MEL 8314: Tropical Medicine and Public Health Abroad

Drs. John Greene and John Sinnott

This course offers an opportunity to practice health care in a foreign country with emphasis on tropical infectious diseases and epidemiology. An urban and rural hospital/clinic at a major medical school in Africa (Zimbabwe), India, or South America will be the location of the rotation. The student will learn to care for patients with acute and chronic parasitic and tropical bacterial and fungal infections as well as diseases common to all peoples. Interaction with the local clinicians will include joint lectures, direct supervised patient care, and observation of healthy and unhealthy behavior of the indigenous population. A USF faculty member with interest and expertise in tropical medicine or public health will provide the leadership and instruction for the group. At the end of the rotation, each participant will present a relevant topic concerning the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of tropical diseases, or the epidemiology and control of major diseases of public health importance, and submit the report for publication.

Emergency medical insurance is required for all electives abroad.