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2026 – 2027 GHEP

Global health refers to the health of individuals, communities, populations, health systems and ecosystems locally and globally, with a specific emphasis on marginalized and vulnerable individuals and groups. Global health knowledge and skills are critical to everyday practice in Canada and to understanding and responding to global health crises.

The GHEProgram is open to first and second year medical students and is delivered as a series of 16 modules on critical global health issues during the academic year. Themes that are incorporated into each module of the GHEProgram include: global health leadership, values in global health, identifying and mitigating health inequalities and inequities, vulnerable and marginalized populations, cross-cultural communication, capacity building, and social responsibility in education, research and practice.

As Medical students participating in the MD Global Health Education Program, you will become part of a community who are committed to sharing their passion and expertise in global health, and contributing, with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, to improving the health of local and global communities. The GHEProgram was developed in response to student demand, and in collaboration with a student leadership group. The curriculum is based on best-practices, the global health education literature and a survey of medical students at University of Toronto. The GHEProgram is designed to meet student needs and interests, and prepare them for practice in a diverse and globalized, but very unequal, world. Each module consists of pre-module readings and pre-module exercises, interactive small group discussion with a global health thought leader, and a brief post-module assessment exercise.

The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us all that global health has no borders. Balancing the demands of medical school with this program, may not be easy, but your colleagues, future patients and their communities will thank you.

We would like to acknowledge all MD Program students who thoughtfully completed the survey which informed the development of this program. We also wish to acknowledge the leadership and contribution of the late Mohammad Asadi-Lari to the development of this program.

Special thanks for the leadership of our MD Global Health Education Program Planning Group including MD Program Students, Krish Bilimoria, Natasha Dhingra, Zainab Doleeb Nikisha Khare, Nishila Mehta and Nikki Roust. 

Finally, we are grateful for the support of Dr. Patricia Houston, Vice Dean Medical Education and Dr. Marcus Law, Associate Dean MD Program for their meaningful support.

We look forward to learning with you!
Judy Kopelow and Dr. Barry Pakes 
PGME Global Health Leads

Objectives 

The GHEProgram curriculum builds on the Global Health Core Competencies in Undergraduate Medical Education (Gao et al). In addition, demonstrating these competencies, the following overarching CANMEDs objectives will be used to orient all 16 modules.

By the end of the program participants will:

  1. Be aware of how global health issues and inequities effect the practice of medicine and the attainment of health, and understand the most effective tools and means for advocacy. (Advocate)
  2. Appreciate the leadership and management skills necessary for the planning, development and administration of a range of programs, health system components and complex humanitarian emergencies. (Leader/Manager)
  3. Be able to assess, diagnose and treat a range of states of health and disease conditions affecting individuals and global communities and develop skills in managing patients in challenging circumstances and with limited resources. (Medical Expert – medicine).
  4. Be familiar with the goals and means of public health interventions, including population health assessment, health promotion, health protection, health surveillance, and disease and injury prevention for application in Canada and abroad. (Medical Expert – public health).
  5. Possess enhanced communication skills with patients, colleagues and others in the settings of language and cultural barriers; and the ability to share knowledge, teach, and build local capacity (Communicator)
  6. Understand the roles of community groups, health service providers, faith groups, governments and other non- governmental organizations and be able to facilitate collaboration with these groups (Collaborator)
  7. Be able to access and contribute relevant literature and apply it to the global context, and to conduct appropriate and ethical research with the goal of improving community (Scholar)
  8. Be competent in identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas encountered in the practice of medicine internationally, and be able to describe and use frameworks for ensuring professional behaviour in challenging environments. (Professional)

Eligibility and Requirements

  • All 1st and 2nd year medical students are eligible to apply. 2026-2027 program starts September 2026.
  • If you are interested in applying reach out to j.kopelow@utoronto.ca
  • No global health education or field experience is required to apply.
  • Registrants are expected to complete required readings for each module. 
  • Registrants are expected to complete (brief) Pre and Post-module quizzes.
  • One additional mini-assessment will be required to complete.
  • Registrants are required to attend all modules. Module attendance will be recorded.
  • For exceptional circumstances make-up items will be required to complete missed module.
  • All details and curriculum will be available from the GHEProgram Quercus Portal.
  • Successful completion of the program will include a combination of full attendance, completion of brief pre and post-module quizzes and one mini-assessment assignment. 

Application and Important Information

  • Call for 2026-2027 applications is now closed.
  • Apply for 2027-2028 GHEProgram.
  • The program includes 16 modules on critical global health issues. Please see list below.        
  • Reach out to Judy Kopelow at j.kopelow@utoronto.ca 

Program Status and Certification

  • 2026-2027 GHEProgram Schedule will be available to registrants via Quercus Portal
  • This certificate program is considered extra-curricular, participants are required to meet the requirements of the MD program and be in good standing throughout the GHEProgram.
  • Recognition of completion of the GHEProgram will be issued.

MD Global Health Education Program Modules

  1. Opening Module 
  2. Context of Global Health 
  3. Cross Cultural Communication
  4. Diversity and Equity
  5. Politics of Global Health Governance
  6. Global Mental Health                            
  7. Nutrition and Food Security
  8. Migrant and Refugee Health
  9. Global Women’s Health and Gender
  10. Indigenous Health 
  11. Global Public HealthPrimary Care
  12. Global Child Health 
  13. Non-Communicable Diseases
  14. Infectious Diseases                      
  15. Ethics, Law, Rights                                     
  16. Annual Mohammad and Zeynab Asadi- Lari Lecture on Climate Change