FAQs

Do I need to enroll in the Global Health Selective to be eligible to join the Global Health Equity Pathway or Concentration?

Yes, enrolling in the Global Health Selective is a requirement to join the Pathway and also to complete the Concentration. Please review the requirements of the Global Health Equity Pathway and Global Health Equity Concentration.

Is attendance required at lectures, panels, and discussions of the Global Health Selective?

The Selective has been designed to be compact with just 10–12 hours of events over the fall semester, with minimal outside work and avoiding exam weeks. Attendance is especially important for small group discussions that will not be recorded, and where students are expected to be actively engaging in peer learning. However, Selective faculty will work with students if attendance is not possible for a particular scheduled event.

Are there any limitations on the projects I can do as part of the Discovery Year experience?

Your project/site will need to be approved by GHP’s Director of Global Health Research, Dr. Kate Dovel. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Dovel at KDovel@mednet.ucla.edu.

Will I need to report the travel stipend (from Foundations for Discovery and Discovery) on my taxes?

Yes. Your stipend is considered taxable income for the year and will be reported on a 1098-T form, in the same way that scholarships and other “gift aid” is reported. You should discuss this with an accountant if you do not know whether you are responsible for any taxes. UCLA also offers free tax advice to students at VITA during tax season.

Are there any limitations on where I can do a clinical elective?

Yes. The safety of each location needs to be assessed. If traveling to a Level 3 country, as designated by the U.S. State Department, DGSOM students need to complete an additional safety protocol and request special approval to participate in this setting. Travel to a Level 4 country is not permitted.

Do you reimburse for immunizations?

Our program only provides reimbursement for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and this is limited to a $50 copay per prescription (with pre-approval by our program). All other immunizations and malaria prophylaxis are covered by the student.

Do the faculty recommendation forms need to come from UCLA clinical faculty?

Given that you will be participating in a clinical elective, we prefer that the letters come from UCLA faculty who have supervised you clinically. If you have been supervised on research in a global health setting, you may also submit a letter from the faculty member who supervised you.

Can I also add personal travel to my clinical experience?

Any personal travel should take place on weekends or before or after the time of your scheduled clinical elective. Travel should not interfere with work on Fridays or Mondays during the elective.

How will I be evaluated for my clinical global health experience?

We require that the DGSOM global health evaluation form be filled out by at least one supervising faculty member when you are participating in your clinical elective. The evaluations can be returned in a sealed envelope to Dr. Traci Wells, completed online via Qualtrics, or sent directly via email to TWells@mednet.ucla.edu. Please direct any questions to Dr. Wells.

Will I need to report the travel stipend (from my clinical elective) on my taxes?

Yes. Your stipend is considered taxable income for the year, and will be reported on a 1098-T form, in the same way that scholarships and other gift aid is reported. You should discuss this with an accountant if you do not know whether you are responsible for any taxes. UCLA also offers free tax advice to students at VITA during tax season.

I'm interested in joining the Pathway. Can you tell me where to begin?

Students apply to the Pathway with a secondary application that is separate from their DGSOM application to the regular MD or Prime tracks. The applications are submitted at the same time but reviewed by separate committees. Only those applicants who are offered admission or waitlisted to DGSOM will be considered for the Pathway, and the application to the Pathway will not have a positive or negative impact on acceptance into DGSOM. Acceptance letters for the Pathway will be sent around the first week of April, prior to Second Look. Late applications for the Pathway will not be prioritized but may be considered on a case-by-case basis

I'm interested in joining the Concentration. Can you tell me where to begin?

To join the Concentration, students begin by enrolling in the Global Health Selective course, offered in the fall to first year medical students.

Do I need to join the Global Health Equity Pathway or Concentration in order to participate in global health activities at DGSOM?

Not at all! The Pathway and Concentration are designed for those considering careers in global health, and who will benefit from longitudinal mentorship, additional educational opportunities, and engagement with fellow Pathway/Concentration students and global health faculty. A few of the Pathway benefits available only to Pathway students include the opportunity to receive funding to participate in Foundations for Discovery/Discovery, and the opportunity to apply for supplemental funding to help cover fees related to publications or research software.

Can I apply for funding to present my research at a conference or to offset the cost of publication if I have not joined the Pathway?

The funding offered through the Global Health Program is first prioritized for Pathway students. Concentration students may also apply for funding, but it is not guaranteed. Please review the application for funding and requirements carefully, and reach out to both Dr. Traci Wells and Vijeta Vaswani with questions regarding your application. Additionally, you can apply for conference funding through the Student Affairs Office and also check with your mentors to see if they can help with the publication fees. Typically mentors can support students in obtaining funding for publication fees.

Do I need to participate in all global health offerings at DGSOM in order to graduate from the Pathway or Concentration?

Not at all! We want students to have the flexibility to create their own, unique pathways. Please review the requirements on the Pathway and Concentration webpages or contact GHP Pathway DirectorDr. Kate Dovel at KDovel@mednet.ucla.edu.