Essential factors for the development of a residency global health track.

Objective: There is increasing awareness of the importance of global health (GH) residency education but little guidance on what departmental, financial, and human resource support is required to develop a GH track. The authors aimed to identify essential factors and major obstacles to the development of a GH track.

Methods: A survey assessing curriculum, support, and factors considered essential to or obstacles to successful development of a GH track was sent to 24 GH education directors within pediatric residencies.

Results: In all, 19 programs (79%) completed the survey, and 6 factors were identified as essential for developing and sustaining a GH track by ≥ 95% of all GH education directors: supportive residency program director, resident commitment, supportive department chair, protected resident elective time, dedicated budget, and GH faculty with protected time.

Conclusions: Residency programs aiming to start a GH track should start by assessing the availability and sustainability of these identified essential factors within their program.