Top 25 Medical Schools with the Best Global Health Programs (2025)

Where Future Doctors Are Trained to Tackle Global Health Challenges

If you're passionate about addressing health disparities, working with underserved populations, or responding to global crises, a medical school with a strong global health program is a must. These institutions go beyond traditional clinical training, offering international fieldwork, research partnerships, and coursework in tropical medicine, epidemiology, and health equity.

In this guide, we rank 25 of the top medical schools in the U.S. and globally that prioritize global health education—and show how a Global Health Internships can serve as the perfect foundation for students aiming to study or work in this field.

> Explore Go-Elective PreMed, PA and Medical Internships Abroad

Why Global Health Programs Matter

Global health training prepares future physicians to:

Work in low-resource or cross-cultural settings
Understand the social determinants of health
Engage in international research and policy initiatives
Respond to emerging health threats like pandemics or climate-related diseases
Deliver care in underserved and vulnerable communities, both abroad and at home

These programs help students develop not just technical knowledge, but cultural competence, resilience, and public health insight—qualities that are essential for 21st-century medicine.

Top U.S. Medical Schools with Leading Global Health Programs

Harvard Medical School – Department of Global Health and Social Medicine

Home to Paul Farmer's legacy and the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change. Offers MD/MPH and fieldwork in Rwanda, Haiti, and beyond.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Works closely with the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Offers combined degrees and fieldwork through international collaborations.

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Global Health Sciences department integrates with medical training. Offers Master of Science in Global Health and diverse international placements.

Duke University School of Medicine

Global Health Institute offers a global health pathway, research opportunities, and a second-year experience abroad for med students.

Stanford University School of Medicine

Offers a Scholarly Concentration in Global Health and international clinical electives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

University of Washington School of Medicine

Offers a global health track with placements in Peru, Kenya, and Uganda. Strong emphasis on health equity and implementation science.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Part of ICAP and global public health partnerships across 30+ countries. Offers a Global Health track within the MD program.

Yale School of Medicine

Offers a global health concentration and funding for international electives. Closely tied to the Yale Institute for Global Health.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Center for Global Health provides internships and electives in Kenya, India, and Brazil. Strong focus on community health and policy.

University of Pennsylvania (Perelman School of Medicine)

Global Health Programs Office supports fieldwork in 30+ countries and offers a Certificate in Global Health.

Other Notable U.S. Schools with Strong Global Health Integration

University of North Carolina (UNC) – Gillings Global Public Health track
Emory University School of Medicine – Global Health Institute and CDC partnership
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – Center for Global and Immigrant Health
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine – Global Health Initiative
Boston University School of Medicine – International Health electives and MPH pathway

Top Global Medical Schools with Excellent Global Health Focus

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK)

A postgraduate leader in global and tropical medicine. Partners with universities worldwide.

University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division (UK)

Offers a global health concentration and leading research in malaria, HIV, and refugee health.

University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Premier African medical school with a focus on community medicine and infectious disease.

University of Melbourne (Australia)

Strong field training and partnerships across Asia-Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)

Global Health master’s program integrated with MD training. WHO collaborations.

McGill University (Canada)

Includes global health electives and field experiences in developing countries through its GHP program.

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine (Canada)

Offers a Global Health Education Initiative and partnerships in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

University of Sydney (Australia)

Global health electives, placements in Indigenous and underserved communities.

University of Edinburgh (UK)

Offers a Master’s in Global Health and Policy and integrates global health into clinical programs.

Makerere University College of Health Sciences (Uganda)

Top African medical school with public health research and North-South partnerships.

How Go Elective Prepares You for a Global Health Career

Before applying to one of these institutions, you can start building global health experience now with a Go Elective placement. Our programs offer:

Real-world experience in East Africa’s public hospitals
Clinical mentorship in pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery, internal medicine, and more
Community outreach and public health exposure
Cultural immersion and global health ethics
Letters of recommendation from international clinicians

> Explore Clinical Internships in Kenya and Tanzania

Final Thoughts

Global health isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of medicine. The best global health programs combine strong academics with fieldwork, policy education, and hands-on experience that trains doctors to care for everyone, everywhere.

Whether you’re aiming for Harvard or McGill, the journey begins with meaningful, ethical, international exposure. Start by considering Go Elective’s Internships Abroad and take the first step toward a globally minded medical career.

> Apply here or inquire via hello@goelective.com

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