ABSTRACT
The Making the Links (MTL) certificate in global health is a programme that exposes learners to the social determinants of health through classroom teaching and immersive community-service learning. Housed at the College of Medicine in the University of Saskatchewan, the key elements of the programme include exposure to global health experiences in Saskatchewan, Canada and in other countries. MTL was established with the idea of giving a deeper learning opportunity for student participants and creating continuity of relationships with the communities that welcomed them, allowing for the development of true partnerships and avoiding medical tourism. The original sites were chosen due to existing community relationships with the College of Medicine. Northern Medical Services (NMS) is a branch of the University of Saskatchewan that provides physician services to the northern regions of the province. The comprehensive MTL approach to teaching global health has caught the attention of other universities, and similar programmes have begun appearing across the country.
