‘Global health affects all of us:’ Student-led symposium highlights international health care
Hosted by the Acute Care and Systems Strengthening in Low Resource Settings program, the 2024 symposium will feature lectures, networking and forums on global health.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Acute Care and Systems Strengthening in Low Resource Settings(ACCESS) program will host medical students, faculty and other experts in global health care at its sixth annual Global Health Symposium. The symposium, which will take place in McGlothlin Medical Education Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature research presentations, panel sessions and a networking lunch.
This year’s theme, “Advancing global health education: Empowering the next generation,” aims to showcase the opportunities available to students who are considering global health and acute care in low-resource areas as a career path. Medical students from other schools, especially those that do not have a similar program, are encouraged to attend virtually.
“We really want to inspire anyone who is on the fence about getting involved in global health to get involved,” said Perri Nelson, an M2 and symposium co-chair. “We also want to create networking opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them, especially medical students who don’t go to a school with a global health program.”
Attendees will hear from leaders in the field, including keynote speaker Juan Carlos Puyana, M.D., a trauma and acute care surgeon, clinical investigator and director for global health surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. The symposium will also feature morning and afternoon breakout specialty workshops, where attendees will choose groups based on the medical specialties they are interested in.
“We hope people walk away from this event feeling inspired and engaged with global health,” M2 Megan McCaughey, ACCESS co-president said. “We’re really trying to foster a feeling of lifelong learning, cultural awareness and being a global citizen.”
ACCESS is a four-year longitudinal academic program for VCU medical students interested in providing acute care in low-resource and international settings. Directed by Edgar Rodas, M.D., associate professor in the division of acute care surgical services, and four other faculty leaders, students apply during the first semester of their M1 year and spend their first two years learning about global health and its challenges. During their M3 year, students are required to choose from the offered tracks: surgery, anesthesia, obstetrics, emergency medicine and critical care. As fourth-years, students complete a capstone project under an ACCESS mentor. The program also includes opportunities to interact with patients within the Richmond community and travel abroad.
While those interested in the ACCESS program must apply during their M1 year, the symposium is open to all students who are interested in global health or delivering care in low-resource settings. Bahira Ahmed, an M2 and public outreach chair for ACCESS, said she was inspired to join the program after attending last year’s symposium. Ahmed explained that global health and working in low resource settings is not limited to international health care, and that the symposium topics are relevant to a broad range of medical care in the U.S. The program aims to help students develop an understanding of the socio- and geo-political factors that influence health care systems, including those closer to home.
“Global health affects all of us, and there are plenty of low-resource settings in the United States,” Ahmed said. “Even if you aren’t a part of the ACCESS program or interested in working internationally, there are still skills and networking that are valuable.”
The ACCESS Global Health Symposium is open to VCU students, faculty, staff and members of the public, and those interested can register here. Breakfast and lunch are included and all proceeds from the event support the ACCESS Program.