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Global Aids Pandemic: Ways Medical Students Can Get Involved
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 5 MINUTES
BIT MORE TIME TO SPARE?
- Display The AIDS Memorial Quilt on your campus. This enormous patchwork quilt is composed of 3-by-6 feet panels (the size of a human grave), each panel is devoted to the memory of a person who died from AIDS.
- Gather unused HIV Medicines for Guatemala or Haiti. To send drugs to Guatemela visit http://www.macaw.com/hivmeds/. All questions to Dr. Matt Anderson, andersonma@aol.com, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.
- Contact the media - by writing a letter to the editor an opinion/editorial piece, or organizing an interview to draw attention to the Global AIDS issue.
- Pass A Resolution! Work towards getting the student senate, medical societies, universities or community groups to pass a resolution stating their organization believes the US government should increase funding to the Global AIDS Health Fund and should exhibit greater leadership in combatting the epidemic.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES and MORE!
- Africa Programs
Each year since 1978, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship has selected four New England medical students to spend three months working as Fellows at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon on clinical rotations. Fellows work as junior physicians, supervised by hospital medical staff. Fellows are eligible for pediatrics, medicine, or surgery rotations. The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship provides complete funding for students (airfare, room, board, immunizations, etc.).
- American Association for World Health (AAWH) Washington, D.C.
The AAWH was founded in 1953 as a charitable and educational organization, and works in concert with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its western regional affiliate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Its purposes are to inform the American public about major health challenges that affect people both here and abroad. The internship program at AAWH offers interns meaningful work experience by integrating them in the association's health initiatives. Candidates have the opportunity to assist in the development of AAWH campaign projects, write articles for the quarterly newsletter, and answer constituents' requests. Interns' involvement in the association gives them the opportunity to learn every facet of AAWH in addition to learning about an array of international health issues. AAWH seeks candidates with excellent oral and written communication skills and an interest in international health issues. Please call Jill Boezwinkle at the association at (202) 466-5883 or e-mail us at staff@aawhworldhealth.org to request an application.
- Elizabeth Glaser Student Intern Award
The goal of this program is to encourage students to choose a career in pediatric HIV/AIDS research and care. Provides $2,000 for 320 hours of work (a minimum of 4 hours per week) as a stipend to the student. Only high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate and medical school students who are currently enrolled are eligible, and they must apply through a sponsor (M.D., Ph.D., C.C.S.W.) who has expertise in pediatric HIV/AIDS clinical care or research. To download the Student Intern Award application visit the Elizabeth Glaser web site or contact the Grants Department at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Phone: (310) 314-1459 Fax: (310) 314-1469 E-mail: research@pedaids.org
- Fellowship Program in AIDS Care
The Fellowship Program in AIDS Care, supported in part by grants from Kaiser Permanente, The California HealthCare Foundation, and Aetna Foundation, Inc., and administered by National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF), fosters the participation of medical students from traditionally underrepresented groups in HIV/AIDS clinical care and research. This program is a joint initiative of NMF and the University of California, San Francisco AIDS Research Institute in response to the severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in medically underserved communities.
- Global Service Corps in Tanzania and Thailand
This program is already on our website. Medical students teach classes on HIV/AIDS education for locals.
- Harvard School of Public Health Botswana
Opportunities for medical school students to perform HIV/AIDS research in Botswana with the Harvard Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases. Interested students should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and letter of reference by March 15, 2004 to: Pamela J. Greif, Botswana Administrator, 651 Huntington FXB-406 Ave, Boston, MA Tel: (617) 432-3118 Fax: (617) 739-8348 Email: pgreiff@hsph.harvard.edu. Applicants must have:
- Completed their 2nd year of medical training
- Commitment to work in Botswana for at least 3 months (opportunities
and preference given to those who would commit 6 months to one year in
Botswana)
- Laboratory experience
- Preference given for students from Sub-Saharan Africa
- Source of funding for their air travel, accommodations, and spending money preferred, but not required
- International Foundation for Alternative Research in AIDS Portland, Oregon
The Foundation provides education and outreach to those infected and affected individuals living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. The summer internship involves organizing, coordinating and hosting local television program concerning AIDS therapy from the biomedical and alternative/homeopathic traditions. Please contact Fred Schaich
tel:(503) 736-0194, email: RHSNetworkifara@email.msn.com for more information.
- International AIDS Empowerment El Paso, TX
International AIDS empowerment is a non-profit organization staffed by people who are HIV positive. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS regionally, nationally, and internationally. Towards this end, they offer numerous programs including Compassionate Medications International, which recycles unused medicines from the U.S. for use in developing countries. Other programs include a treatment advocacy program, support groups for HIV+ women and HIV Counseling and Testing. Please contact their office at (915) 590-2118. E-mail iac@htg.net to learn more about how you could help in their activites.
- Jubilee USA Network Washington, D.C.
Jubilee USA Network is part of the worldwide movement seeking to cancel the international debts of impoverished countries. The Jubilee USA Network is seeking interns to assist our staff:
Developing new materials, including research and writing on relevant topics, such as the HIV/AIDS crises and connections between trade and debt, assist with grass-roots organizing and much more! Interested applicants should have working knowledge on health and human rights issues and good communication and computer skills.
There is no stipend but class credit for the internship may be arranged through your college or university. To apply, send cover letter and resume to: Jubilee USA Network, 222 E. Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20003 -
Fax: (202) 546-4468. For more information, contact: Mara Vanderslice at 202-783-0129 or mara@j2000usa.org.
- Mother Theresa's Mission Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Three facilities in Addis Ababa provide for HIV+ women and orphan children with "low-tech" hospital/hospice care for destitute persons. Although a Catholic facility, all volunteers are welcome and provided with room and board. Interested students should contact Dr. Richard Hodes at ajdc@telecom.net.et.
- Nyumbani Hospice Kenya
Founded in September 1992, this orphanage houses HIV + children and provides medical help, food clothing and love to children who would otherwise be homeless. With the ever-increasing number of HIV infected children, Nyumbani has become a beacon of hope in an area that desperately needs one. Nyumbani accepts volunteers on a year-round basis. Room and board is generally provided without cost. Contact Fr. D'Agostino Tel: 254 2 716829 e-mail: info@nyumbani.com for more information. If you're serious about heading to Kenya, Catholic Medical Mission Board might help with arranging travel insurance and cheap flights (800) 678-5659.
- Partners in Health, Thomas J. White Internship Boston, MA
The Institute for Health and Social Justice (IHSJ) at PIH, "attempts to examine the impact of poverty and inequality on health by linking scholarly analysis with community-based experience." IHSJ selects a central research theme every year and organizes events (e.g., seminars, conferences) around the theme. Interns work on selected projects which coincide with the central theme while being exposed to an environment of scholars and doctors working for a more equitable global distribution of health care. For more information call (617) 432-5264.
- Philadelphia FIGHT
Philadelphia FIGHT has internship opportunities for students in undergraduate programs and medical school. Internships are available on an unpaid, for school credit basis during the school year and on a paid basis during the summer. Interns may work at the Johnathan Lax Immune Disorders Treatment center for people living with HIV/AIDS, regardless of the patient's ability to pay. There are also opportunities to participate in cutting-edge clinical research.
- Physicians for Human Rights Internship Program Boston, MA
Interested applicants should have excellent writing skills and exposure to international human rights issues. Medical knowledge is not required, although computer skills as well as knowledge of HTML are important. Interns with a specific research interest may discuss their ideas with staff. Interns are expected to work at least eight hours a week. To apply, submit a resume, cover letter indicating your interest and relevant skills, and a writing sample (three pages of a recent paper you have written) to Kathleen Carspecken, Program Assistant. For more information, call PHR at (617) 695-0041, email Kathleen at kathcars@phrusa.org.
- Project Inform San Francisco, CA
This national nonprofit is a community based organization which provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of HIV, advocates for enlightened regulatory, research and funding policies, and inspires people to make informed choices amid uncertainty, and to choose hope over despair.
- Public Health Institute Santa Cruz, CA
Offers summer internships, which include teaching AIDS prevention workshops in Spanish/English. Workshops are held in Santa Cruz for international participants. The Public Health Institute may be able to assist those interested in overseas AIDS Prevention internships in Latin America, Asia and Africa. For more information, contact Robert Minnis, E-mail: rjminnis@aol.com Tel: (831) 427-4965.
- Reader's Digest International Fellowship (RDIF) Grant
RDIF grant for eligible 3rd, 4th year medical students, interns and residents: international field experience designed to provide the student exposure to community health in a Christian context. Students select a mission agency or hospital that has an outreach among the poor in a rural or urban setting. Students must spend at least eight weeks in the field (six weeks for residents and interns). For an application and further inquiries about the program, call CG Rosser at (915) 280-6633, E-mail: crosser@map.org.
- Search for a Cure Boston, MA
Seeks summer intern to (1) Compile manual for health care providers regarding the latest treatments and diagnostics available for HIV/AIDS (2) Perform research for a primer geared towards individuals recently learning their HIV status. Intern may also participate in the organizations efforts to set up HIV/AIDS programs internationally. For more information about the organization, contact Dede Ketover at (617) 536-2474, dketover@sfac.org.
- AIDS International Training and Research Training
Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative
Specific inquiries about the program can be addressed to aitrp@bcm.tmc.edu.
- University of Arizona FREE Summer Course on Health in the Developing World
"International Health in the Developing World: Clinical and Community Care" is a tuition-free, full-time (90 class hours) interactive, practical course preparing fourth-year medical students and residents for "international rotations." Visiting medical students receive three weeks' elective credit at their home school (which must also arrange the actual overseas preceptorship). The class is limited to 24 and selected by May 15 for the three-week class in July. It is offered as part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine's predoctoral education program. For information and application forms, contact:
Ron Pust, MD
Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
E-mail: rpust@u.arizona.edu Tel: 520-626-7962 Fax: 520-626-6134
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