Course Leader: Timothy M. Empkie, MD, MPH, Clin Assoc Professor; Family Medicine; Assist Dean of Medicine (Advising). University of Rostock: Dr. Emil Reisinger, Professor of Infectious Disease; Dean of Med Education; Director, German Society of Tropical Med and International Health.

Other Faculty: Various German faculty from Rostock and other German universities; from Brown include: Dr. M. Kojic, Miriam Hospital; consultants for the course are Dr. Timothy Flanigan and Dr. Josiah Rich

Course Location: University of Rostock, Germany

When Offered: one 2-week session in June-July

Maximum Students per Rotation: 15

Duration of Rotation: 2 weeks

Type of Rotation: Primarily classroom (lectures; discussions); limited exposure to parasitology lab; one patient session

Number of Hrs/Wk of Classroom/Discussion: 25 hours/week (5 hours 8:00-1:00 for 10 days)

Number of Nights On call per Week: none

Prerequisites: BI 51, BI53, or BI 54; or permission of the instructor based on student experience in tropical medicine in a developing country

Criteria for Honors: Course will be given pass/fail (satisfactory/no credit). Students who pass the course may be eligible for the Travel Medicine Certificate of the German Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health.

Competencies: Ability III: Beginner or Intermediate Level, Ability IV: Beginner or Intermediate Level, Ability V: Beginner or Intermediate Level, Ability VII: Beginner or Intermediate Level, Ability IX: Beginner of Intermediate Level.

Description: There are many Brown Medical School and undergraduate students with interest in international health who seek to do clinical elective in developing countries in their third or fourth year. This course will provide the student with the essential knowledge of the basic science, laboratory, diagnosis and management of the most important infectious diseases affecting people in tropical regions and/or developing countries. Categories covered will include: global health and burden of disease; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials; dosing of antimicrobials in organ failure and drug interactions of antimicrobials; overview and update of clinically relevant antibiotics, antifungals, virustatics and antiparasitic agents; genetic susceptibility to infectious diseases; and epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnostic tools. The student will learn about the recommended immunizations and other precautions for persons traveling to tropical environments.