Program Overview

The Mount Sinai International Exchange Program for Minority Students is an internship program that supports students and recent graduates to conduct mentored research in other countries. The program emphasizes collaboration and the exchange of scientific and cultural knowledge in an atmosphere of support for diversity. Minority Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree students are selected to participate from around the United States.

The Program Director is Dr. Luz Claudio, Chief of the Division of International Health and Tenured Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Orientation Week

Interns selected for program travel to the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City to participate in an intensive one-week orientation during the first week in June. The orientation emphasizes the role that minority professionals can play in addressing health disparities. Orientation modules also address concepts in the ethical conduct of research and cultural competency.

Travel Abroad

After completing the orientation week, interns travel to their host country in dyads (two students per country) to begin their research and international experience. Interns work with a research mentor in their host country for 11 weeks. Interns are assigned an international site based on their research skills and other criteria. International sites include renowned institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa.

Benefits

Applicants selected for the program receive the following benefits:

• Paid travel and housing to attend the Orientation Week in New York City
• Return flight to and housing in their international research site
• Emergency health coverage for the 11 weeks spent in the host country, including emergency evacuation coverage
• Monthly stipend between $1,200 - $2,000, depending on level of training

Interns are required to dedicate 11-12 consecutive weeks to the program. They must also submit a report on their research in the form of a publishable scientific paper. The two most outstanding papers are chosen for presentation at an international conference.

For more information: http://icahn.mssm.edu/departments-and-institutes/preventive-medicine/programs-and-services/international-exchange-program-for-minority-students