney Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Alexis_Kearney@brown.edu 

1) Exchange Institution: University of Rostock

Description: The University of Rostock is an esteemed institution offering an enriching medical exchange experience. Situated in the scenic city of Rostock, Germany, this faculty is renowned for its modern medical curriculum. The program features hands-on clinical training and interdisciplinary learning. Exchange students will benefit from a supportive academic environment and gain international perspectives through exposure to innovative practices and diverse medical cases. 

Rostock Video

Details: 

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 4 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Karen Tashima, Professor of Medicine, karen_tashima@brown.edu

2) Exchange Institution: Faculty of Medicine of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen

Description: This Critical Care Course is available has a duration of two weeks (Feb/Mar).  After the end of the course, interested students could add a clinical elective of variable (max. 6 weeks) length.  Tuition for participation in the program is waived and includes accommodation, lunch money (10 Euro per Day), a ticket for local transportation, free time activities, books, and a certificate. Food for reasonable prices is available in the cafeteria at the university’s hospitals. Participants will be provided with single rooms in a guest house.  

Course Program

1. Interactive lectures: Course material will be the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) program of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
2. Rounds in the ICU: Students would participate in teaching rounds in the ICUs, which would be focused on issues covered by the actual seminars and lectures.
3. Problem-based learning (POL): During rounds, students would formulate questions and problems. Each team, consisting of one German and one international student, chooses one problem and tries to solve it by internet search and discussions with the ICU staff.
4. Seminars
5. Hands-on training: Students learn and practice invasive techniques such as insertion of central lines, oral intubation or even ultrasound and endoscopy techniques (bronchoscopy, gastroscopy) in the skills lab or experimental OR
6. Clinical elective

Interested students could add a clinical elective of variable length after the end of the course. 

University of Tübingen Video

Details:

• Duration: 2 weeks elective (February 8 to February 21, 2027) (Students can request extension)
• No. of students: 4 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Provided

Other resources: Student's Guide to Tuebingen put together by Grace Sun, PLME'16.

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Andrew T Levinson Associate Professor of Medicine, Clinician Educator, Andrew_Levinson@brown.edu

Exchange Institution: Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology

Description: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is a premier institution in Ghana offering a unique medical exchange opportunity. Located in the vibrant city of Kumasi, KNUST’s School of Medical Sciences is renowned for its commitment to excellence in medical education and research. The program features a comprehensive curriculum, advanced clinical training, and a focus on public health and community medicine. Exchange students will engage with innovative healthcare practices and gain invaluable insights into global health issues in a supportive and dynamic environment. This is a clinical elective program with an emphasis on infectious diseases. Students will either have a 4-week or 8-week rotation based on availability. Students will be assigned to clinical teams and work with other medical students under the supervision of Attending Physicians. Any interest in clinical research should be indicated before acceptance into this program. Accommodation for students will be at one of the medical students’ hostels, which are within the vicinity of the teaching hospital.

KNUST Campus Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Not provided, but help finding
• Board: Not provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Kwame Dapaah-Afriyie, Professor of Medicine, KDapaahAfriyie@brownhealth.org 

Exchange Institution: University Notre Dame D’Haiti

Description: University Notre Dame d’Haiti (UNDH) is a distinguished institution offering a unique medical exchange opportunity in Port-au-Prince. The Faculty of Medicine at UNDH is renowned for its commitment to providing quality medical education and addressing the healthcare needs of Haiti. Students participating in this exchange program will benefit from a robust curriculum, hands-on clinical training, and a focus on community health and medical innovation. The university’s emphasis on practical experience and global health perspectives offers an enriching environment for students to expand their medical knowledge and cultural understanding.

Details: 

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 4 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Provided, but with additional fee
• Board: Provided, but with additional fee

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Michael Koster, Professor of Pediatrics, Michael_Koster@brown.edu

Exchange Institution: Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences - Tel Aviv University

Description: The School of Medicine, now housed in the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, was founded in 1964. Its mission is to educate medical and graduate students to the highest professional and intellectual standards, preparing clinicians, health professionals, and researchers to practice medicine and conduct biomedical research for the health and well-being of the public. The School of Medicine is Israel’s largest medical research and training complex. Research at the school is multidisciplinary, bringing together scientists and clinicians to advance both basic and translational research. Hospitals affiliated with Tel Aviv University are located across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with key clinical training sites centered in and around Tel Aviv’s main districts. This placement allows students to experience a wide range of patient populations while remaining close to resources and major transportation routes. Tel Aviv itself is a vibrant, international coastal city known for its multicultural atmosphere and active academic and research community, offering incoming students a dynamic environment alongside their clinical learning.

About the Program Rotations at our affiliated medical centers provide an immersive experience in some of the Middle East’s leading academic medical centers, exposing students to highly complex cases, multidisciplinary care, cutting-edge technologies, and unique healthcare environments that fosters clinical excellence, academic curiosity, and professional growth.

GOALS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

1. Clinical Hands-On Learning in Major Academic Medical Centers. Incoming students will have an immersive clinical elective experience within a large academic hospital setting, caring for patients with a broad spectrum of common diseases as well as rare, highly complex medical conditions. They will gain exposure in some of Israel’s largest tertiary and quaternary referral centers,
2. Build Clinical Reasoning and Evidence-Based Decision-Making Participate in bedside discussions, formulate differential diagnoses, interpret laboratory and imaging findings, and learn evidence-based decision-making under the supervision of expert clinicians and physician-scientists.
3. Practice Multidisciplinary Care with Innovative Approaches Work within a multidisciplinary environment where specialists collaborate closely to deliver personalized care. Students are exposed to advanced technologies, precision medicine, molecular diagnostics, and cutting-edge therapeutic approaches.
4. Gain Exposure to Supporting Medical Specialties and Allied Health Understand the essential role of disciplines such as pathology, radiology, nuclear medicine, genetics, laboratory medicine, pharmacy, and other allied health professions in modern patient care and precision medicine.
5. Experience Patient Diversity and Global Health Perspectives. Care for patients from diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds in one of the world’s most unique healthcare environments, while gaining insight into the challenges and opportunities of global health. 
6. Further Develop Professionalism, Communication, and Teamwork. Strengthen professionalism, communication skills, empathy, and ethical decision-making while becoming an active member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

TYPICAL DAY ON A CLINICAL ROTATION

At the medical center where you match (currently: Wolfson or Ichilov), the rotation schedule is organized around your assigned department’s clinical services and teaching activities. Each day is designed to integrate students into real hospital-based care while staying within the structure and supervision of the local clinical team. 

Tel Aviv University Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)

A Typical Day During the Elective at Tel Aviv University Sourasky Medical Center ( Ichilov)

1. Morning Multidisciplinary Conferences (MDTs)

Each day begins with participation in multidisciplinary team meetings, where complex cases are discussed by oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists. These meetings provide unique insight into collaborative clinical decision-making at the highest level.

2. Ward Rounds and Patient Care

Students participate in inpatient rounds and outpatient clinics, observe procedures, and contribute to diagnostic and therapeutic discussions under close supervision.

3. Exposure to Complex and Challenging Cases

As a major tertiary and quaternary referral center, Ichilov manages a large number of rare, advanced, and highly complex cases, offering students exposure to medical conditions and clinical scenarios that are seldom encountered elsewhere.

4. Teaching Sessions and Case Discussions

Students attend departmental lectures, journal clubs, tumor boards, grand rounds, and case-based educational sessions led by senior faculty and trainees.

5. Research and Innovation Opportunities (Optional)

Students may engage with ongoing clinical and translational research programs and gain exposure to digital health initiatives, artificial intelligence applications, precision medicine, and innovative technologies developed at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Provided (funding can be used for housing, board, flights, etc)
• Housing: Not provided, help findng (funding provided)
• Board: Not provided (funding provided)

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. May-Tal Sauerbrun-Cutler, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinician Educator,  may-tal_sauerbrun-cutler@brown.edu

TAU Campus Tour

Exchange Institution: Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Description: Discover the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, a world-class institution renowned for its excellence in medical education and research. Located in Haifa, Israel, the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine offers a cutting-edge curriculum and advanced clinical training. Exchange students will benefit from the Technion’s vibrant academic environment and its commitment to addressing complex medical challenges. Partner with us to offer students a transformative experience at one of Israel’s leading medical schools. Warren Alpert Medical students do a one-month rotation in one of five hospitals in Haifa. Haifa. The rotations are diverse and flexible.

Technion Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Provided (funding can be used for housing, board, flights, etc)
• Housing: Not provided, but help finding
• Board: Not provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Rami Kantor, Professor of Medicine, RKantor@brown.edu

Exchange Institution: University of Bologna

Description: The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is one of the oldest universities in the world and a prestigious institution in Italy. Renowned for its rich history and academic excellence, it offers a vibrant environment for medical exchange students. The university's Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is recognized for its strong emphasis on clinical practice. Students can benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborations with leading hospitals in the region. Bologna itself is a charming city with a rich cultural heritage, known for its historic architecture, delicious cuisine, and lively student atmosphere. With a diverse international community and numerous extracurricular activities, students at the University of Bologna will find both academic and personal growth opportunities in this welcoming environment. 

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 1 student per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Not provided, but help finding
• Board: Not provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Marcoandrea Giorgi, Associate Professor of Surgery, MGiorgi1@brownhealth.org 

1) Exchange Institution: Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine

Description: Kyoto University offers a cutting-edge medical curriculum with a focus on innovative research and interdisciplinary learning, providing students with comprehensive clinical training and exposure to advanced medical practices. 

Program Schedule Sample

Kyoto University Exchange Housing

Kyoto University Introduction Video

Details for Kyoto University: 

• Duration: 4 weeks elective (February 15th to March 12th, 2027)
• No. of students: 3 students per year
• Travel Funding: $700~
• Housing: Not provided, but help finding
• Board: Not provided

2) Exchange Institution: Kurume University School of Medicine

Description: At Kurume University, students benefit from a robust curriculum that integrates clinical skills with groundbreaking research in a dynamic academic setting. 

Kurume University Exchange Students Video

Brown Medical Student Guide for Kurume Exchange

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: $700~
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Not provided

3) Exchange Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University

Description Tokyo Women's Medical University is renowned for its specialized programs in women's health and clinical excellence, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for hands-on learning. Each institution offers a unique opportunity for students to broaden their medical expertise and gain invaluable international perspectives.

Tokyo Women's Medical University's Story Video

Details for Tokyo Women's Medical University: 

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 1 student per year
• Travel Funding: Not provided
• Housing: Not provided, but help finding
• Board: Not provided

Other helpful resources: Japan Introduction Guide (all three programs)

Brown Faculty Liaisons: 

• Dr. Taro Minami, Associate Professor of Medical Science and Medicine, taro_minami@brown.edu
• Dr. Tomo Tarui, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, tomo_tarui@brown.edu

Exchange Institution: Moi University School of Medicine/AMPATH Kenya

Description: Brown University joined the AMPATH Moi University collaborators and partners sit for a consortium in 1998. The program seeks to provide comprehensive services to a population of over 24 million people in western Kenya through its three-way mission of care, research, and training. Students participating in the exchange program will have the opportunity to engage in innovative research, gain exposure to diverse medical cases, and contribute to community health initiatives. With its focus on practical experience and global health perspectives, Moi University offers a dynamic and supportive environment for students to enhance their medical knowledge and cultural awareness.

Additional program information

AMPATH Video

Eldoret Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not Provided
• Housing: Not Provided, but help finding
• Board: Not Provided

TYPICAL DAY ON A CLINICAL ROTATION

1. Bedside Rounds will start at 9 am
   • Students and residents are expected to have checked what happened overnight before rounds
   • Team members are assigned individual patients to follow
2. Rounds continue until everyone has been seen or 1 PM
   • At 1 PM, visiting hours begin, and due to the crowding on the wards, nothing that is not urgent can be done
3. 2 PM work resumes for testing, procedures, admissions
   • Little ancillary services- phlebotomy, transport, procedures are done by the team
4. Chart is on paper- no computer
5. Day does not end at a specific time- it is when the work is completed

SCHOLARLY WORK 

1. You are expected to give a morning report once while there
2. Your team leaders will serve to guide you
3. You will present the H+P of a patient you have gotten to know well (need not be a zebra diagnosis ☺)
4. The  team leader will help facilitate a case discussion, and you are expected to answer questions about data from the case (like diagnostics/history etc)
5. 2-3 teaching points with references
6. They will provide a PowerPoint outline to use as a template

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Debasree Banerjee, Associate Professor of Medicine, banerjed19@gmail.com

*Students interested must attend an information session to be considered for the site selection. Please contact david_arango@brown.edu for more information about the session.

Exchange Institution: Aga Khan University

Description: Aga Khan University (AKU) is a distinguished institution renowned for its excellence in medical education and research. Located in Karachi, Pakistan, AKU offers a dynamic and innovative learning environment that combines cutting-edge medical training with a strong commitment to community health. Students at AKU benefit from exposure to diverse clinical settings and a rich cultural experience, making it an ideal destination for medical exchange programs seeking to broaden horizons and deepen clinical expertise.

Clinical electives in internal medicine, pediatrics, medical genetics, oncology, and some surgical subspecialties; research-based electives in Pediatrics. Elective students will get an opportunity to participate in patient and ambulatory clinical areas.

Additional information: In choosing Aga Khan University as an educational exchange site, the Department considered the relevance of an experience in Pakistan due to the desire of many Brown internal medicine residents and medical students to gain international experience regarding the healthcare infrastructure of a low-middle-income country setting. Aga Khan University hospital in Karachi is serving as the main tertiary care center for a metropolis with a population of more than 20 million people.

AKU Campus Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: $500
• Housing: Not Provided
• Board: Not Provided

CURRICULUM

All students will spend at least two weeks in the Pediatrics/Pediatric Hematology Oncology/Internal Medicine/in patient and out patient services . The scope of genetic and hereditary disorders is unique, where rare disorders globally are not so unique due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages.  Additionally, students can customize their experience per their preferences by choosing to spend time on the following services:  Emergency Department, SICU (surgical ICU), and Subspecialty areas such as Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Pulmonology, and infectious diseases surgical sub specialties.

Goals for Medical Students and Residents 

1. Understand the clinical presentation and management of common serious illnesses in Pakistan, particularly infectious diseases, as well as many autosomal inherited disorders, since there is a high rate of consanguineous unions.
2. Understand the structure of Pakistani healthcare system, the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the adult and pediatric populations in Pakistan, and how they differ from morbidity and mortality in the United States
3. Understand the structure of medical education in Pakistan
4. Develop skills in the cost-effective evaluation of illness in a resource-scarce environment
5. Develop skills in working within the medical education system at AKU Medical College
6. Increase understanding of Pakistani culture

TYPICAL DAY ON A CLINICAL ROTATION

1. Rounds with Attending Physician or Resident Teams: Rounds start around 8:30-9 am daily, elective students will be assigned patients to present and continue to follow.
2. Didactic Sessions: Daily, there are various didactic sessions, including tumor boards, journal club, and grand rounds.  A medical student or resident presents a short prepared health topic pertinent to the region. Each department has its monthly didactic calendar with 2-3 sessions per week.
3. Outpatient Clinics: Once rounds are finished, students will have the opportunity to attend afternoon clinics in the same sub-specialty they are rotating.
4. Emergency Room: There is an opportunity to spend up to a week in the emergency department, with a very high volume of trauma cases, particularly motorbike accidents, where people are traveling with their children and spouses, with very limited enforced laws and regulations. Due to weak healthcare infrastructure, people travel from remote areas for complex medical issues, and end up in the emergency. 

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Afreen Siddiqui, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, afreen.siddiqui@va.gov

Exchange Institution: Ewha Womans University

Description: Discover Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, a prestigious institution offering a remarkable medical exchange opportunity. The Ewha Womans University College of Medicine is renowned for its rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge research, and commitment to advancing healthcare. Exchange students will experience a comprehensive medical curriculum, hands-on clinical training, and opportunities to engage in innovative research projects. With a focus on integrating global health perspectives and a supportive learning environment, Ewha provides an exceptional setting for students to expand their medical knowledge and cultural understanding.

Details: 

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 2 students per year
• Travel Funding: Not Provided
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Not Provided

Brown Faculty Liaison: Dr. Christine Lee, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Director, Center for Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, Co-Director, Skull Base Surgery, Director, Translational Skull Base Laboratory, ckleemd@brown.edu 

Exchange Institution: National Cheng Kung University School of Medicine

Description: Explore the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) School of Medicine, a leading institution in Taiwan offering an exceptional medical exchange experience. Located in Tainan, NCKU School of Medicine is known for its comprehensive medical education, innovative research, and dedication to clinical excellence. Students in the exchange program will benefit from a rigorous curriculum, hands-on clinical training, and opportunities to engage in groundbreaking research. The school’s focus on integrating modern medical practices with global health perspectives provides a rich, supportive environment for academic and professional growth.

Additional program information

NCKU Exchange Handbook

A Day in the Life of an NCKU Medical Student Video

Details:

• Duration: 4 weeks elective
• No. of students: 4 students per year
• Travel Funding: $1,250
• Housing: Provided
• Board: Not Provided

Brown Faculty Liaison:

• Dr. James Sung, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, C_Sung@brown.edu
• Dr. Ann Tseng, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, YaTseng@KentRI.org