{"id":2251,"date":"2016-10-06T15:48:35","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T19:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/?page_id=2251"},"modified":"2026-01-27T16:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:12:08","slug":"responsibilities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/setupelective\/responsibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Required Responsibilities for Students Undertaking GH Electives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>All students who undertake a 4th-year global health elective <strong><em>must\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>complete\u00a0the following list of responsibilities. These are required whether or not a\u00a0student seeks a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/setupelective\/travelgrants\/\">travel\u00a0grant.<\/a> <strong>Students who do not comply with these requirements may not\u00a0be allowed to pursue their electives and\/or receive travel grants after their\u00a0return.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related\u00a0links:\u00a0<\/strong>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/setupelective\/\">How\u00a0to Set Up an GH Elective<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/setupelective\/travelgrants\/\">Travel Grants for M4 Students<\/a>]<\/p>\n<h3>I. List of Required Responsibilities: Before Departure<\/h3>\n<h4><strong><strong><strong>1. Book Your Flight<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Book your flight immediately to take advantage of advance fare prices.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><strong><strong><strong>2. Review <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>International Medical and Evacuation Insurance &amp; Download the App<\/h4>\n<p>As a BU student undertaking BU-sponsored travel, you are automatically covered by BU\u2019s international medical and evacuation insurance through International SOS which provides travel assistance services. This program is designed to keep you healthy, safe and secure while you are traveling abroad.\u00a0Before departure, download the app to your phone here:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/globalprograms\/manage\/international-travel\/travel-assistance-services-international-sos\/\">International SOS<\/a> \u2013 The app provides \u201caccess to vital information on your current location or travel destination, including country guides and information about ongoing and developing medical and security situations.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/globalprograms\/manage\/international-travel\/health-insurance\/\">Global Program Health &amp; Insurance<\/a> for more info on the medical and evacuation insurance coverage.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><strong><strong>3. Set Up an Appointment with Travel Clinic &amp; Immunize Yourself<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Make an appointment with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bmc.org\/travelclinic.htm\">BMC Travel Clinic<\/a> or a clinic of your choice. Your appointment should be at least 3 months before departure for vaccinations to take effect. Contact your insurance carrier before making an appointment to see what is covered. <strong>For students with <span>Aetna Student Health (B.U. health plan):<\/span><\/strong> Do not make an appointment for this purpose with BU Student Health Services; they do not handle these types of appointments. If you plan to use the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bmc.org\/travelclinic.htm\">BMC Travel Clinic<\/a>, your physical exam may not be covered by Aetna if you have already had an exam by your primary care physician during the same calendar year.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/files\/2015\/05\/PEP_Guidelines_2015.pdf\">Review guidelines<\/a> for blood-borne pathogen exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and discuss this with your physician during your travel clinic appointment. If you are going to a site where PEP will not be available, ask for a PEP prescription from your physician. See page 2 of this document for pre-travel preparation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Note this article<\/strong>: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/today\/2018\/sph-study-finds-many-students-studying-abroad-return-with-preventable-diseases\/?utm_campaign=bu_today_2018&amp;utm_source=email_1203&amp;utm_medium=headline_2&amp;utm_content=research_publichealth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SPH Report: Many Study Abroad Students Return with Preventable Diseases<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>4. Complete Parts 1 and 2 of The Practitioner&#8217;s Guide to Global Health<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Each medical student who undertakes a global health elective is required to complete the Practitioner\u2019s Guide to Global Health, a three-part course that prepares students to safely and effectively participate in global health learning experiences (GHLE). The Practitioner\u2019s Guide is a Blackboard course for which you must be enrolled to complete the material.<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"mailto:anagreg@bu.edu\">Email Ana Gregory<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>to obtain access. Parts 1 and 2 must be completed before departure. Part 3 must be completed just prior to your return (see #11 below).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Part 1 \u201cThe Big Picture\u201d<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>will help you step back and think about the \u201cwhy\/when\/where\/how\u201d of considering and partaking in a GHLE. Part 1 is designed to be completed\u00a0<strong>6-12 months<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>in advance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Part 2 \u201cPreparation and On the Ground\u201d<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>is the \u201cnuts and bolts\u201d of the course, as it will help you prepare for your GHLE and think about common issues that arise when you are in the field. Part 2 is designed to be completed<strong>\u00a01-3 months<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>in advance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Part 3 \u201cReflection\u201d<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>will help you prepare to return\u00a0home,\u00a0and to begin thinking about your future involvement in global health. Part 3 is designed to be completed\u00a0<strong>just prior to your return<\/strong>\u00a0and will take approximately\u00a0<strong>2 hours<\/strong>\u00a0to complete.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong><strong>5. Research Your Destination<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Visit these web sites for country-specific information:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/travel.state.gov\">U.S. Department of State<\/a> Check this site periodically before departure. Boston University Chobanian &amp; Avedisian School of Medicine will not give credit or support to a medical student in a country where a Dept. of State Travel Warning <span>of level 3 or 4 is in effect unless otherwise approved.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/studentsabroad.state.gov\">Students Abroad<\/a> (U.S. Department of State)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/travel\">CDC<\/a> Review travel notices for your destination country; country description\u00a0(gov\u2019t, language, climate); local laws and customs; safety (e.g., using\u00a0public transport, using currency); food and water, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong><strong>6. Attend a Predeparture Meeting with Joseph Leanza, MD<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Meet with Dr. Leanza, Director of Global Health Programs, at least 4-8 weeks before departure to discuss preparation and items in steps #4 and #5 above. When you submit your travel grant reimbursement (#12 below) you will be asked to indicate the date of this meeting.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><strong>7. Ensure You Receive &#8216;Emergency Information&#8217; Document from Ana Gregory<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Once you have attended a predeparture meeting, Ana Gregory will send you the <strong>\u2018Emergency Information\u2018<\/strong> document that outlines steps to take while you are abroad in the event of an emergency. Email <a href=\"mailto:\">Ana Gregory<\/a> if you do not receive it.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><b>8. Register Your Travel Plans<\/b><\/strong><b><b><b> with BU and the State\u00a0Department<\/b><\/b><\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Register with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/globalprograms\/manage\/international-travel\/registry\/\">BU\u00a0International Travel Registry<\/a>. In accordance with the BU International Travel Risk Policy, medical students are required to register their travel\u00a0before undertaking any university-sponsored international travel. The Registry\u00a0enables emergency communication between you and BU while you are abroad.<\/li>\n<li>Register with U.S. State Department <a href=\"https:\/\/step.state.gov\/step\/\">Smart\u00a0Traveler Enrollment Program<\/a> (STEP), a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trips with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. This allows the US Embassy to contact travelers in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. It will also help family and friends contact the traveler in an emergency.\n<ul><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>II. List of Required Responsibilities: Upon Return<\/h3>\n<h4><b>10. Complete the GH Post-Experience Report<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Complete the GH Post-Experience Report at<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/global-health-post-experience-summaries\/\">Global Health Post-Experience Summaries<\/a>. Once you log into<span>\u00a0<\/span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/global-health-post-experience-summaries\/\">Global Health Post-Experience Summaries<\/a><\/span>, click &#8220;Click here to submit an experience&#8221; to submit your summary report.\u00a0This must be submitted within 30 days of student\u2019s return and no later\u00a0than the Friday before graduation.<\/p>\n<h4><b><strong>11. <\/strong><\/b><strong>Complete Part 3 of The Practitioner&#8217;s Guide to Global Health<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Just prior to your return<\/span><\/em>, you must complete Part 3 \u201cReflection\u201d of the Practitioner&#8217;s Guide to Global Health (see #4 above).<\/p>\n<h4><strong>12. Submit Online Form for Travel Grant Reimbursement<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>If you were awarded a travel grant, you must complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ghbusm\/travel-grant-reimburse\/\">Student Reimbursement Form for Travel Grant<\/a><em>\u00a0<\/em><span>to receive payment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All students who undertake a 4th-year global health elective must\u00a0complete\u00a0the following list of responsibilities. These are required whether or not a\u00a0student seeks a\u00a0travel\u00a0grant. Students who do not comply with these requirements may not\u00a0be allowed to pursue their electives and\/or receive travel grants after their\u00a0return. Related\u00a0links:\u00a0[How\u00a0to Set Up an GH Elective\u00a0|\u00a0Travel Grants for M4 Students] I. 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