Global Health Internships
As a Global Health Intern you will spend 8-10 weeks with one of our global partners. These internships are intended to give you the opportunity to engage in frontline global health and development work and address real world challenges, while applying your classroom knowledge and honing your programmatic and research skills.
The internships are funded by the Center for Global Health Equity at the Geisel School of Medicine.
“This experience has completely changed my career path and strengthened my commitment to health equity in Southeast Asia. Seeing the 2025 reforms up close and working with the dedicated researchers at PHAD made me want to connect academic research with real community care. My projects on climate resilience for older adults and digital tools for youth showed me there is still so much to learn in Vietnam. Because of this, I am now planning to return to Vietnam for graduate school to study public health. I want to build on the connections and research I started during my internship and help shape national strategies that protect vulnerable groups from environmental and health challenges.”
Josefina Fernandez Del Rio ’28, 26W intern with PHAD in Vietnam
Our Global Health Partners
Action for Mothers and Children (AMC) is a local non-governmental organization operating in Kosovo with the aim of improving the well-being of children and families through integrated interventions in public services. AMC was founded on the principle that sustainable social development and improved services for citizens are achieved through strengthening existing institutional capacities.
The organization has extensive experience in designing, implementing and monitoring programs that focus on educating parents, supporting families during key life stages, and empowering health professionals who provide direct services to citizens. AMC has built sustainable partnerships with public health institutions, municipalities, and other relevant parties, creating institutional trust and good knowledge of the local context.
Avenir focuses on the hard business decisions at the heart of global health. They work with CEOs and senior teams across public agencies, life science and medtech companies, and funders to decide where to focus, unlock and deploy value in the right markets, and use sharp market intelligence and negotiation‑ready frameworks to build partnerships and coalitions that are optimized for impact and built to last.
The Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) is a new entity that operates across AKU’s multi-country campuses in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, connecting the rich tapestry of academic entities, and facilitating interdisciplinary research, education and related clinical programming in mental health and neurosciences.
BMI is committed to advancing brain health through collaborative Research, Education, and Innovation in Mental Health and Neuroscience. The Institute has set out to achieve the following goals:
- Enhanced capacity for leadership and influence in addressing neuroscience and mental health issues in East Africa, Pakistan and South Asia.
- Establishment of infrastructure to support (i) a hub for scholarship, exchange, and action on mental health issues, and (ii) educational, clinical, and community-based programs.
- New research that is relevant to the context of today’s youth in Africa and South Asia.
- Programmatic offerings that address mental health related stigma and resiliency.
- Development of new curricula integrating behavioral sciences and mental health for medical colleges and nursing education; including social sciences, humanities, human rights and behavioral sciences.
- Advanced implementation of science-based programing in hospital and community clinics that translate new discoveries into prevention and treatment programs
- Sustainability in funding, including a robust pipeline of research grants
Discover Yourself Gap Year Academy is a transformative youth empowerment initiative dedicated to equipping young people—especially those from underserved communities—with the tools, confidence, and clarity they need to navigate life after high school. They provide an intentional space for self-discovery, leadership development, career exposure, and personal growth.
The primary aim of Evidence Synthesis Group is to engage in evidence synthesis that benefits the public, healthcare institutions, healthcare industry, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
The Frontline Health Workers Coalition is a global alliance advocating for strengthening the global health workforce and health systems. They are a growing group of more than 40 international organizations in 100 countries whose vision is that every community should have access to trained, compensated, safe and supported health workers who are able to provide quality essential health services, as well as respond to health threats and address noncommunicable diseases. The Coalition is a respected voice for driving policy, implementation, and partnerships to strengthen the health workforce globally.
HTWB is an international telehealth NGO committed to providing broad and rapid access to aid by leveraging digital and technology to mitigate healthcare crises worldwide. HTWB strives to serve as an innovation hub and ecosystem builder, bridging the gap between the healthcare industry and technology sector to facilitate collaborative solutions that enhance access to quality care.
KenSAP helps high-achieving, low-income Kenyan high school graduates gain admission to the most selective colleges and universities in North America, all with full financial aid. Since its founding in 2004, the organization has placed 338 students, including Dartmouth College. While guiding its students through the admissions process, KenSAP also prepares them for American campus life, both academically and culturally, and later provides counsel and support throughout the students’ undergraduate careers and beyond.
PHAD is a non-profit technological and scientific organization in Vietnam with the goal of understanding and improving the health of human populations, especially disadvantaged groups, through research, training and interventions.
Τhe Prolepsis Institute was established in 1990 in Athens, Greece. Our mission is to respond to major public health needs of Greece and Europe by conducting rigorous academic research and translating it into education, advocacy and humanitarian projects. This mission is rooted in the belief that health equality is a necessary prerequisite for broader social justice and social inclusion. The Institute designs and implements initiatives, both at national and European level, aiming to:
• conduct research on important issues related to health and well-being, with an emphasis on epidemiology and preventive medicine,
• promote health education and health awareness,
• offer humanitarian support and services to vulnerable populations, and
• create networks for interdisciplinary and international cooperation on public health issues
Building on the legacy of PIH Founder, Dr. Paul Farmer, the new Socios En Salud Global Health Center is an innovative and inspiring initiative that consolidates the team’s decades of experience in providing health care to the poorest and most vulnerable populations in Peru.
The World Bank’s Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) Global Practice, of which the GPSA is part, helps countries tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from exclusion, fragility, climate change and other shocks, as well as lack voice and agency. The Practice focuses on people centered solutions that build inclusion, strengthen social cohesion and resilience, and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups to have influence and voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Global Health Internship program work?
The Global Health and Development (GHAD) program works with Dartmouth’s global health partners to create internship opportunities for students. Projects are designed in collaboration with partners based on their needs and priorities and the skills and competencies of students. GHAD selects students, provides training prior to the internship, and offers support both during and after the internship.
Where will you offer internships this year?
Locations and numbers of internships vary based on the priorities and needs of our partners and available resources. A the beginning of each term, we post the list of internships available for the following term.
Are Global Health Internships funded?
Global Health Interships are fully funded up to Dartmouth’s institutional funding cap. Budgets are set by GHAD based on the specific costs of the site. Interns are not responsible for developing a budget for their experiences.
What do you provide interns?
Global Health interns receive a stipend to cover the cost of round trip transportation from Dartmouth to their project site, visa fees, room and board, transportation, and other essential costs in country. At some sites, GHAD arranges home stays or shared housing for interns in lieu of providing a housing stipend.
What is the difference between the Global Health Internship and the Dickey Center's Build Your Own International Internships?
GHAD works directly with its partners to design internship opportunities for students. Build Your Own Internships require students to identify a host organization and design an internship independently.
What do interns do?
Intern projects vary widely across sites. Some interns work inside of Ministries of Health assisting policymakers in the preparation of manuscripts or technical documents. Other internships place students on ongoing clinical or public health research. Interns may also assist public health agencies or organizations on public health response or programmatic activities.
Can I engage in clinical activities or shadow as part of a Global Health Internship?
In some settings, students may be involved in research or programmatic activities in a clinical setting. Undergraduate students may not perform clinical tasks in any form as part of a Global Health Internship, and medical students may not engage in clinical tasks beyond their scope of practice. Clinical shadowing is not a part of a Global Health Internship project.
Do you offer opportunities of less than a term (8-10 weeks) in length?
The Global Health and Development (GHAD) program does not offer or fund interim, short term placements, or clinical rotations either inside or outside of the United States.
Do you fund other global health experiences outside of Global Health Internships?
No, the Global Health and Development (GHAD) program does not fund other global health experiences outside of its established internship programs Undergraduate students seeking funding for term-long experiences may apply for funding through the Dickey Center’s Build Your Own International Internship funding or through other centers on campus. Medical students may apply for summer internship funding through the Center for Global Health Equity (CGHE) at the Geisel School of Medicine.
Who is eligible for your internship program?
The Global Health Internship program is open to current undergraduate and medical students. All candidates must have one term in residence remaining after the internship period. GHAD works with other schools to create global health opportunities for graduate and professional students. We encourage graduate students to discuss global health opportunities directly with their program directors.
What are the requirements for internships?
The Global Health Internship program requires participation in Predeparture and Health & Safety sessions prior to departure. Interns are required to spend a full term (8-10 weeks) in country, complete a specific deliverable, and submit a final reflection paper at the end of their experience. Internship dates are set by GHAD in collaboration with host institutions.
What do you look for in selecting interns?
Our selection process is designed to find a close fit between candidates and our partners’ needs. We look for a combination of preparation, relevant knowledge and skills, and personal readiness to work in a challenging context. A record of strong academic performance is important but alone does not guarantee selection. Strong candidates demonstrate an interest in health equity issues either domestically or globally through coursework, community service, research, or extracurricular involvement. Skills and knowledge relevant to the specific project is particularly helpful for many internships. We also look for evidence of qualities that predispose interns to survive in a global health setting, including cultural humility, adaptability, resilience, professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, and a service ethic.
Do I need to speak a foreign language?
Students applying for opportunities in Spanish-speaking countries must sometimes pass a proficiency exam. Language proficiency is beneficial for other non-English speaking sites but does not guarantee selection for an opportunity.
How do I apply to the program? Do I need to submit additional applications?
Candidates apply to the Global Health Internship program, not to specific project sites. Candidates may preference up to three projects in their application. Candidates apply to the Global Health Internship program through the Terra Dotta application platform. All application materials, including recommendations and supplemental documents, must be submitted through this platform. Application deadlines are strictly enforced. GHAD reviews all applications and then contacts finalists for interviews. Candidates should not contact partners/host institutions directly.
I was not selected for an opportunity. Can you tell me why I was not chosen?
Each year, GHAD receives applications from many more qualified students than we can fund. In our past application year, our applications exceeded the number of opportunities by a factor of four. Given the volume of applications, we do not provide specific feedback on individual applications. Many unsuccessful candidates are selected for opportunities in subsequent application cycles.
How can I learn more about internships or other global health and development opportunities?
We have several resources in place to assist prospective candidates in learning more about our program and other global health opportunities. GHAD Student Interns hold walk-in office hours each week in the Loo Lounge of the Dickey Center to talk about various opportunities in global health and development. Appointments with Dawn Carey, the Associate Director for Global Health and Development, can be made here and questions can be answered by emailing dawn.e.carey@dartmouth.edu.