SOM Global Pre-Departure Requirements for Medical Students
UNC School of Medicine Student Global Travel Policy
Please complete all pre-travel requirements and get written approval from the Office of Global Health Education at least 60 days in advance of departure. Your program will be postponed, cancelled, and you may not receive UNC funding or course credit if you don’t. All pre-travel requirements are mandatory for ALL students. Please note that enrollment in a course does not mean OGHE approval.
Start early. Give yourself at least 12 weeks to adequately prepare for international travel and address the SOM pre-travel requirements in order to receive official travel approval from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
“The primary purpose of a student clinical experience is observation, not hands-on treatment. You are there to learn, not to treat. Medical students who perform procedures beyond their training may negatively impact their chances of matching in residency programs.” Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
SOM Global Pre-Departure Requirements list below is set forth by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine
If you are a UNC/H Resident Physician, STOP. You will complete the Resident pre-travel requirements for both the GME Office and the OGHE located at this link here.
Travel exemptions are mandatory and are now handled by UNC Global. Please follow instructions on this link (School of Medicine). Questions should now be directed to Kim Priebe in the Provost’s office.
Complete the travel registration form to provide the information required for travel health insurance, to provide your emergency contact information, and to sign the code of conduct.
OGHE will order travel health insurance close to the date of your travels. OGHE will contact you if there are any questions on the information provided on this form. If your travel changes (dates, location), please contact OGHE. OGHE will will cover your insurance up to 60 days.
Up to one week prior to departure, you will receive an email (from: customerservice@geo-blue.com) with your ID card. Print it! (check your spam/junk folder).
Please purchase Before or After Travel Health Insurance Coverage for personal travel ONLY after you receive the email from GeoBlue to print your ID card.
Take care of any needed immunizations (This should be scheduled no later than 8 weeks from departure date)”] Attend a travel health clinic such as UNC Campus Health’s International Travel Clinic for appropriate health and safety information, immunizations and medications to help reduce the risk of illness and injury related to international travel. Please see UNC’s International Travel Clinic website here to schedule an appointment.
Submit proof of your travel appointment meeting via the Travel Health Clinic Confirmation Form to oghe@med.unc.edu or drop it off in 3319 Roper Hall.
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website based on your destination country in the Traveler’s Health tab. Some countries deny entrance when required CDC immunizations documentation are not verified upon arrival.
Download CDC-recommended Mobile apps for vaccines, packing lists, and what not to eat while abroad
Pillars of Global Health, online training (required). Contact OGHE for access code and instructions.
Watch the video describing the Pillars of Global Health online training.
CFHI Health and Safety Recording (required)
CFHI Reflection Recording (required)
Contact OGHE for access code and instructions for these.
The certificate of completion of the Pillars of Global Health should be emailed to oghe@med.unc.edu at least one week before your global travel departure.
Make sure you are registered for the correct Global Health Elective for the time of your travels. If you have questions on what elective to enroll in or the process to decide/enroll, contact OGHE.
Register your travel dates with the U.S. Department of State. This will alert the United States Department of State to your presence in your travel location and will allow you to receive timely alerts and warnings before and during your travel dates.
Read and Print (2 copies) the UNC Emergency Plan for Medical Students & Physicians during international travel. Leave one copy with a family member in the U.S. Save a backup on email or Google Drive.
Have your preceptor and/or faculty member submit the appropriate evaluation form for your type of global health elective.
Submit a student post-travel evaluation form within four weeks of your return (or credit and funding will be denied/withdrawn.)