Global Health Leadership Fellowship Program D.O./Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

 

The students in the inaugural D.O./Ph.D. program graduated in 2007.

Program Overview:

he International and Public Health Fellowship program is offered by the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The program is offered after the medical student completes the third year of the doctorate of osteopathic medicine degree program. The student enters a specialty track for a fourth and fifth year, completing both the remaining requirements of the osteopathic program and the required rotations of the fellowship.

The program is designed to give the student significant real world experience in addressing the health needs of disadvantaged populations from a population or community perspective. The program provides the opportunity for students to acquire the skills to evaluate the health of an underserved community or region, design an effective health intervention, implement the plan and evaluate the effectiveness. The student must address a significant public health issue applying principles that may be duplicated in an international or Appalachian region.

While completing the fellowship, the student must also enroll in classes within Virginia Tech to enhance their experience and receive a dual degree (D.O./ M.S. or D.O. /Ph.D.).

The program is committed to improving health for underserved populations through access, affordable health services, and effective public health programming. The student is expected to focus their studies on a significant global health issue that causes morbidity and mortality in developing countries or Appalachia. Some of the topics addressed include: HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and vector borne diseases, tobacco use, illicit drug use, obesity (Appalachia), nutritional disorders, child health issues, environmental health, parasites, and water borne diseases.

The student must perform research of the current evidence-based medical knowledge and comparative programs and their successes. The student must then choose their program based on an identified need during their immersion experience.