RHE at DDU

The Reproductive Health Externship (RHE) program, offered in partnership with Dynamic Doctors Uganda (DDU), and called the RHE at DDU for short, is a limited-enrollment opportunity, through which selected students get the opportunity to spend two weeks training with DDU staff at a regional hospital in Uganda, gaining clinical experience in reproductive health care, including abortion and post-abortion care. RHE at DDU participants qualify for an expense reimbursement to offset the costs associated with participating in the externship.

Admission to the program is application-based, as training slots are limited, with only one application cycle per year. The RHE at DDU is open exclusively to MSFC Chapter members in Africa.

The 2025 RHE at DDU

We are pleased to announce the application cycle for the 2025 Reproductive Health Externship at Dynamic Doctors Uganda will open at the end of November 2024. We have created this guide to the application process to allow all interested students to prepare in advance to submit their applications at that time.

What are the details of the 2015 RHE at DDU?

For this limited enrollment opportunity, selected students will spend two weeks with DDU at the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and training at the DDU facilities in the Mukono District, about 24km from Kampala, Uganda. Sessions will occur the first two weeks of the month, from April to November 2025.  Because international travel requires more time to plan, the months of APRIL and MAY will be reserved only for local students (students attending school in Uganda).

MSFC will provide funding in the form of reimbursement to each accepted extern to assist with travel to Mukono, Uganda, from the student’s home location, a set reimbursement for meals during the externship, and, if applicable, visa fees.  DDU will provide all lodging and transportation to and from training locations during the externship.  The reimbursement total will vary per student and will be discussed in detail upon acceptance to the program.

Who Can Apply for This Program?

Acceptance to this program is limited, and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee acceptance. Although MSFC would love to offer this to all qualified applicants, we are able only to schedule a limited number of students.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must meet all the criteria below:

1. Currently enrolled in a medical school in Africa, a member of that school’s MSFC Chapter, and will be enrolled there during the externship period.
2. Have not previously participated in any of the MSFC’s RHE programs.
3. Able to commit to traveling to Mukono, Uganda, on chosen dates.
4. If traveling from outside of Uganda, able to procure a passport and a travel Visa within the needed timeline.
5. Have some financial means for travel and meals while participating in the externship, with the understanding that reimbursement will be disbursed after receipts have been submitted at the externship’s conclusion.  MSFC will not cover the cost of airfare or other travel before the externship.
6. Have a current bank account in the applicant’s name.  This is needed to ensure reimbursement payments are sent at the conclusion of the externship.
7. Valid email address for regular communication with MSFC and DDU.
8. Hold a current and non-expired National ID.
9. Hold a current and non-expired School/University ID.

How Can Eligible Students Apply?

Applications for this program will open on November 25, 2024. Students meeting the above criteria should review the following list of required items to ensure they are prepared.  Note that items number 2 to 5 can be prepared by the student in advance, to ensure they are ready once the application cycle opens.

1. Application: On November 25, 2024, MSFC will share an online link to the application. Applicants will be asked to rank preference of month to participate from those offered (April through November 2025).  If traveling from outside Uganda, consider the time to obtain any needed travel documents.
2. Personal Statement: This is a one-page essay, asking that the student explain why they wish to participate in MSFC’s Reproductive Health Externship.  In this statement, they will address any exposure or training to reproductive health education received thus far.
3.  Enrollment verification or letter of recommendation from medical school.  This letter must be dated within the current academic year (2024-2025) and confirm the student is currently enrolled in their medical program. It must be presented on the official school letterhead, signed by a school official, and stamped with the school’s official stamp or seal.
4. Photo of the back and front of current and non-expired National ID.
5. Photos of the back and front of current and non-expired school/University ID.

I Meet the Criteria – When Can I Apply?

• Applications will open on November 25, 2024.
• Applications will be accepted from that date until January 6, 2025
• No applications will be accepted after this date, and incomplete applications will be rejected.
• MSFC will review applications and begin to notify selected students in February.

NO applications or pieces of the application will be accepted before November 25, 2024.