Discovering Riches in World Poverty: Medical Students' Perspectives on an International Elective in India: An Ethnographic Exploration

This is an exploratory ethnographic study of medical students’ perspectives—the rationales for participation in international electives in Child Family Health International’s (CFHI) Mumbai program in India. CFHI is an international organization that offers eleven crosscultural programs for college credit in six different countries. The primary focus of this study is to conduct an analysis of the expressed interests of medical students in participating in the month-long program in Mumbai. Secondarily, this paper considers how students’ perspectives on their participation, defined as knowledge of students’ interests in international health, are appropriated to optimize the programmatic goals of international electives. The broader aim of this study is to contribute to the emerging literature in the area of global health education for Western physicians to ameliorate the glaring disparities in health care and outcomes around the world. The study’s findings suggest that students’
shared interest in international health is enhanced by six thematic features: (1) a belief in the professional value of multicultural perspective; (2) research participants’ multi-ethnic upbringing; (3) perceived shortcomings of Western medical practice; (4) emotional satisfaction stimulated through participation; (5) desire to promote health outcomes; and (6)
rhetorical interest. These thematic features form a multi-dimensional narrative that account for medical students’ participation in global health care through international electives.