Mission
Our mission is to train the next generation of leaders in medical fields to bring dignified, justice-oriented, and sustainable improvements to the healthcare of vulnerable populations within global and local communities.
Overview
Realizing that the fields of both global and rural health are complex and embedded in structures of healthcare inequalities which have the ability to be changed, the UWGRF is committed to improving the health care systems that affect the most vulnerable populations. This fellowship will train its fellows to address the most pressing issues facing global and rural health today including health systems strengthening, implementation and clinical research, improving medical education, treating the expanding fields of chronic diseases, cancer, trauma, mental health, and primary care in a culturally appropriate and dignified manner.
The UWGRF in Internal Medicine is a two year program based in a structured curriculum containing clinical and research training in global health, clinical training with Native populations in Alaska and South Dakota, education, mentorship, and teaching opportunities. During the first year of the program, fellows will provide direct clinical care either at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, AK or with Indian Health Services on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Fellows may also be able to participate in health systems strengthening projects at their respective sites and may have the opportunity to supervise visiting medical students and residents at each clinical site.
During the second year of fellowship, fellows will have the option of choosing from one of two tracks:
- Research Track: Fellows will have a variety of options to choose to perform clinical, implementation, health systems strengthening, monitoring and evaluation or public health research projects through one of University of Washington’s partners who work in over 100 countries. These partners include Health Alliance International, I-TECH, Kenya Research and Training Center (KRTC), and the International Clinical Research Center, and many others.
- Clinical Education Track: Fellows who are interested in pursuing a career in clinical education will have the option to work in a wide variety of low-middle income countries where there are UW faculty and/or affiliated mentors. Fellows will perform clinical supervision, provide direct patient care, and work in partnership with the local ministry of health to strengthen the medical education curriculum.