ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a study that examines the spectrum of global health education delivery at medical schools across Canada with a specific focus on undergraduate medical education (UME). In 2006, Izadnegahdar and colleagues conducted a survey of Canadian medical schools to map the global health education landscape. They found a considerable range in the quantity and quality of global health curricula offered across the country. At some medical schools global health education was offered through well-developed, multi-year electives that included didactic and experiential learning. Global health experts generally accept that coordinated and cooperative approaches are needed in global health education. Despite advances in the past decade, it was unclear how much Canadian medical schools agreed on global health education standards. Global health education is clearly a growing priority for students, medical educators, medical accreditation bodies, licensing councils and society.