Article: "Packing ethics into medical students' global health trips"

Stacy Weiner, a senior staff writer from AAMCNews, outlines the various efforts being taken by medical schools and their international health experience programs to better care for communities abroad.

Some of these efforts include:

• Partnering with host communities and medical faculty to ensure that their needs are being met.
• Training medical students on the culture, language, and history of the host community before departing.
• Pre-trip simulations that raise ethical and medical issues that students may encounter while abroad.

This is a great article for those who are considering an international medical service trip. Cultural and personal humility, along with a foundation of respect between the host community and the visiting group, are imperative to a successful, sustainable international healthcare experience. 

Visit the AAMCNews website to read more about the ethics and practices of successful global health trips, as well as common mistakes made by well-intentioned medical students.