The Distinction in Global Health (DGH) is a formal academic designation awarded to Einstein MD students who demonstrate sustained, ethical, and academically rigorous engagement in global health. It recognizes students who go beyond coursework to contribute meaningfully to global and community health through fieldwork, research, program development, education, or applied practice — in international, domestic, and community-based settings alike.
Global health at Einstein is grounded in long-standing partnerships in Kisoro (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), the Bronx, Ethiopia, and Chile, and in interdisciplinary initiatives spanning One Health, planetary health, and community medicine. The DGH formalizes the scholarly and professional contributions students make through this work — contributions that the existing Distinction in Research is not designed to capture.
KEY PRINCIPLE: Research is welcomed but not required. The DGH recognizes systems thinking, equity-centered practice, and responsible partnership as core scholarly activities — not as add-ons to a research career.
The Distinction in Global Health is open to all MD students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who are in good academic standing. There is no application required to begin working toward the distinction — students should identify a faculty mentor, begin their foundational education, and start documenting their engagement.
Foundational Global Health Education
Students must complete at least 10 hours of approved global health learning. This can be accumulated through any combination of the following:
- Global health coursework or electives
- Pre-departure training or ethics modules
- Seminars, workshops, or conferences
Sustained Global Health Engagement
Students must participate in a longitudinal global health or health-equity project over the course of at least one year. This period may coincide with required coursework and other academic obligations — it does not require a dedicated year away from the curriculum.
Eligible activities include:
-
Fieldwork with partner sites
- International or domestic; community-based or clinic-based
-
Community-based or global-local programs
- Including programs at Einstein's Bronx partner sites
- Implementation projects, program development, education initiatives, or evaluation work
IMPORTANT: One year is the minimum duration. Sustained engagement means ongoing, active participation — not periodic attendance. Students should document their activities throughout, not retroactively.
Scholarly or Applied Deliverable
Students must complete a scholarly or applied product that demonstrates intellectual rigor and reflective analysis. This can take many forms:
-
Conference poster or abstract
- APHA, CUGH, Einstein Research Days, or equivalent
-
Manuscript
- Published, submitted, or in preparation
- Quality-improvement report or program evaluation
- Community education materials or curriculum toolkit
- Data analysis report or policy brief
The deliverable should demonstrate that the student has engaged analytically with their global health work — not just participated in it. Research is allowed but not required and cannot substitute for the engagement requirement in Criterion B.
Ethical and Professional Conduct
Global health work carries specific ethical responsibilities. Students must demonstrate that they have engaged with these seriously:
- CITI certification or equivalent human-subjects training
- Completion of required pre-departure ethics modules
- Adherence to institutional safety and partnership guidelines
- Mentor attestation confirming professionalism and ethical conduct in global health contexts
WHY THIS MATTERS: Responsible global health practice requires understanding issues of power, positionality, and community benefit. Ethics training is not a checkbox — it is a foundation for the kind of partnership-driven work that the DGH recognizes.
Reflective Component
Students must submit a brief reflective piece of approximately 750–1,500 words. This can be submitted in written, audio, or video format.
The reflection should address:
- Lessons learned from your global health engagement
- Ethical considerations you encountered or observed
- The impact of your partnership work — on the community, on the project, and on you
- Personal and professional growth
The reflection is not a summary of activities. It is an honest, analytical account of what you learned — including what was difficult, what you would do differently, and how your thinking about global health has changed.
Capstone Portfolio
Students must submit a complete capstone portfolio that brings together all components of their DGH work. The portfolio should include:
- A summary of global health activities (timeline, settings, roles, hours)
- Documentation of foundational coursework and training (Criterion A)
-
Deliverable(s) completed (Criterion C)
- Posters, manuscripts, education tools, reports, etc.
- Reflective component (Criterion E)
- Mentor endorsement letter confirming engagement, professionalism, and ethical conduct
REVIEW MEETING: A short capstone review meeting may be required at the discretion of the review committee. Students will be notified if this is required after portfolio submission.
There is no single required timeline — students progress at their own pace within the four-year MD curriculum. The following is a suggested pathway:
| When |
What to do |
| Year 1–2 |
Complete foundational global health education (Criterion A); identify a faculty mentor; begin longitudinal engagement (Criterion B) |
| Year 1–3 |
Sustain engagement over at least one year; document activities; complete CITI and ethics training (Criterion D) |
| Year 2–4 |
Complete scholarly or applied deliverable (Criterion C); write reflective component (Criterion E) |
| Year 3–4 |
Compile and submit capstone portfolio (Criterion F); capstone review meeting if required |
Students are encouraged to begin early. Sustained engagement over time is a core requirement, and activities completed during the preclinical years count fully toward the distinction.
Due date in order to be able to make the MSPE release date: August 31, 2026
- Identify a faculty mentor in the Global Health Center or a related program. Your mentor will guide your engagement, help you identify appropriate deliverables, and ultimately provide your endorsement letter.
- Begin your foundational education by enrolling in global health coursework, attending seminars, or completing pre-departure training.
- Engage longitudinally with a global health project, partnership, or program. Document your activities, roles, and hours as you go.
- Complete your CITI training and any required ethics or pre-departure modules.
- Develop your deliverable in consultation with your mentor. This can be a poster, manuscript, toolkit, evaluation, or policy brief.
- Write your reflection addressing lessons learned, ethical considerations, impact, and personal growth.
- Submit your capstone portfolio to the Global Health Center for review.
Yes. Activities completed before formally declaring intent to pursue the DGH may count, provided they meet the criteria and can be documented. Speak with your faculty mentor about what is eligible.
No. Domestic and community-based work — including work in the Bronx — counts fully toward the distinction. The DGH explicitly recognizes that global health equity work happens locally as well as internationally.
Yes, provided each distinction's requirements are met independently. The DGH and the Distinction in Research are separate, non-overlapping pathways. A single activity cannot simultaneously fulfill the core requirements of both.
That is entirely fine. Program development, community education, curriculum design, and implementation work are all eligible as deliverables. Research is welcome but not required.
Portfolios are reviewed by the DGH advisory committee. Students will be notified of the outcome and, if a capstone meeting is required, will be contacted to schedule it.
Contact the Global Health Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Your faculty mentor is also a primary point of contact throughout the process.
Approved by the Curriculum Committee, January 2026
