Global Health Residency Pathway

All residents at Children’s National Hospital, in accordance with ACGME requirements, develop and implement individualized learning plans (ILPs) with their mentors. Trainees are increasingly incorporating global health education and global experiences into their ILPs, aligning with our institutional mission to:

• Improve health outcomes for children regionally, nationally and internationally;
• Create innovative solutions to pediatric health challenges;
• Prioritize diversity and inclusion while providing a quality healthcare experience for our patients and families.

Should residents choose, they have the option to complete a global health pathway, or if interested in experiential learning and scholarship, obtain a Certificate in Global Health. Through this global health education and global experiences, pediatric trainees develop the skills necessary to:

• Effectively engage in meaningful international partnerships and build capacity in host country health systems
• Serve patients of all ethnicities and backgrounds in high- and low- income countries, including refugees, immigrants, children living in poverty and survivors of human trafficking
• Recognize health inequities, human rights issues and advocacy opportunities in both high- and low-income settings

What Our Pathway Offers

Our dedicated Children's National Hospital Global Health Initiative (GHI) faculty create a supportive learning environment in which residents engage in discussion involving global health issues and principles through GHI-sponsored educational activities throughout the year and/or our biannual Introduction to Global Child Health Course. The course includes a dynamic line-up of presentations, discussions and hands-on training with speakers from our GHI faculty and local entities, including USAID, Save the Children, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland and Georgetown University.

For those interested in a more robust global health education, including an international elective and expanded global health education, take a look at the curriculum of the Certificate in Global Health Program.

Who Should Participate in the Global Health Residency Pathway?

Residents should consider the GH pathway if you’re interested in gaining experience and knowledge related to global health, particularly caring for children living in low-income countries as well as caring for the diverse immigrant population here in Washington, D.C. Since the pathway curriculum contains no required rotations, residents in any track can participate.

We offer several educational opportunities from which residents may choose to complete all or only selected components. Resident educational opportunities include both elective rotations and self-study options.

Mentorship

A global health faculty mentor is required in order to participate in an international elective or qualify for the Certificate in Global Child Health. You can review GHI mentors. 

First Steps

• Sign up: Contact Kathy Ferrer, M.D., or Stacey Stokes, M.D., in addition to the Chief Residents to let them know of your interest by email.
• Edit your Individualized Learning Plan (ILP): Review the GH Pathway Learning Objectives and certificate requirements with your portfolio advisor (if you do not plan to pursue the certificate program) or with you global health faculty mentor (if you plan to pursue the certificate program) to design a learning plan to incorporate GH education into your personal career goals
• Construct an individualized curriculum: Select which components of the pathway best align with your career and education goals and start planning. Feel free to get creative and ask for help!