Keck School of Medicine

Master of Science in Global Medicine

Program Director: Elahe Nezami, Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Global Medicine (MSGM) is offered by the Department of Educational Affairs of the Keck School of Medicine. The program aims to train medical, dental and pharmacy students; current physicians and allied health professionals; and those planning to pursue degrees in the allied health professions to analyze and address critical issues in global medicine. The program provides a solid foundation in basic science while also exposing students to a broad scope of pertinent issues in global medicine. The program offers an advanced standing option for physicians, dentists, current medical/dental students and applicants with a Pharm.D. degree from accredited institutions. Students admitted to the advanced standing option may use previous equivalent course work for 8 units of credit toward MEDS 503L Core Principles System I and MEDS 504L Core Principles System II course requirements. The advanced standing option allows students to bypass the foundation course work and focus on globally oriented course work.

By providing the knowledge and training necessary to address current and future global medical challenges, the M.S. in Global Medicine program responds to the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that the education of health professionals include course work that promotes literacy in global medicine. In addition to gaining a strong medical science foundation, students are immersed in course work that examines methods used to create innovative programming, solutions and responses to global health challenges, thereby furnishing them with the problem-solving skills and analytical frameworks essential to their future career paths. Through partnerships with the Marshall School of Business and the Viterbi School of Engineering, the M.S. in Global Medicine also includes a management track for students who intend to pursue international health management.

Upon completion of the M.S. in Global Medicine, students will be equipped to serve as leaders within the allied health field, including, but not limited to: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing. In addition, graduates will be prepared to collaborate with or seek employment from a variety of international aid, nonprofit, and global health organizations such as: the United Nations, the International Red Cross, United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, World Bank and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Admission

Applicants for admission to the program must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) in undergraduate work. Prerequisite undergraduate course work for Clinical Track applicants must include one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry and one semester of calculus. Applicants to the Management Track should consult with advisers for prerequisite exceptions.

All applicants are required to have taken the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test, the Dental Admission Test (DAT) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). A minimum score of 300 (1000 on old scale) on the GRE, 18 on the DAT or 28 on the MCAT is required. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from accredited institutions can submit their USMLE results in lieu of GRE, DAT or MCAT scores. Applicants must also supply three letters of recommendation from evaluators qualified to assess their potential for graduate work. If applying for the advanced standing option, U.S. applicants must have successfully completed their first year of an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) program or earned a Pharm.D. degree from a U.S.-accredited institute; international applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery or a degree equivalent of DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a Pharm.D. degree from an accredited institute.

Applicants must supply a completed application for graduate studies including: transcripts from all institutions previously attended, standardized test scores and three letters of recommendation. Applications are considered for enrollment in both fall and spring semesters. For further information contact: Dr. Elahe Nezami, Master of Science in Global Medicine Program, 1975 Zonal Ave., KAM 317, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9024, Tel: (323) 442-3141, Fax: (323) 442-1766.

Advisement

The program recommends that students meet with an academic adviser of the program each semester prior to registration.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified. A minimum of 32 units of graduate level course work is required for graduation from the clinical or management track. A minimum of 24 units of graduate level course work is required for graduation with the advanced standing option.

Degree Requirements

M.D./Master of Science, Global Medicine

The dual degree in Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Global Medicine will provide medical students with formal education in the field of global health. Students will benefit from a curriculum that supplements and strengthens their medical knowledge with additional expertise in cultural competence, the specific diseases that affect various populations worldwide, and the unique issues respective to practicing medicine in a developing country or in vulnerable, underserved populations domestically.

Requirements

Current enrollment in the Keck School of Medicine M.D. program and successful completion of at least the first two years of the M.D. curriculum are required prior to submitting an application to the M.S. in Global Medicine program for admission to the dual degree program. Students must gain admission to and fulfill the degree requirements for both programs, which include four years of course work for the Doctor of Medicine and 24 units of the M.S. in Global Medicine (Clinical track only).

For the dual degree with Global Medicine Clinical Track, 24 GM elective units should be successfully completed. The M.D. and the M.S. in Global Medicine degrees are awarded simultaneously upon successful completion of both degree requirements.

Program Adaptation

For the dual degree with Global Medicine Clinical Track, there are no Global Medicine core unit requirements. Students enrolled in M.D./M.S.G.M. dual degree will be eligible to apply 2 GM study-abroad elective units and 2 other GM elective units (except MEDS 503L, MEDS 504L, MEDS 520, MEDS 524 and MEDS 530abc) toward their MD program elective requirements. GM Management Track electives cannot be applied toward either degree requirements.

Pharm.D./Master of Science, Global Medicine

The dual degree in Pharmacy and Global Medicine is designed for students who are interested in providing pharmaceutical care to underserved populations around the world. Students enrolled in this dual degree program will benefit from an advanced understanding of the role of, and issues surrounding, modern medicine in developing countries.

Requirements

Students must gain admission to and fulfill the degree requirements for both programs, which include 138 units for the Doctor of Pharmacy and 24 units for the M.S. in Global Medicine. Six units of MEDS elective units can be used toward the Pharm.D. elective requirement, and PHRD 503 and PHRD 504 substitute for MEDS 503 and MEDS 504.

Program Adaptation

Because MEDS 503 and MEDS 504, core requirements for the M.S. in Global Medicine program, cover the same material as PHRD 503 and PHRD 504, the Pharm.D./Global Medicine dual degree program substitutes PHRD 503 and PHRD 504 for MEDS 503 and MEDS 504 as core requirements for the dual degree.

Graduate Certificate in Global Medicine

The certificate program in global medicine is for students who do not wish to pursue an M.S. degree in global medicine, but hope to pursue or expand careers in global health care. Students will study current topics in global health and health care, and will have a strong grounding in cultural competence, specific diseases, and creating and implementing health interventions in developing countries.

Students take 16 units of graduate course work that may not be used or have been used for any other degree or certificate program. These units include two core classes and eight units of electives, as follows:

Courses of Instruction

medical Sciences (meds)

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

MEDS 500 Basic Concepts in Global Health (4, FaSpSm) Exploration of global health issues facing resource-poor societies; emphasizes contributing factors including behavioral and physiological bases, economic, social, and political context.

MEDS 501 Critical Issues in Global Health (4, FaSpSm) Evaluation of government and non-government organizations’ new global health responses, and critical issues affecting global health including: environment, workforce conditions, obesity, nutrition, drugs, poverty.

MEDS 502 Global Epidemiology of Diseases and Risk Factors (4, FaSpSm) Survey of major populations’ crises and risk factors accounting for global health challenges. Evaluation of case studies of global health interventions and effective methodologies.

MEDS 503L Core Principles System I (4, FaSpSm) Introduction to basic medical concepts and biological system functions; examination of core principles of science and medical treatment.

MEDS 504L Core Principles System II (4, Fa) Continuation of concepts from MEDS 503L. Basic medical concepts and biological system functions; examination of core principles of science and medical treatment. Prerequisite: MEDS 503L.

MEDS 510 Global Health Modules, Malaria (2, FaSpSm) Critical issues in international control and treatment of malaria. Exploration of biological and epidemiological fundamentals of human-parasite interaction, including dynamics of transmission among populations.

MEDS 511 Global Health Modules, Tuberculosis (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of biological and epidemiological fundamentals of tuberculosis including dynamics of transmission among populations. Overview of clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of infections.

MEDS 512 Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health I (2, FaSpSm) Biopsychosocial, cultural and economic aspects of women’s health: pregnancy, childbirth, marriage. Examination of health promotion and policy efforts to improve women’s health globally.

MEDS 513 Global Health Modules, Maternal and Child Health II (2, FaSpSm) In-depth examination of women’s health issues; health promotion and policy efforts to improve women’s health globally.

MEDS 514 Global Health Modules, Tropical Disease (2, FaSpSm) Examination of prevalent tropical diseases: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, impact on economies of tropical countries. Key issues related to these diseases; World Health Organization responses.

MEDS 515 Global Health Modules, HIV/AIDS (2, FaSpSm) HIV epidemiology, basic biology of transmission and pathophysiology, associated opportunistic infections, and challenges to providing care in the developing world, including government responses.

MEDS 516 Cultural Competence in Health and Medicine (2, FaSpSm) Practical approach to the development of professional skills for providing culturally sensitive clinical health services to ethnically and linguistically diverse patients.

MEDS 517 Health and Human Rights (2, FaSpSm) The relationship between health and human rights, and the study of human rights issues relevant to health care professionals.

MEDS 518 Children in Emergency Situations: Global Policies and Programs (2, Sp) Focuses on children in emergency situations, including natural and man-made disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, conflicts, or war, with an emphasis on the poorest and most vulnerable children. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 519 Global Oral Health (2, FaSpSm) Better understand the key issues impacting global oral health, how better care can help reduce the disease prevalence, and ways to prepare the next generation of global health leaders to address the key issues. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 520 Medical Spanish for the Health Professions (2, FaSpSm) Spanish language course for students planning to enter the health professions.

MEDS 521 Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of the threat of major worldwide epidemics and diseases with a focus on the recent emergence of new plagues.

MEDS 522 Human Hepatitis Viruses (2, FaSpSm) Human hepatitis and the viruses that cause them, how they are spread, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

MEDS 523 Global Toxicity and Carcinogenesis (2, FaSpSm) Covers the occurrences of toxic substances and the toxicity/diseases they cause, and chemical carcinogens and the types of cancer they cause worldwide.

MEDS 524 Grantwriting for Non-Government Organizations (2, FaSpSm) Instruction on the process and methods of writing effective grants from identifying appropriate funders to implementing project upon receipt of funding award.

MEDS 525 Global Mental Health (2, FaSpSm) Examines the major mental health diagnoses from clinically relevant perspectives and their prevalence in specific geographical regions around the world.

MEDS 526 Alternative and Eastern Medicine: A Biomedical Approach (2, FaSpSm) Exploration of issues of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and traditional Eastern medical views of health and illness from a Western biomedical perspective.

MEDS 527 Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (2, SpSm) Background information on a group of infections that are transmitted via animal contact. Understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, and impact of the diseases on the economies of the countries in which they are found. Open only to graduate students. Recommended preparation: MEDS 500.

MEDS 528 Global Health Modules, Sexually Transmitted Infections (2, SpSm) Examines clinically relevant perspectives from distinguished international authors on STI issues and the devastating effect on particular geographical regions around the world.

MEDS 529 Refugee Health Care (2) Introduction to refugee health care and life events which impact health. Discuss medical needs of long-term displaced populations with specific case studies. Open only to graduate students.

MEDS 530abc Foundation of Medicine: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology (4-4-4, FaSpSm) a: Fundamentals of physiology, chemistry, anatomy, biochemistry and microbiology, as well as pharmacological issues, mathematical basis of lab instruments or techniques, and computational modeling. b: The basics of human anatomy (gross anatomy, histology, radiographic anatomy), physiology (cellular physiology, organ system areas) and pathology (general, systemic, cellular pathology). c: Continues material from MEDS 530a and MEDS 530b, covering human anatomy (gross anatomy, histology, radiographic anatomy), physiology (cellular physiology, organ systems) and pathology (general, systemic, cellular pathology).

MEDS 531 The Politics of Global Health (2, FaSpSm) Examines the impact of politics on global health progress and declines. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 535 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health (2, FaSpSm) Overview of national and international variations in health status indicators in regard to cultural and lifestyle differences.

MEDS 550 Clinical Medicine and Health Care Reform in Taiwan (2, Sm) Two-week in-depth study abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, focused on understanding Taiwan’s health care system, health priorities, and needs.

MEDS 551 Clinical Medicine and Socioeconomic Factors in Uganda (2, Sm) Two-week course that provides students with hands-on experience in clinical medicine/public health and exposure to the various socioeconomic factors impacting health in the developing world.

MEDS 552 Clinical Medicine and Health Care Reform in Jordan (2, Sm) A two-week, in-depth study abroad course that explores the economic, social, political, and health issues in the Middle East region and specifically Jordan.

MEDS 553 Clinical Medicine and Health Care Challenges in India (2, Sm) Two-week study abroad course that explores the health dynamics and health care settings of India.

MEDS 554 Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Delivery in Panama (2, SpSm) A two-week course providing students with hands-on experience in the practice of rural medicine as they gain exposure to the various socio-economic factors present in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Recommended preparation: MEDS 500, MEDS 501, MEDS 510, MEDS 511, MEDS 514, MEDS 515. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 555 Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Access in Honduras (2, Sm) A three-week hybrid course providing students with hands-on experience in clinical medicine/public health and exposure to the various socio-economic factors impacting healthcare delivery in the developing world, specifically in Honduras. Recommended preparation: MEDS 500, MEDS 501, MEDS 513, MEDS 514, MEDS 515. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 556 Global Health Field Study, New York (2, Sp) Two-week course providing students with a solid understanding of the United Nations’ major agencies influential in global health, their mandate, their strengths and challenges. Includes field visit to selected UN organizations all located in NYC. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 557 Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Dynamics in Denmark (2, SpSm) Two-week course that provides a venue for careful examination and assessment of the economic, social, political, and specific health issues currently faced by countries in the European Region. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 558 Clinical Medicine and Translational Research in Argentina (2, SpSm) Two week in-depth course examining and assessing the economic, social, political and unique health issues faced by the Latin-American Region especially Argentina. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 559 Clinical Medicine and Healthcare Determinants in China (2, SpSm) A two-week intensive course abroad in Shanghai, China, focused on understanding clinical realities of Chinese medicine, health determinants and healthcare delivery. Recommended preparation: MEDS 500, MEDS 501, MEDS 515, MEDS 535. Open only to Global Medicine majors.

MEDS 590 Directed Research (1-12, max 12, FaSpSm) Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

MEDS 597ab Health Technology Internship (1-1, FaSpSm) a: Internship course on the use of new technology based on sensors and wireless communications to the healthcare industry. b: Internship course on the use of new technology based on sensors and wireless communications to the healthcare industry. Continues material from GM 597a. Open only to M.S., Electrical Engineering (Wireless Health Technology) students. Graded CR/NC.

MEDS 599 Special Topics (2-4, FaSpSm) Lecture and discussion focused on specific topics within global medicine. Course topic will vary from semester to semester.

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