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International Programs

Apply to Study Abroad
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The School of Medicine has put together a number of resources to assist students who are scheduling international research, electives, and rotations. Students planning to participate in international programs are required to follow a specific protocol and to submit an online application through the university's Study Abroad application site.

All required materials, lectures, and reading are contained the PDF document below.

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Medical School Study Abroad Protocol

The Medical School Study Abroad application process applies to participation in programs anywhere outside of the United States, including Canada and including locations in the student's home country. All applications must be completed in the Study Abroad Portal before the trip takes place. The application system found here: Study Abroad Portal Home is mandated university-wide, and used for all CWRU undergraduate and graduate schools.


Required tasks are listed in this application, which is designed for School of Medicine students.

Preliminary Required Steps

University Program
  1. Meet with your Society Dean to review your plans and basic program info: what, where, and when. Bring a printout of the completed International Program Form and a copy of the acceptance letter or email from the program. Your Society Dean must sign your International Program Form.
  2. Meet with Dr. Steven Ricanati, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, for a Health & Safety Pre-Departure Orientation. This is a required step unless your program site is in Canada. Also, if your program is in your home country, you may email Dr. Ricanati to confirm whether he needs to meet with you or not. 
    1. Dr. Ricanati’s email is sxr18@case.edu 
    2. When you go to your Medical School Health & Safety Pre-Departure Orientation with Dr. Ricanati, bring the completed International Program Form (signed by your Society Dean) and a copy of the acceptance letter or email from the program. Dr. Ricanati will sign the International Program Form.
  3. You should then scan and email the signed International Program form to studyabroad@case.edu 
College Program
  1. Contact Dr. Christine Warren (warrenc@ccf.org) with basic program info: what, where, and when.
  2. Meet with Dr. Warren to review your plans; bring a printout of the completed International Program Form and a copy of the acceptance letter or email from the program.  Dr. Warren must sign your International Program Form. 
  3. Meet with Dr. Warren for a Health & Safety Pre-Departure Orientation. This is a required step unless your program site is in Canada. Also, if your program is in your home country, you may email Dr. Warren to confirm whether she needs to meet with you or not. 
    1. Dr. Warren’s email is warrenc@ccf.org
    2. When you go to your Medical School Health & Safety Pre-Departure Orientation with Dr. Warren, bring the completed International Program Form (signed by Dr. Warren) and a copy of the acceptance letter or email from the program.  Dr. Warren will sign the International Program Form.
  4. You should then scan and email the signed International Program form to studyabroad@case.edu  

 

Preparation for Trip

Required Reading and Lecture Videos
  1. Lecture 1: Bioethics, Social Justice, Stigma, Medical Missions
  2. Lecture 2: Preparation for Travel, Diarrheal Disease, Bacteria (Plague, Mening)
  3. Lecture 3: How to Behave During an International Elective

 

Recommended Online Resources

Review these websites for information, travel alerts, and advice.

 

Travel Insurance

Once you have completed the application, the Office of Education Abroad will send you the university-provided Travel Insurance policy information.

Read the Foreign Travel Insurance Letter and print the Foreign Travel Insurance Cards found on the last 2 pages; carry these cards and your basic medical insurance ID cards with you at all times when you are traveling abroad.

 

Malpractice Insurance

A Medical Professional Liability Policy (malpractice insurance) is automatically included in the University’s coverage, and covers medical students for any activity on behalf of the university, whether in the United States or outside of the country. Some rotations may require verification of malpractice/liability insurance.  In that event, the request must be submitted to the Office of Risk Management and Insurance, and must include:

  1. Name of the student
  2. Student ID number
  3. Name and address of where the student will be doing the rotation.
  4. Dates of the student's rotation

The Office of Risk Management will then send a Certificate of Insurance directly to the site where the student is planning to do their rotation and will e-mail a copy to the student as well on request.  
 
Contact information for the CWRU Office of Risk Management and Insurance:
Laura Corrigan, Insurance Manager,  216.368.4394   (e-mail:  laura.corrigan@case.edu)
Dina Leinweber, Department Assistant,  216.368.1547 (e-mail: dina.leinweber@case.edu)

 

MedPlus Advantage Insurance

There is an additional insurance provided for you (no charge) as a CWRU medical student.  Go to www.medplusadvantage.com and enter the code number 644198 in the box; click submit, then click on “Emergency Global Travel Service Member ID” to access information about this coverage and an Assist America insurance card.   This coverage is somewhat redundant regarding services also covered by the university travel insurance, but it is recommended that you carry the Assist America card with you also as back-up in case of an emergency.

Please note: you would contact this agency only in the event of an emergency; you do not need to notify them before you travel. Assist America provides global emergency services insurance only and does not replace medical insurance during medical emergencies away from home.  All medical costs incurred should be submitted to your health plan and are subject to the policy limits of your health coverage.

 

Other

There may be other preparations specific to your program.  Please be sure to carefully read the individual program requirements at the time you are applying.  Many requirements, such as mask-fitting and training, cannot be left to the last minute.

 

During Your Program

Provide your sponsor/evaluator with an End-of-Rotation Assessment Form as soon as possible at the start of your program.  To access the form, go to:  End of Rotation Assessment Form


Toward the end of your program, remind the evaluator to complete the form and submit it to the SOM Registrar’s Office per instructions at the bottom of the form.  The form is an interactive PDF, and can be completed online, but please note:  the form is not compatible with all browsers.  (It works well with Chrome & Internet Explorer.  It does not appear to be compatible with Firefox.)

 

Post-Program

At the conclusion of your program, you are required to complete the Post-Program Report, which is the last item listed under application questionnaires. This should be done as soon as possible after your trip and is required within 7 days of your return. It is highly recommended that you also save the report to your files for future reference.