Global health is sexy. Years ago, faraway lands enticed us through glossy photos in National Geographic magazines. Today, endless information is easily found online. International travel is more accessible, and cultures once only read about can be personally experienced. As we become more interconnected, it is increasingly important to understand the cultures and practice settings of foreign colleagues.
Interest in global health creates a significant impact on medical education. Global health programs are emerging across academic institutions. Prospective trainees evaluate residency programs for their international experiences; more opportunities for service-based trips exist, and more students report international projects on their applications. Academic programs respond in order to enhance recruitment and competitiveness.
Global health has allure for both trainees and faculty. Trainees gain exposure to diseases they may otherwise not see and obtain skills for delivering anesthetics in austere environments. Junior physicians seek global health exposure not available during their own...