Medical student electives: potential for global health?

摘要

We read the results of the sub-Saharan African medical school study (published online Nov 11,2010) with interest, but were disappointed that medical student electives were ignored as potential "international collaborations". Electives often provide students with their first exposure to international health and have been part of UK undergraduate training since the 1970s. Annually, almost 8000 UK students take electives, but this part of the curriculum remains poorly assessed.