The George Washington University, Medical Center Office of International Medicine Programs, USA
Member profile
Founded in 1824, The George Washington University Medical Center (GWUMC) is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary academic health care center comprising the School of Medicine and Health Sciences; School of Public Health and Health Services; GW Hospital, which is jointly operated by Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS); and GW Medical Faculty Associates, Inc. (MFA) that includes both the primary care and specialty practices of the medical faculty. GWUMC also has a longstanding tradition in research, with about 400 research projects currently underway. The Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP) was created in 1994 in response to an increasing international demand for American medical education, technology, and the latest in medical techniques and procedures. Our goal is to further the mission of GWUMC by contributing to "Improving the health and well-being of our local, national and international communities". As of 2004, we have worked formally and informally with health care institutions in over 80 countries. IMP is dedicated to helping other countries meet their long-term health care goals through education, training, and consultative service in the healthcare professions. We have sent GWUMC faculty, staff and students across the globe and have welcomed international healthcare professionals, medical students, residents, observers and fellows to GWUMC.
Main activities
The International 5-year MD Program was developed by the Office of International Medicine Programs in response to the great demand for US-educated physicians abroad. Differences in educational standards, language, and culture may present further obstacles to international students who apply to competitive American programs. GWUMC's program is designed to facilitate international students who wish to practice medicine in their home countries, and to further the GWUMC mission to improve the health and well-being of communities beyond our locale by promoting the exchange of knowledge across cultures. Physician faculty members have provided clinical care abroad in the past either to individual patients or as part of a larger collaborative project.
Links to the health workforce crisis
The goals of this program are to provide international students with a strong medical education and a basic overview of the American medical system as it is carried out at GWUMC, and to prepare them for medical careers in their home country. This program also builds productive relationships between GWUMC and governments and institutions abroad through our role in their education. GWUMC supplies physicians, residents, and medical students to participate in mission teams for Operation Smile and Medishare Project. While IMP itself is not a mission-oriented office, this service is integral to the goals of our programs and provides valuable opportunities for the GWUMC community. It supports exploring education, training, and research project components to organizations seeking to plan a medical mission involving GWUMC faculty, staff, or medical students. In addition, GWUMC serves as an educational arm to humanitarian organization. We most often provide training to international physicians. However, training via short-term workshops, customized courses, or observational experiences are possible for nurses -- in cooperation with The George Washington University Hospital.
Call for knowledge information:
Alliance Members are invited to submit any relevant knowledge products such as documents, reports, tools, multimedia, links to specific project web sites by sending an email to ghwa@who.int. The Alliance Secretariat will publish relevant products on the Member's page.
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