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Overview
As a centerpiece of its efforts in global health, Mayan Medical Aid offers a one-year, Third-World Health Manager training course. We are pleased to offer a $10,000 matching scholarship for the entering class of 2009.
Online application
This program will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership roles in global health. By emphasizing a multi-disciplinary approach and applied global health practice through didactic learning and fieldwork experience, we envision this program to uniquely prepare graduates for careers in international health policy, third-world health care, research, and health project development and implementation.
There are only five Student Third-World Health Manager
course scholarships available each year. They are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to any health care worker or person with a true drive to make a difference in this world.
As one of five participants, students will be responsible for
managing the medical and dental health care of a single village
for one year. The five villages vary in size from 500 to 2500
inhabitants.
Students will learn Medical Spanish, drug procurement and
management, health care delivery appropriate to their
population, provision of adequate nutrition, and how to be
sensitive to the cultural beliefs of their village. Then, students will
teach the same knowledge to other, short-term students.
This program is the quintessential humanitarian adventure. It
separates those who just talk about global medicine from
those who actually take a position on the front lines of
the war on poverty.
Students should plan on making a bigger difference in health care. They not only will save lives, but also provide economic
opportunity to people who otherwise would not have any.
Notes:
1) Participants must be dedicated and self-motivated.
2) This course is meant to teach how to manage the delivery
of health care.
3) No participant can practice medicine beyond their training.
4) Financial assistance usually can be obtained as a year-off
student loan.
5) No prior Spanish or health care experience is necessary to apply.
Please see below for eligibility, selection criteria, instructions on how to apply online, and frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Course Objectives
Applicants typically will be a) students with an interest in a health-science profession or related fields or b) health care practitioners. Both of these types of applicants should wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in the emerging field of global health. The curriculum will integrate content and procedural material with field work and representative case-based problems, which cross traditional disciplines.
Courses will be co-directed by experienced faculty members, who will cover a wide range of global health topics in a series of core offerings. These expert faculty will give lectures, lead seminars, and provide students with practical and organizational advice.
Emphasis will be placed on the management of health care in low-income countries, drawing parallels between global and regional poverty and health. Students and faculty will examine relevance of global migration patterns to health care access and quality in Latin America.
The program will cover health systems, policies, and global agencies dedicated to improving health. It also will emphasize quantitative skills through practical experience with epidemiological studies, statistical inference, and health metrics. The field work will bring the student into direct contact with applied global health problems and research in the field.
The program also will encourage the acquisition of leadership skills, such as oral and written communication, strategic planning, risk assessment, program management, and teamwork. And finally, the curriculum will emphasize case-based learning, the application of critical thinking to global health debates, and the application of multiple disciplines to global health policy and development.
To summarize, graduates of the course will:
• Define historical, political, scientific, and practical approaches to existing and emerging major global health problems
• Explain the cultural, social, economic, and environmental determinants of global health and of health disparities
• Master principles of research methods and analysis
• Have a firm grasp of ethical issues involving global health practice, research, and governance
• Develop leadership skills leading to a career in global health
• Be responsible for managing the medical and dental health care of a single village for one year
Applicant Eligibility
• Satisfactory of completion of the online application
• Three reference letters
• Strong interest in and dedication to global health
Priority will be given to students who:
• Demonstrate the desire to undertake clinical, policy, or epidemiological research
• Show interest in gaining experience in providing health care to underserved populations internationally
• Advanced professional degrees are not necessary.
Selection Criteria
Mayan Medical Aid offers admission to applicants who appear to have the highest potential for managing health care for the poor and who are the most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through leadership in teaching, research, service, or professional practice.
The Admissions Committee will assess a candidate’s academic preparedness by a combination of professional qualifications, letters of reference (three requested), and an estimate of the student’s ability to undertake fieldwork. Commitment to global health will be evaluated by the personal statement and by the letters of reference.
Personal and professional qualities will be assessed by interview and by evidence of maturity, motivation and resourcefulness in varied cultural contexts. The Admissions Committee also will consider the potential contribution of the student’s background and life experience to a diverse and interactive learning environment.
Upon completion of the application, Mayan Medical Aid will notify candidates about their eligibility, the selection process, and their status as a candidate. Highly-qualified candidates may receive an offer of early acceptance. Mayan Medical Aid will ask for a face-to-face or telephone interview as a part of the application process.
How to Apply
The Third-World Health Manager training course requires that students apply using our online application. To be considered for review, a completed application must be submitted. After receiving the initial application, the Admissions Committee will require the following:
• Initial online application. (Click Here)
• Personal statement, which gives reasons for applying for the program, prior global health experience, and expectations from the course (not to exceed 750 words)
• Curriculum Vitae containing education, publications, professional experience, languages, honors & awards, local and international experience / volunteer work, extracurricular interests, and special skills
• Three Letters of Recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well enough to assess their academic strengths, personal qualities, and accomplishments
• Original transcripts from undergraduate and / or graduate schools
• A non-refundable application fee of $100, payable online by credit or debit card at the time of making the initial application.
Expectations of Students
The learning goals of this course are aimed at high-level competency. Much of the learning occurs a) through lectures, which demand preparation, reading, and oral or PowerPoint presentations and b) fieldwork, which requires hard work and dedication to improving health care delivery to the populations served.
The faculty values diverse backgrounds and skills in the students and encourages cross-disciplinary debate. The program anticipates active, democratic participation, and students will be asked to lead some seminars, develop teaching materials, and contribute actively to the learning process. One of the outcomes of the course is the achievement of clear, articulate, and concise communication skills , which faculty will evaluate in periodic reports and assignments.
Curriculum
The one-year training program will emphasize a problem-based, interdisciplinary curriculum. The format will enhance learning through debate, negotiating, and analysis of case studies.
The considerable international experience of our faculty will guide, challenge, and stimulate student interest in global health, using a variety of approaches. The aim is to introduce content and context through real-world scenarios.
For example, malnutrition can be examined from many perspectives: poverty, culture, health care availability and use, drug treatment, environmental factors, agricultural land use, and infrastructure development.
The curriculum is divided into thematic blocks:
1. Introduction to Global Health
2. Medical Spanish
3. Social, Cultural, and Economic Determinants of Disease
4. Principles of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Health Economics
5. Diseases of Global Importance
6. Field Experience
7. Applied Global Health
8. Global Health Practice
Electives
There are currently no electives for this course, and successful completion of all aspects of the program are required for graduation. The course will conform to the needs and goals of the students, while covering a broad array of representative subject matter and skill sets relating to global health.
Course faculty will select critical topic areas and case studies. These will constitute essential knowledge for mastery of global health management.
Program of Study
The program will comprise a) required courses on health care management in the third world, b) Spanish, c) field experience, and d) a special fieldwork project. To some extent, course content and seminars will be tailored to the interests and skills of the students.
The course will begin with an overview of international health, examining regional disease metrics and burden, health systems, and a selection of global health priorities. Further emphasis will be placed on the social, cultural, and economic determinants of illness.
Lectures in epidemiology, biostatistics, and health economics will enable students to analyze and interpret health research data. The course will address specific communicable and non-communicable diseases of global importance, reinforcing the skills of evidence-based learning.
The preparation and analysis of the field experience will emphasize study design, practicalities of field research, cultural sensitivity, and project management. Students will submit a formal, written report of their field project at the end of the course.
The field experience will concentrate on health education, clinical care, policy development, and research. It will involve work in Guatemala with a local, underserved population, with an emphasis on applied global health.
Students will be guided through an analysis and comprehensive examination, a written report, and oral presentation of their field experience. Additional lectures will be devoted to the scientific basis of health policy, consolidation of leadership skills, and a review of the main elements of the course.
Faculty and Mentors
Each student will be assigned a faculty advisor and primary mentor. The advisor will help the student assess current skills, review learning objectives, and monitor competencies as the course progresses.
Mentors will guide students through field experience preparation, assist with drafts and plans of the field proposal, and provide guidance for the final written report and oral presentation. On-site mentors will guide field experience progress and assess performance.
Student Evaluation
Faculty will define standards for competencies that all graduates are expected to achieve. The curriculum is designed to encourage self-directed learning and mastery of concepts and procedural knowledge rather than factual recall.
In addition to individual course evaluations, students will submit their fieldwork proposal as a "qualifying examination" and their capstone project will serve as a final evaluation.
Grading: A = excellent; B = good; C = fair; D = barely passing; F = failure; I = incomplete. An A or B constitutes a passing grade. A grade of C or below indicates unsatisfactory work. Unless otherwise specified by course directors, the grades will be apportioned as follows: class/seminar participation 25%; short papers 25%; field work activity 25%; final paper 25%.
A GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation, and any incomplete grades must be completed by the final quarter. Although considerable self-study time is offered during the weekly schedule, students are cautioned that extracurricular work, which interferes with academic progress poses a peril to graduation.
Examinations
In addition to satisfactory progress in individual coursework, assignments, and related exams, students undertaking the course will successfully complete a final, written report, which describes all aspects of the fieldwork undertaken. At the completion of the course, the review committee will require a formal written and oral presentation of the completed fieldwork project.
Fees
The fee for this self-sustaining program is $41,375, exclusive of housing, travel, and other personal costs. Mayan Medical Aid will offer five scholarships of $10,000 each, as a means of reducing the above fee to $31,375.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions for applicants:
Who Should Apply?
Students currently enrolled at the university / college level or recently graduated from professional schools of health sciences or those who meet the requirements to be accepted into a health sciences program are eligible to apply.
The course of study is intense and rigorous Students most likely to benefit from this program will be those who present a convincing case for a career in global health. Candidates from the non-health sciences should demonstrate relatedness of their career goals to relevant topics in global health.
Applicants should give evidence of interest in a career path in global health in one of a number of categories such as: policy, health systems, education, clinical care, medical anthropology, health promotion, or development studies. This program seeks exceptional candidates who have global health leadership potential, demonstrated capacity to excel in the coursework, and a high likelihood of contributing to the quality of the program.
Is the Program Fully Accredited?
This program has not yet been approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. Application is in process.
What are the Academic Requirements?
• Mayan Medical Aid encourages applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and disciplines and a commitment to career advancement in the field of global health.
• Candidates with prior experience in underserved populations or international health, particularly in low-resource countries, are especially encouraged to apply, but such experience is not requisite.
• A concrete plan for a field project is highly desirable, but is not absolutely necessary.
• An interview, either in person or by phone, with a senior faculty member will be requested for short-listed candidates.
• Academic transcripts are required.
• The GREs are not required for admission.
What Does the Fieldwork Entail?
Under the guidance of a mentor, the student will be responsible for managing the medical and dental health care of a single village for one year.
What Makes this Program Different from a Masters Degree in Public Health?
The curriculum is designed to emphasize the distinct aspects of global health as compared with public health. Thus, for example, the lecture content and seminars will address health disparities and the roles of poverty, social class, and human needs in the causal pathway to illness.
Throughout the didactic courses, the ethics of cross-cultural research and development aid will be debated. The emerging role of health diplomacy exemplifies the uniqueness of global health as a political force.
The course will address the disparate health aspects of Latin America and the importance of history and geography in human illness. Throughout the course, faculty will emphasize the cross-disciplinary nature of global health so that students comprehend the many perspectives of global health problems and their potential solutions.
What are the Selction Factors?
The Admissions Committee of the Global Health Sciences Graduate Group will review and shortlist applicants for admission. Selection will be based on a scoring methodology that evaluates the interview, academic record, interest and potential in global health, letters of recommendation, personal statement, potential for leadership, work experience, honors and awards, extra-curricular skills, and interests.
Proficiency in a language in addition to English is not necessary. Students will learn Medical Spanish as a part of the curiculum.
Students not initially selected may be placed on a waiting list, and possibly offered a position in a secondary selection process if vacancies occur. The size of the class entering in September 2009 will be no more than 5.
When Can I Apply?
The online application is available now. (Click Here)
What is the Cost of the Program?
The fee for this self-sustaining program is $41,375, exclusive of housing, travel, and other personal costs. Mayan Medical Aid will offer five scholarships of $10,000 each, as a means of reducing the above fee to $31,375.
Are Scholarships Available?
Mayan Medical Aid will offer five scholarships of $10,000 each.
Will I Have the Opportunity for Part-Time Work During the Course?
The academic and fieldwork workload are rigorous. As such, there is no time for part-time work, and none is permitted.
Who Can I Contact with Questions?
Craig A. Sinkinson, M.D.
craigasinkinson@aol.com
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