The first experience is a Short-term International Medical Mission and is limited to a one-week clinical experience in Belize, Central America under the supervision of Synergy Medical faculty. The second experience (International Health Scholarship) will alter the curriculum of each residency in such a way to formally encompass new learning objectives in international health accompanied by a rich and in-depth clinical experience at the senior levels of each residency. Each experience will take place at Valley of Peace, a small village in Belize, Central America. Synergy Medical has already arranged clinic sites, housing and travel options.

Short-term International Medical Mission

Short-term International Medical Mission participation will be subject to availability of trainers and other factors that may limit site availability. The selection of the resident(s) will be based on the interest of the individual resident. Participation will be at the discretion of the program director(s) and will take into account the impact of the residency program call and duty schedule. Residents from any program are welcome to participate.

Funding for the one-week medical mission including travel, medical and living expenses will be the responsibility of the resident.

The one-week Belize Medical Mission provides an organized medical experience in an underserved international setting. The opportunity will be tailored to the type of residency training to the greatest extent possible; however, primary care experiences are the current focus of the one-week experience.

International Health Scholarship

The International Health Initiative will require special application during the year prior to the planned year of participation. Applications for the International Health Initiative will require an interview with the International Health Director in addition to the core faculty within each department. A maximum of one resident from each residency per year will be accepted into the program. Residents in the senior years (second through fifth) of their programs are eligible to apply.

As part of the training experience the resident will be responsible for their flight to Belize up to $1,000. Any flight cost greater than $1,000 will be the responsibility of Synergy Medical. CME funding may be used for the flight costs if approved by the individual program director. Synergy Medical is responsible for general living expenses and in country travel (car rental, required in country flights), as well as medical expenses incurred in preparation for travel, such as immunizations.

The program is available at the senior training levels for all residency programs and is offered as an elective. The experience can be tailored to the type of residency to the greatest extent possible. However, we have currently developed experiences for one-month rotations in a rural clinic in Belize to provide primary care to the citizens of Valley of Peace, a small village in Belize. Experiences in other specialties may be developed in the future if possible and as warranted.

In addition, to the one-month experience in Belize, residents will participate in a one-month preparatory experience prior to departure. This will take the form of two to three hours per week of meeting time to help with procuring supplies, acculturation, language skills, etc. in the month prior to making the trip to Belize.