Global REACH helps many third- and fourth-year medical students spend one of their elective months at a UMMS partner institution overseas. Electives may have a clinical or research focus.

Who: UMMS M3 and M4 students

What: Electives must be a minimum of four weeks and may have a clinical or a research focus. Typically, students set up and plan their own electives, although Global REACH can help identify potential opportunities as well.

Where: Funding is limited to experiences at UMMS partner institutions abroad with active Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements. See the list of more than 20 eligible partner institutions across a dozen countries.

Amount: Up to $1,750.

Apply: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Travel Authorization/Student Funding Application form.

Engaging in global health education experiences early can introduce students to potential disciplines and fields of study. It helps build longitudinal relationships with mentors (both at home and abroad) and impresses upon participants how health outcomes are shaped by social, structural, and environmental factors. To that end, Global REACH offers a funding mechanism specific to first- and second-year students to support international educational experiences.

Who: M1 and M2 students.

What: Experiences must be a minimum of four weeks and may have a clinical (i.e., observational) or a research focus under the guidance of a UMMS mentor.

Where: Experiences must take place in a low- or middle-income country, as defined by the World Bank.

Amount: Up to $1,750.

Apply: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Travel Authorization/Student Funding Application.

For UMMS students engaging in Capstone for Impact (CFI) projects in an international setting, Global REACH offers supplemental funding in addition the Medical School's primary CFI grants to help offset the expense of necessary travel.

Who: UMMS M3 and M4 students planning an international Capstone project.

What: These awards augment the medical school's Capstone for Impact (CFI) grants for those students pursuing projects in an international setting. They are intended to help cover the cost of travel. Time in-country should be a minimum four weeks.

Where: Those projects based in low- to middle-income country (LMIC) settings, as defined by the World Bank, will be prioritized.

Amount: Up to $1,750

Apply: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Travel Authorization/Student Funding Application form.

Awards are available to help UMMS students travel to prominent conferences to present work or projects previously enabled by Global REACH funding. Conferences can be held in domestic or international settings.

Who: UMMS students whose Global REACH-supported work has been accepted for showcase at a professional conference.

What: Support can be requested for conference registration, poster printing, airfare, lodging, etc.

Amount: Up to $750.

Apply: Complete the Conference Funding Request Form after your poster or abstract has been accepted for showcase – if possible, at least 60 days prior to departure.

Each year, the University of São Paulo Medical School invites medical students from around the world to learn and network for two weeks at Brazil’s preeminent medical and research university. Global REACH offers support to cover the program's administrative fee as well as some travel costs for participants selected into the program.

Who: All students are eligible to apply for the Winter Schools program and the associated Global REACH program support grants. However, priority will be given to students in the Global Health and Disparities (GHD) Path.

What: A two-week program that brings medical students together from all over the world to study and network. There are individual course offerings within the Winter Schools curriculum. Common offerings include cardiology, dermatology, tropical diseases, neurology, and more. Full details are available at the Winter Schools website.

Where: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) is a longtime UMMS partner institution as well as the largest higher education and research institution in Brazil. Its affiliated health system, Hospital das Clínicas, is the largest hospital system in Latin America.

Amount: $1,500

When: The 2025 session will run July 14-25, with application deadline of March 30, 2025. The application period is now closed.

Through the generous support of Drs. Douglas and Margo Yellin Woll, Global REACH is able to provide up to $2500 to support student educational experiences in low- to middle-income country (LMIC) settings. These scholarships typically support an international clinical elective with an additional scholarly component.

Who: Third- or fourth-year UMMS students.

What: International clinical clerkships that incorporate an additional scholarly focus (e.g., research, a quality improvement project, or an educational project etc.). Experiences must be 4 or more weeks long.

Where: Woll Scholarships are reserved exclusively for settings designated by the World Bank as LMICs. Preference will be given to applicants pursuing experiences at qualifying UMMS partner institutions (i.e., schools with an active UMMS exchange agreement). See a list here of more than 20 partner institutions across a dozen countries (note that not all are in LMICs).

Amount: Up to $2,500 to help cover the cost of travel and living expenses.

Apply: An application period will open in the fall for anticipated experiences in the winter/spring of 2025-26.