Strengthening global health content in health professions curricula

Abstract

Background: Health professionals should be prepared to lead and contribute to initiatives that mitigate emerging global health risks to target communities. Health professions education, however, has inconsistently incorporated essential global health topics into curricula despite growing interest among health professional students. Objective: To identify targeted strategies that health professions educators can integrate into coursework to strengthen global health training. Method: A narrative review of the literature was conducted to describe clinical and non-clinical skills that are indispensable to strong global health leadership. Results: Five strategies were highlighted that health professions educators can utilise to empower health professional students to strengthen their scientific knowledge base, develop ethical and culturally-appropriate community health interventions and effectively communicate health messages to stakeholders. Conclusion: Incorporating global health topics into health professions curricula can provide health professional students with a repertoire of evidence-based resources to apply in their clinical and community health initiatives. A trained global health workforce is essential to help nations achieve established national and international health objectives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.