School Administrators: Benefits of IMR Missions for Students
International Medical Relief Study Abroad Program
IMR helps students develop a better understanding of global healthcare, a more focused approach to their studies, and an edge in their contributions to the classroom environment.
International Medical Relief partners with universities to offer intensive short-term, study abroad programs designed to meet the needs of universities and students alike. Your school will have the advantage of being able to offer a unique, comprehensive learning opportunity with little effort on the part of the university. Through programs from IMR, individual students or student teams from your school will gain hands-on experience and knowledge in the field under the guidance of medical providers from the U.S. and around the world. A tailored combination of mentoring, observation, and patient interaction will give students a unique insight into the rewards and demands of a medical career.
Why IMR?
There are many organizations that offer study abroad programs, but few offer students the comprehensive, daily hands-on opportunities that IMR does. Students will have the chance to directly shadow medical providers, become proficient with basic medical skills, teach community health education, and gather surveillance data important in public health while allowing them to interact with patients from a variety of cultures.
Custom Group Programs
We understand that clinical and course requirements vary at each institution and pre-set models may not accommodate your specific needs. That’s why IMR can design custom study abroad programs to match your curricula and scholastic schedule. Options include:
- Focusing on a specific health science major or allowing enrollment across all fields of study
- Having your faculty members lead the program or choosing to have your group supported by our knowledgeable on-site team
We also customize our programs to meet the needs of the individual schools that we work with and create goals to match your objectives. Example programs include:
- Public Health: Students have partnered with investigators for collaborative field surveys and research on topics such as water and lead testing, hair testing, malnutrition studies (height/weight comparison, MUAC, wasting, etc.), incidence of disease (hypertension, diabetes, anemia, malaria), and epidemiology reports of community health burdens.
- Pharmacy: Students may participate in providing proper education on medication usage, pharmaceutical protocols for IMR for script accuracy, pre-bagging of medications, drug interactions, collecting patient history for reactions and treatment for infectious diseases, and coordinating with local resources for patients needing chronic disease management.
- Dental: Students may organize hygiene, dental, and surgical instruments; sterilize instruments and equipment; administer fluoride treatments; assist with administration of sealants; and assist dentists during all procedures. IMR students learn how to provide proper post-surgical care instruction to patients and teach patients proper oral health and hygiene.
Credits and Clinical Hours
IMR missions provide an average of 80-110 hours of clinical experience in every aspect of clinic. We will work with your university to establish a program that meets necessary requirements for credit hours and will provide a certificate of participation for all students.
Rotations and Experience
IMR clinics provide an expansive scope of patient caseloads, including: Pediatrics, Gynecology, Maternity, Geriatrics, Skilled Nursing, Mental Health, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Public Health, Nutrition, Urgent Care, Public Health, Nutrition, Wound Care, Orthopedics, Surgical Care, Urgent Care, Acute Care and Dental Care.
- Outcomes and goals for professional students: Professional students will have the opportunity to develop patient triage, assessment, and treatment skills; take histories and physicals; establish a differential diagnosis and present findings; perform wound care and laboratory testing; and provide disease/prevention education.
- Outcomes and goals for undergraduate students: Students will have the opportunity to participate in a professional medical clinic and provide hands-on patient care each day. Students will work in every department of an urgent care facility during the mission including patient registration, intake, triage, sick and well care, community health education, dental, ICU, wound care, laboratory, and pharmacy.
- Learning opportunities: All healthcare providers on IMR missions are responsible for teaching IMR student volunteers and local healthcare students to the extent possible on our missions. Students will have learning opportunities every day and gain valuable experience in patient care on our missions.
IMR staff members are ready to help customize an opportunity that meets your university’s needs. Let us know how we can help you with this amazing study abroad experience for your students. To learn more, please contact the IMR office.
Join Us in Making a Difference.
Bring much-needed acute medical and dental care to a beautiful, culture-rich destination. You can join an IMR medical mission team today!
