More U.S. medical students are studying abroad

New doctor shares vision for global physicians, discusses research paper on cross-cultural rotations.

By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. Oct. 6, 2003.

Nearly 39% of U.S. medical students studied in other countries in 2002, according to the American Assn. of Medical Colleges, up significantly from the 20% who did so in 2000 and the 6% in 1982.

And while those who study in foreign settings say they turn out to be more culturally competent than their colleagues, little research has been done on the impact of an experience abroad.

Ian Mutchnick, MD, a recent medical school graduate, aims to change that. He has done a literature review on the impact of international rotations on health professions students. "Expanding the Boundaries of Medical Education: Evidence of the Benefits of Cross-Cultural Exchange" will be presented at the AAMC's annual meeting in November. Dr. Mutchnick says the paper will be published in the October Academic Medicine.

Question Does cross-cultural medical training have a lasting impact on students as they move into practice?

Answer That depends on the person. Some studies try to measure this.

[One study of Yale internal medicine residents found that those with cross-cultural experiences were more likely to have more public assistance, immigrant and HIV patients.]

I remember sitting down to play the drums at a fair in Tanzania. I was the only white guy in sea of African people, and I could see it on their faces: "Who's this white guy?"

Maybe I don't understand the reality of this drug-seeking woman with back pain who comes in every four months asking for Vicodin and morphine, but my experiences allow for a little more compassion.