The Ultimate Glossary of Global Health Terms for Pre-Health Students

If you’re preparing for a medical internship, or applying to med, PA, or nursing school with global health exposure, having a strong grasp of key global health terms is essential. Not only does it help you communicate more effectively in cross-cultural healthcare settings, but it also demonstrates to schools and supervisors that you’ve done your homework.

This ultimate glossary breaks down essential terminology every pre-med, pre-PA, nursing, dental, or public health student should know before stepping into a hospital abroad or writing their personal statement.

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Why Knowing Global Health Terms Matters

Before we dive in, here’s why this glossary is more than just vocabulary practice:

Boosts clinical confidence while shadowing or interning abroad.
Helps you better understand health disparities and socioeconomic factors influencing patient care.
Prepares you for interviews and applications where global health knowledge is a plus.
Allows you to engage more meaningfully with local healthcare teams and communities.

Whether you're joining Go Elective’s medical internship in Mombasa, Kenya or shadowing at a hospital in Arusha, Tanzania, these terms will help you hit the ground running.

A to Z: Global Health Terms You Need to Know

Global Health

A field focused on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. It emphasizes transnational health issues, solutions, and the interconnectedness of health systems.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare that are closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantages. Common in marginalized populations.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These include income, education, housing, access to healthcare, and social support.

Primary Health Care (PHC)

Essential health services that are universally accessible to individuals and families. Focuses on prevention, education, and treatment of common diseases.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

The goal that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. A core principle in global health policy.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Often used as an indicator of a country’s healthcare system strength and access to obstetric care.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

A group of infectious diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions and affect over one billion people worldwide. Examples: schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and lymphatic filariasis.

Infectious Disease Burden

The collective impact of diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. Often measured in DALYs or incidence rates.

DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year)

A metric that combines the years of life lost due to premature death and the years lived with disability. Used to assess the overall burden of disease.

WHO (World Health Organization)

A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It sets global health guidelines and provides support for countries.

Epidemiology

The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations. Essential in identifying risk factors and trends in public health.

Public Health Intervention

An action or policy designed to improve the health of populations. Examples include vaccination programs, sanitation efforts, or health education campaigns.

Global Health Security

Efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. Strengthened by international collaboration, surveillance systems, and capacity building.

Task Shifting

A strategy in which certain healthcare responsibilities are transferred from highly qualified health workers to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications—commonly used in low-resource settings.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure

The money individuals spend on health services directly, as opposed to those covered by insurance or government programs. High rates are common in many low- and middle-income countries.

Community Health Worker (CHW)

A frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community. CHWs are critical in providing care, education, and referral services.

Health System Strengthening (HSS)

Strategies to improve the performance of health systems, including governance, financing, service delivery, health workforce, and data systems.

Malnutrition

A condition resulting from inadequate or unbalanced nutrition. Includes undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition.

Vertical vs Horizontal Programs

Vertical: Target specific diseases with focused interventions (e.g., HIV programs).
Horizontal: Strengthen overall health systems and infrastructure.

Climate-Sensitive Diseases

Diseases influenced by environmental and climate conditions, including malaria, cholera, and dengue fever. An increasing concern in global health planning.

Clinical Vocabulary You Might Hear on Placement

During your internship at a referral hospital, you may encounter common local medical terms, practices, or phrases such as:

“Casualty” = Emergency Department
“Theatre” = Operating Room
“Surgical Ward” = Inpatient care for pre/post-operative patients
“Clinical Officer” = A trained medical provider similar to a physician associate or mid-level practitioner
“Rural Outreach” = Mobile clinics or health camps for hard-to-reach communities

Knowing these in advance prepares you to navigate your clinical setting with professionalism and ease.

Bonus: How to Use These Terms in Your Med or PA School Applications

Don’t just learn these terms. Use them strategically in your personal statement, resume, or interview answers. Here’s how:

Reflect on how social determinants of health influenced patient care during your internship.
Describe a moment where you observed task shifting or limited access to primary care.
Discuss how your global experience deepened your understanding of health equity or health system strengthening.

This level of vocabulary fluency sets your application apart and shows genuine global health literacy.