Cristina Fernandez '11, Ramon Millan '11

The International Health Organization is one of the largest and most active student groups in the CUMC community. We raise the profile of global health issues here on campus as well as send as many students abroad as possible in the first, second and fourth years of medical school. IHO hosts speakers, events and monthly seminars to broaden awareness of world health issues, careers in global health, and international experiences for medical students. A special focus is to convince students that global health embraces all medical specialties- from primary care to neurosurgery.

Events in the 2006-7 year included monthly Tropical Medicine Grand Rounds, where experienced clinicians shared how to treat conditions not commonly encountered in the US; a ‘Surgery Overseas’ dinner; talks on clinical health in conflict zones, international eye health, and international obstetrics; Infectious Disease rounds in the hospital for first and second year students; a visit to a simulated MSF refugee camp; awareness on World AIDS Day; and community health activities in Washington Heights. Most excitingly we began a partnership with Jeffrey Sachs’ Earth Institute and the Millennium Villages Project-several P&S first years will participate in public health projects throughout Africa, and fourth year students will do clinical electives at those sites. Also, we help send students overseas through the Tropical Medicine elective in the 4th year to various sites throughout the world.

The IHO is affiliated with REMEDY, a student-run organization that recovers equipment and supplies discarded by the Hospital. The link to REMEDY allows Columbia students and doctors who are going abroad to bring a valuable donation with them.