Short-Term Global Health Research Projects by US Medical Students: Ethical Challenges for Partnerships

Audrey M. Provenzano Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Lauren K. Graber Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Mei Elansary Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Kaveh Khoshnood Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Asghar Rastegar Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Michele Barry Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Office of the Dean, Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California

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Recent interest in global health among medical students has grown drastically, and many students now spend time abroad conducting short-term research projects in low-resource settings. These short-term stints in developing countries present important ethical challenges to US-based students and their medical schools as well as the institutions that host such students abroad. This paper outlines some of these ethical issues and puts forth recommendations for ethically mindful short-term student research.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Audrey M. Provenzano, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: audrey.provenzano@gmail.com

Authors' addresses: Audrey M. Provenzano, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Boston, MA, E-mail: audrey.provenzano@gmail.com. Lauren K. Graber and Mei Elansary, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, E-mails: lauren.graber@yale.edu and mei.elansary@yale.edu. Kaveh Khoshnood, Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health, New Haven, CT, E-mail: kaveh.khoshnood@yale.edu. Asghar Rastegar, Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, E-mail: asghar.rastegar@yale.edu. Michele Barry, Senior Associate Dean of Global Health, Director for Global Health Programs in Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, E-mail: michele.barry@stanford.edu.

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