Shared Clinical Learning in Global Health (SCL)
Overview
Dedicated to fostering cross-cultural exchanges in healthcare, Empower Through Health facilitates transformative experiences for pre-medical, nursing, allied health, and medical students. The Shared Clinical Learning program pairs each American student with a Ugandan student at a comparable stage of training for a side-by-side immersion at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Together, they rotate through key departments—including Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgery, Emergency, Mental Health Unit, Orthopedics, Oncology, and Pharmacy/Lab services—gaining firsthand exposure to clinical workflows and healthcare delivery in a resource-constrained setting.
Purpose of the Program
This experience is designed to foster mutual learning, cultural humility, and ethical reflection in global health practice. Through clinical shadowing, peer collaboration, and daily reflection sessions and lectures, participants deepen their understanding of how context shapes care and develop the tools to engage meaningfully in health equity efforts long beyond the placement.​ By working in Ugandan–American student pairs, participants engage in authentic cross-cultural exchange and collaborative problem-solving. This shared learning model promotes bidirectional growth—encouraging reflection on both differences and commonalities in training, patient care, and health systems.​ Check out the syllabus for more information.
Trip Leader
When three or more students join from the same institution, a Trip Leader position is activated to support the Shared Clinical Learning program. The Trip Leader serves as a peer mentor, organizer, and liaison between Empower Through Health and their group. They help coordinate travel and logistics, facilitate academic discussions and reflection sessions, and guide their group in planning and implementing a community project identified with hospital staff. Selected through a competitive application process, Trip Leaders demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills, and gain valuable project management experience, closer mentorship from ETH staff, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact both academically and within the Ugandan community.
Note: The Shared Clinical Learning program is also offered as part of the Global Health Experiential Fellowship (GHEF). GHEF fellows may participate in SCL before their research placement in Mpunde — or extend their stay for additional clinical experience. Because GHEF fellows are already enrolled in the fellowship, they receive a reduced SCL participation fee compared to independent SCL applicants. Accepted GHEF fellows do not need to apply for the Shared Clinical Learning separately. Details about the SCL fees for GHEF fellows can be found in the GHEF syllabus.
