Harvard Medical School- Division of AIDS- Education and Training

The Division of AIDS Office of International Programs recognizes the growing desire amongst post graduates (clinical fellows and residents) to become involved in international HIV research, training, and clinical care. The Office of International Programs has developed short term clinical rotations for residents at the Harvard hospitals and longer term fellowships for those who have completed residency and would like to develop independent research studies.

Through coursework, on campus events, and student organizations, an increasing number of Harvard undergraduates are interested in HIV research and training. The Division of AIDS, in collaboration with the Harvard Initiative for Global Health (HIGH) and the Institute of Politics Director's Internship Program, offer a HIV internship in South Africa for Harvard College undergraduates. HIGH additionally offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Program each summer. Through this program, undergraduates receive fellowships to engage in scholarly research with a Harvard faculty member in a research or laboratory setting. For more information on these and other opportunities, please contact the Harvard Initiative for Global Health .

Harvard Initiative for Global Health/ Institute of Politics Director's Internship

The HIGH/IOP Director's Internship is with The Valley Trust (TVT), which is an NGO located in KwaZulu Natal, the province with the highest HIV prevalence in South Africa. TVT works closely with the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Department of Health to promote comprehensive initiatives intended to increase access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment, build sustainable health care infrastructure and improve the quality of life of the poorest South Africans. At TVT, students will conduct research on a number of different health policy initiatives related to improving health care in resource poor, rural settings, particularly programs addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Previous students conducted research in the efficacy of community health workers in providing support to patients living with HIV and Tuberculosis co-infection.
Link to application

3rd Year Students

2007-08 Doris Duke Charitable Foundation International Clinical Research Fellowship

Harvard Medical School and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation have established a one-year International Clinical Research Fellowship (International-CRF) program for medical students, offered on a pilot basis for the 2007-08 academic year.

This program will provide interested medical students an opportunity to take one year from formal coursework and engage in a mentored international clinical research experience in sub-Saharan Africa, a region of great need.

The International CRF at Harvard will appeal to a variety of interests, from infectious diseases to health service operations. We anticipate successful applications will propose investigation of topics such as managing and mitigating the rates of HIV-Tuberculosis coinfection, improvement and sustainability of ART adherence, and the affect of scaled-up AIDS treatments on delivery of primary healthcare services (especially for women and children). The total stipend package for this pilot program is $46,333, which includes stipend, relocation fees, roundtrip travel to Boston , incidental expenses, mentor stipends and supplementary funding for the following year.

Click here for more details

1st Year Students

Intern and patient on the pediatric ward at McCord

HMS AND HSDM students may carry out research or community service projects internationally, typically during the summer between their first and second years. The Office of Enrichment Programs/DSL can provide funding for some of these projects. Projects must be at least 8 weeks long to qualify for OEP/DSL funding.
Student Initiated International Research Projects: Investigative projects have been favored traditionally but we are open to other projects that are well designed and include an evaluative component. The student independently designs their research, which often requires a great deal of time and energy, but most participants recognize that the educational experience in both project development and international health is a unique and valuable part of their medical school experience. International Community Service Projects: International community service projects are identified both by the Faculty Committee on International Programs and by student initiated proposals. These international community service projects involve preparatory and post-project reflection phases in Boston in addition to the international experience over the summer. For more information on working abroad and applying for OEP funding, please visit the website of the Office of Enrichment Programs on MyCourses or contact Kari Hannibal, OEP, kari_hannibal@hms.harvard.edu)

	Date
Letter of Intent Due:	January 15th
Proposals Due:	March 15th

4th Year Medical Students

South Africa

Click on one of the 2 rotation options:
Urban Elective
Community-based Elective

McCord Hospital is a 180 bed semi-private hospital serving predominantly the African and Asian communities of Durban. In 2004, McCord Hospital's Sinikithemba Clinic was awarded PEPFAR funding to increase access to care and treatment for HIV infected patients in the surrounding area. Since then, over 2,000 patients have initiated antiretroviral therapy at this site. Medical students will have the opportunity to rotate in the Sinikithemba clinic and to participate as a team member in the general medicine ward. Rotations for medical students are also available in the surgery, orthopedic, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics departments.

McCord Hospital Clinical Rotation
Directions for Preparing a Proposal for Funding for an International Clinical Elective, HMS Application Materials
Click here to Apply

Application Materials
*McCord Elective Letter
*McCord Application for Registration as a Visiting Medical Student
*McCord Indemnity Form

Application Materials Due:	Departures from:
6/1	9/1-12/31
10/1	1/1-4/30
2/1	5/1-8/31

Site : This elective includes two semi-rural sites in Kwa Zulu Natal: St. Mary's Hospital and Don McKenzie TB Hospital . St. Mary's Hospital is a 200-bed, tertiary care facility in Mariannhill approximately 20 kms from Durban serving a catchment population of 750,000 people. The hospital provides in patient and out patient services and has a 24 hour maternity ward, a pediatric ward and a general adult care ward. Most admissions are for HIV related illnesses.
Don McKenzie Hospital is located in the Valley of 1000 Hills, 45 kms West of Durban. Previously run as a TB institution, it is now a chronic care hospital, caring for TB (70% co-infected with HIV) and HIV/AIDS patients. It has 180 beds, of which 10 are reserved for children and 20 for palliative care. The hospital has a growing ART clinic (currently almost 250 patients on treatment).
Duration of elective : Students should plan to devote a minimum of 4 weeks to the elective in South Africa . More than a month is required if the student wants to make a significant contribution and develop specific skills and do research. It is easiest to slot into an existing research project; but if the student plans to conduct independent research, this needs to be communicated well in advance to provide time for IRB approval.
Clinical work : Students will be expected to participate in rounds, present patients to attending physicians and assist with diagnostic and treatment planning. At Don McKenzie, students will also be able to participate in the ART clinic.
Housing : Students will be housed at the dormitory at St. Mary's Hospital. Food is available at the hospital. For Don McKenzie placements, accommodation is available at 2 nearby sites –Valley Trust, or Koinonia Retreat Centre.
Safety : Like any major city, visitors should be conscientious about safety, although the high incidence of crime warrants some extra caution in South Africa . Visitors should be careful not to flash expensive jewelry, cell phones, computers, etc and should avoid walking around after dark.
Transportation : HMS will cover the cost of a rental car, a driver, and gas.
What to bring : Medical students should consider bringing a stethoscope, penlight or flashlight, otoscope and ophthalmoscope.
Other : For required immunizations, consult University Health Services.
Site contacts :
Stephen Carpenter (mscarpenter@lantic.net)
Brian Zanoni (bzanoni@bcm.tmc.edu)
Click here to Apply

Harvard Initiative for Global Health Summer Undergraduate Research Program

HIGH Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships are awarded to students engaged in scholarly research with a faculty mentor at a participating laboratory or research site. The Program intends to foster a strong and diverse community of scholars and increase undergraduate research opportunities in the area of global infectious diseases. All undergraduates in good standing, who will return to Harvard College after completing their research projects, are eligible. In addition to an enriching 10-week research experience, Fellows participate in weekly Journal Club meetings, Global Health Seminars, and engage in meaningful scientific discussions with leading global health researchers at Harvard. For more information and application deadlines, visit the HIGH website .

Resident Opportunities

Edendale Hospital
Click here for more information about iTEACH and Edendale Hospital
Contact: Rocio Hurtado, MD

McCord Hospital Resident Rotation

McCord Hospital is a 180 bed semi-private hospital serving predominantly the African and Asian communities of Durban. In 2004, McCord Hospital's Sinikithemba Clinic was awarded PEPFAR funding to increase access to care and treatment for HIV infected patients in the surrounding area. Since then, over 2,000 patients have initiated antiretroviral therapy at this site. Medical students will have the opportunity to rotate in the Sinikithemba clinic and to participate as a team member in the general medicine ward. Rotations for medical students are also available in the surgery, orthopedic, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics departments.
Click here for more information on the McCord Hospital Resident Rotation

We encourage medical students to apply for clinical and research opportunities in a number of international locations. Medical students will be provided with mentorships by experienced clinicians, and guidance in developing study protocols.

Click on the links above to explore clinical or research opportunities.

The Division of AIDS Office of International Programs recognizes the growing sense among medical students and residents that they are part of a wider international medical community, and together with Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals, seeks to provide residents and students with opportunities to become involved in international HIV research, training, and care. The Office of International Programs will help residents and students find appropriate mentors for research or clinical training relating to the global HIV epidemic by maintaining an updated listing of Harvard faculty involved in International HIV work, and through programs offered directly through the Office.

Fellowship Opportunities

Botswana Clinical Training and Research Fellowship Program

Information about the program
Online Application Form

Schwartz Global Health Fellowship (South Africa)
Information about the program
Online Application Form