Clerkships

ICAP provides clerkship opportunities for medical students to gain on-site experience with HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa.  Students will shadow and support ICAP team members in Ethiopia or Tanzania and learn about issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, early infant diagnosis, tuberculosis/HIV co-infection, and adherence and psychosocial support.

Objectives

ICAP Clerkships are designed to provide medical students opportunities to:

  • Gain experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of health programs in resource-limited settings;
  • Gain knowledge and skills related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment;
  • Participate in gathering and analyzing programmatic data.

Structure

Students will work with ICAP country offices in Ethiopia or Tanzania for durations of two to three months.

  • Spring:  Mid-March to mid-May (for fourth-year medical students); or
  • Summer:  June-August (for first-year medical students).

During each clerkship period, ICAP Ethiopia and ICAP Tanzania will host two students each.  Based on their interests and ICAP needs, students will work with ICAP team members at clinical sites, as well as participate in projects at country offices. Activities may include:

  • Observing patient care and treatment;
  • Assisting healthcare providers with logistical tasks at clinical sites;
  • Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings;
  • Assisting in the design of program components;
  • Participating in program implementation activities; and
  • Assisting with gathering and analysis of programmatic data.

Students will have the use of desk space, laptops, and cell phones while pursuing in-country clerkships.

Supervision and Mentorship

Each student will be paired with an ICAP-New York-based mentor and an on-site, in-country mentor. These mentors will support the student with orientation, project development, skills coaching, and arrangement of logistics, such as housing and ground transportation. 

For students based in Africa, in-country teams will serve as a larger support network and aid interns on issues related to projects and living in-country.

Evaluations and Reports

Students and mentors will each complete clerkship evaluations, including a standard medical school evaluation form.  Additionally, each student will produce three-page reports on their experiences that will be used to evaluate and improve the clerkship program.

Expectations

Students are expected to work 40-hour weeks and demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and a collaborative spirit.  Although they will spend much of their time shadowing clinicians, students should also be willing to take initiative and work independently when needed.           

How to Apply

Applications are no longer being accepted for 2008 clerkships.  Please check this page at a later time for information about 2009 opportunities.

Timelines

  • Fourth-year medical students interested in a two-month spring clerkship should submit their applications no later than Friday, February 1, 2008. Interviews will be held the following week.
  • First-year medical students interested in three-month summer clerkships should submit their applications by Friday, Feb. 15, 2008.  Interviews will follow.