Fellow

Post-Residency and Fellowship

Fellowship provides dedicated time to develop expertise, gain research experience, and build sustainable projects in global emergency medicine (EM). Many programs offer opportunities to obtain advanced degrees such as:

• Master of Public Health (MPH): Focus on epidemiology, global health policy, and research methods.
• Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DMT&H): Training in infectious diseases and travel medicine.
• Master of Science (MSc): Specialization in research methodologies or implementation science.
• Master in Medical Education (MEd): Preparation for leadership roles in global health education.
• Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA): Focus on the delivery of healthcare from an administrative side.

Global EM fellowships vary in duration and focus based on institutional goals, faculty expertise, endowments, and existing partnerships. Some additional focus areas to consider include:

• Education and Training: Teaching and developing EM care practices, residency training programs, and partnering with ongoing projects in resource-austere and infrastructure-limited settings.
• Humanitarian and Disaster Response: Fieldwork with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like Doctors Without Borders, International Medical Corps, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Some fellowships provide advanced training in humanitarian response such as taking the Health Emergencies in Large Populations course offered by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• Health Systems Development: Collaborating with the WHO initiative on emergency care and/or ministries of health to strengthen emergency care systems.
• Research: Conducting ethically-sound global health studies to improve patient outcomes. Fellowships focused on research will provide mentorship on all aspects of research including procuring funding, designing studies, obtaining ethics approval, storing and analyzing data, writing peer-reviewed publications, and disseminating research findings.

Additional Fellowship Considerations

Fellowships offer protected time to explore various projects and directions within global EM and affords dedicated time and funding. The goal of the fellowship is to mentor the next generation of global EM physicians. Fellowships provide mentorship on cultural and ethical issues when working globally as well as instruction on how to build successful partnerships with governments, educational institutions and NGOs - all necessary skills for a career in global EM.

One- or Two-Year Fellowships

This will depend on your career path and current trajectory. If you have an advanced degree, one year may be enough to gain the experience you need, or you may elect for a two-year fellowship to dedicate more time to fieldwork and training. Leverage your mentors to help you better understand what may be the best fit.

Alternative Fellowship Opportunities

• Epidemic Intelligence Service, offered by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC): two-year, highly-regarded opportunity.
• Fogarty Global Health Program, offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Global Health Fellows Program, offered by USAID
• Fulbright Program for Global Health Research

Post-Fellowship and Career Pathways

Graduates of global EM fellowships pursue careers in:

• Academic Medicine: Training future emergency physicians with a global health focus.
• NGOs: Direct clinical care, research, and policy work.
• Government Agencies: CDC, WHO, and national ministries of health.
• Community Hospitals: Integrating global health initiatives into local EM practice.

Key Considerations for Job Search

• Does the institution have a strong commitment to global health? Are they in the areas of personal or locational interest?
• Will you have protected time and funding for global health projects? Inquire with those workin gin global health at that institution. What changes have occurred regarding support over the past five-ten years?
• Are there opportunities for mentorship and collaboration?

A career in global EM offers unparalleled opportunities to impact healthcare systems worldwide through sustainable interventions, education, and acute care delivery in resource-limited environments. Whether through direct clinical care, research, humanitarian response, or system development, this field fosters resilience and innovation in addressing global health challenges. With careful planning, mentorship, and strategic career decisions, emergency physicians can build meaningful, long-term careers in global health while making a lasting difference in communities around the world.