Medical Missionaries Global Health Fellows

Medical Missionaries Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship in Global Health

2010 - 2011

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply? The Medical Missionaries Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship in Global Health is designed for recent college graduates pursuing a career in medicine or other health professions who have a particular interest in global health. Eligible applicants must be graduates of an accredited US postsecondary institution as of June 2010. Though most applicants will be planning to attend medical school, other pre-health students are also encouraged to apply. Applicants should be in good physical health.

What does the application process consist of? All applicants will complete and submit a primary application. After careful review of all primary applications, secondary applications will be sent to the strongest applicants. The secondary application, along with up to three non-peer letters of recommendation, must then be submitted. Upon review of the secondary application and letters of recommendation, phone interviews will be granted to selected applicants. Two fellows and several alternates will be selected. All applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted via email to MMFellowship2010@gmail.com. The application timeline will proceed as follows:

Deadline	Date
Primary Application Due	September 27, 2009
Notification of Secondary Recipients	October 13, 2009
Secondary Application and Recommendations Due	November 10, 2009
Notification of Interview Recipients	November 24, 2009
Interviews	November 24 - December 8, 2009
Final Notification of Fellowship Recipients and Alternates	Mid- to late-December, 2009

How competitive is the application process? In the past, the MM Fellowship has been very selective, with approximately 100-150 applicants for two positions. The best candidates are those who demonstrate maturity of thought, a well-developed sense of ethics, strong social and organizational skills, and a commitment to reducing health disparities worldwide. Excellence in academics and extracurricular activities is emphasized, but there are no cutoffs for test scores or grade point averages. We are especially interested in those applicants who have exhibited a high degree of leadership, self-direction, and responsibility.

Do the fellows need to have previous research, international, or clinical experience? Previous experience is not a requirement. However, candidates lacking field experience should have demonstrated an interest and commitment to global health, as well as the ability to adapt to new and challenging situations.

What are the commitments of the fellowship? Fellows must commit to spending one year in Thomassique, Haiti, working at St. Joseph's Clinic, where they will act as liaisons between Medical Missionaries-the US-based organization that built and funds the clinic-and the clinic's all-Haitian staff. The fellowship will begin in the summer of 2010 and end in the summer of 2011. It is a full-year commitment.

During their year in Haiti, fellows are expected to fulfill a variety of administrative functions, including ordering medicines and supplies, helping organize the clinic, facilitating logistics for visiting teams of American physicians and surgeons, managing the clinic's finances, and overseeing Medical Missionaries' school funding project. In addition to these requirements, fellows have the opportunity to design and implement community public health projects; shadow the clinic's physicians, midwife, and nurses; work in the clinic's laboratory and pharmacy; and assist American surgeons during their visits. All necessary training will be provided. It should be noted that fellows are required to complete an independent study of Haitian Creole before arriving in Thomassique. A syllabus and all learning materials will be provided.

Are the fellows allowed trips back to the US? Yes. Fellows are permitted up to three trips back to the US, for periods of two to three weeks. The flights will be funded by Medical Missionaries. The dates of these trips are to be determined by the fellows themselves.

Is it feasible to apply to medical school or graduate school during the fellowship year? Yes. The fellowship is uniquely designed to accommodate individuals who are applying to medical or graduate programs. There is wireless internet available at the staff house. Furthermore, the three trips back to the US can be scheduled to accommodate interviews. Both of the '09-'10 MM fellows are currently applying to medical school and have found the process to be completely feasible from Thomassique.

Where do the fellows live? The fellows reside in a staff house located adjacent to St. Joseph's Clinic, along with three doctors, a nurse, a midwife, and a midwife's assistant. The staff house is equipped with a kitchen and shared bathroom facilities, as well as electricity, running water, wireless internet, and access to a washing machine. The fellows will have their own rooms equipped with beds, fans, and mosquito nets.

How do the fellows prepare for language immersion? A major component of the fellowship is cultural and language immersion. The fellows' ability to communicate in Haitian Creole is vital to their success and overall experience in Haiti. Consequently, we require a commitment from applicants to pursue a guided independent study of Haitian Creole before their arrival in Haiti. A course syllabus, reading materials, and audio resources will be provided by Medical Missionaries.

Is Medical Missionaries a religiously-affiliated organization? No. Although we do collaborate with some religious institutions and organizations, Medical Missionaries is a non-religiously affiliated non-profit organization dedicated to providing health care, medical support, medical education, and training to under-served communities around the world regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.

Is Thomassique safe? What are the safety precautions that are taken? While there are always risks associated with travel, especially in resource-poor countries, the rural town of Thomassique is far removed from the highly publicized political tensions associated with Haiti. Thomassique is located very close to the border with the Dominican Republic. In fact, fellows will fly into Santo Domingo and cross the border to arrive at St. Joseph's Clinic.

Violent crime is nearly non-existent in Thomassique; still, several precautions are taken by Medical Missionaries to ensure the safety of the clinic staff and fellows. The clinic and staff house are located in a gated compound with a 24-hour security guard. The staff house is locked at night and all bedrooms have locks with key access as well. On site, there are doctors and nurses at all times to assist with any health-related concerns. Past and current fellows agree that St. Joseph's is a very safe place to live and work.

Will the fellows be safe during the hurricane season? Thomassique is located on Haiti's central plateau, and thus is elevated and far inland. This geographical barrier protects Thomassique from hurricanes. Therefore, the fellows will not be in any danger during the hurricane season.

Are all costs covered by Medical Missionaries? Is this there a stipend? While there is no stipend for the fellowship, Medical Missionaries will cover all necessary costs for the year. This includes room, board, travel expenses to and from the US, and emergency health insurance. Fellows can expect not to spend any money while in Haiti, aside from recreational and personal expenditures.

Is health insurance provided? Medical Missionaries provides insurance to all fellows for emergency evacuations. However, fellows should expect to have their own health insurance for procedures within the US. All minor health concerns will be addressed at the clinic by fully trained medical staff.

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