Laying the Foundation for an Undergraduate Student-run Global Health Collaborative

Global health examines health interactions within both local and international communities through economic, cultural, and biological lenses. The last decade has witnessed a continuing growth of interest in global health education, training, and practices among undergraduate students. Gathering undergraduate global health students and educators from a variety of institutions and countries can facilitate the sharing of ideas and knowledge in a professional setting.  Opportunities for engagement can range from conferences, virtual dialogue, and resources, resulting in a better understanding of the interconnectedness of global communities.

Despite the exponential growth in programs and interest both domestically and abroad, there are few organizations with a primary focus dedicated to supporting the growth of undergraduate global health students.  Most existing organizations appear to provide tangential opportunities for undergraduates.  A number provide experiential networking and opportunities for medical students.  Others focus on fund-raising for on-going international community-based health partnerships.  Some organizations provide targeted activities for undergraduates, but do not comprehensively attempt to serve the needs of this growing population of global health students.  No program currently supports the rich breadth of networking and professional development that could be offered through a broader initiative. 

We seek to build a program that provides opportunities for undergraduate students who wish to explore global concerns beyond a local context. Such opportunities would allow undergraduate students to present at regional or international conferences, to explore research opportunities, connect with global internships and experiential programs, and collaborate with other students on addressing current global health concerns. Having an organization to focus on undergraduate needs, specifically scaffolding our training and networking, is very different than an organization that permits undergraduates to attend international conferences designed primarily for practitioners, faculty, and educators.  In these latter instances, opportunities may exist for an exceptional undergraduate student, but as our numbers grow, it is likely that these venues will be insufficient to meet the diverse needs of our undergraduate student body.  

We have begun exploring several platforms from which we could base our potential program and receiving feedback from educators during the Undergraduate Global Health Summer Institute on Curriculum and Course Development hosted by Allegheny College.  Faculty and students involved expressed great interest for an organization that fosters collaborations and scholarship among students pursuing an undergraduate global health degree.

It is our goal to include aspects of global health curriculum and current global health concerns in this initiative. In doing so, we feel that incorporating virtual dialogue will allow communication among domestic and international global health students, fostering a compelling opportunity. Any organization that we establish must include sustainable foundations that promote continued dialogue globally following such gatherings. A strong organization must provide resources that can be accessed beyond the conference setting, such as a database with which students around the world can interact. An organization to support undergraduate global health students has the potential to connect students and educators internationally, offering diversity and sustained dialogue.