FAQ
Q: What are the objectives of Seed Global Health?
A: Seed Global Health’s mission is to help grow a new generation of health educators and providers where they are most needed by recruiting and supporting US health professionals to serve as partners in local medical and nursing education systems.
With the greater goal of cultivating local health workforce capacity and sustainability, Seed Global Health partners with the Peace Corps through the Global Health Service Partnership. Seed Global Health provides essential expert technical support to the Peace Corps and to the volunteers during their period of service. We focus on education and training in alignment with our partner countries' needs - whether through classroom instruction or on-the-job teaching of new skills. Seed Global Health offers loan repayment stipends to eligible volunteers carrying educational or other categories of debt.
Q: What makes the Global Health Service Partnership different from existing United States governmental programs and from the many non-governmental organizations that are providing health care in developing countries?
A: The Partnership engages in local health education and capacity building to strengthen health systems. We engage health professionals- doctors, nurses, midwives and other providers - who bring the skills required to build effective health systems.
United States Government health efforts- National Health Service Corps, USAID, and the Peace Corps- do not focus on professional education or training within local public sector institutions abroad. Many dedicated global health efforts focus on direct care or on research. Capacity building through education in partnership with the US Government is a novel approach.
Seed Global Health partners with academic medical centers, foundations and industry leaders. Many medical centers, corporations, NGOs, and others have tremendous energy and interest in improving health systems and outcomes in resource-limited settings. Seed Global Health aims to tap that energy to grow the program and build a movement for change.
Q: Who can participate in the Global Health Service Partnership?
A: Doctors, nurses and midwives can participate in the 2013-14 deployment. Core disciplines include Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Medicine/Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Pathology, Emergency. Nurses of all disciplines may apply but need a minimum of 3 years of clinical experience in their area of expertise and education.
Q: What are the requirements for application?
A: The GHSP requires physicians to have completed their residency training and be board eligible or board certified in their specialty. Nursing applicants must be Board Registered and have a BSN and combined MPH or a MSN; NP; DRN; PHD. As education and training is a focus of the program, we particularly encourage applicants who have experience with teaching or education, and those who have experience working in developing countries. See GHSP Peace Corps Volunteers.
Q: How do I access the loan and debt repayment stipend? How does it work?
A: We believe that educational loans and personal financial commitments should not be barriers to service. Volunteers are eligible to apply for repayment stipends if they carry debt at the time of enrollment. The application process for debt repayment stipends from Seed Global Health is independent of the Peace Corps application process. The application requires proof of educational or personal indebtedness. Applicants are eligible for up to $30,000 for each year served. The stipends are be paid directly to the Volunteers who are then responsible to pay their lenders directly, as well as for any associated taxes on the stipend. Payment are made in three installments during the course of the service year.
Q: Is an education background a requirement?
A: Formal experience in education and training is strongly encouraged; aptitude for effective teaching is an important screening and selection criterion. Volunteers primarily provide medical and nursing education to help fill faculty shortages at schools within partner countries. Relevant teaching experience may include a chief resident position, didactic teaching in the classroom, and/or staff supervision on wards, and preceptorships. Experience will strengthen candidacy.
Q: I am not eligible this year but will I be in the future?
A: In the next years, the Peace Corps and Seed Global Health plan to expand to additional health professionals such as pharmacists, lab technicians, physical therapists or health administrators, for example. We also plan to expand to other medical and nursing disciplines.