HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Morris, M. Articles by Goldstein, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Morris, M. Articles by Goldstein, D. L.

HOW WE TEACH

International student exchange and the medical curriculum: evaluation of a medical sciences translational physiology course in Brazil

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio ² Ohio Center for Urban and Public Affairs, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio ³ Department of Morphology, Stomatology, and Physiology, University of São Paulo Faculty of Dentistry, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil ⁴ Department of Physiology, University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil ⁵ Departments of Internal Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa ⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa ⁷ Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre ⁸ InCor Heart Institute, São Paulo, Brazil ⁹ Hypertension Unit, São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil ¹⁰ Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil ¹¹ Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. Morris, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State Univ., 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435 (e-mail: mariana.morris{at}wright.edu)

The objective of the present study was to conduct a short-term international course on translational physiology for medical students from Wright State University and the University of Iowa. The goals were to 1) provide students with an exposure to the academic, cultural, and medical environments in Brazil; 2) promote awareness of the global medical community; and 3) provide an academic course focused on translational physiology. An evaluation of the students was conducted to determine whether such a short-term course might be useful in the medical curriculum. The 2-wk course was held in the summer of 2005 at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, for 23 American students. The program included presentations of basic and clinical topics, meetings with medical students, and clinical presentations. The program finished with student attendance at a scientific meeting sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Hypertension. Student surveys evaluated issues related to perceived treatment, Brazilian medical school environment, culture and personal attributes, and career aspirations. The international Medical Sciences Translational Physiology course for medical students provided a brief, but intense, experience. It gave students a picture of the medical environment in Brazil and an appreciation for the differences and similarities in cultures. Most students reported that it was a positive experience that would be beneficial to their careers. In conclusion, a short-term international course provides an efficient means for medical students to experience aspects of global medical science.

Key words: medical education; globalism; Latin America