Physicians specializing in Global Emergency Medicine (GEM) are dedicated to improving health outcomes worldwide by addressing disparities in emergency care. The Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship equips emergency physicians with the skills and experience needed to work effectively in diverse settings, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries. While many emergency physicians are drawn to international work, excelling in GEM requires expertise beyond clinical practice in a U.S. Emergency Department—including research, health systems development, medical education, and humanitarian response.
Our one‐year fellowship (with an option for a second year) is designed to build fellows’ expertise in global health research, with a strong emphasis on developing research skills and contributing to sustainable healthcare improvements. Through collaborative partnerships with international institutions, fellows engage in projects that not only advance their own learning but also foster the growth of emergency care capacity in low-resource settings.
Our Mission & Vision
The UF Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship provides the expert educational tools and international experiences that will pave the way for a future career working in global emergency medicine and making a true impact worldwide.
Goals & Purpose
This fellowship runs alongside the EM residency and other fellowships in Critical Care, EMS, and Clinical Ultrasound, offering clinical and research opportunities with a strong emphasis on global health, public health, and disaster management. Its goal is to develop emergency physicians into experts in all facets of global emergency medicine—including clinical care, education, administration, public health, and advocacy—through formal training, mentorship, and engagement in both existing and self-directed research projects.
Why Choose Us?
- Comprehensive Training: Gain hands‐on experience in international clinical settings, public health initiatives, and disaster response.
- Mentorship & Leadership Development: Learn from leading global health experts and develop leadership skills in global emergency medicine.
- Research & Innovation: Engage in impactful global health research with opportunities for publication and presentation.
- Sustainable Impact: Contribute to long‐term health projects that make a real difference in underserved communities.
To review some of the work done by our Program Director, Dr. Torben Becker, click on his Bibliography in the National Library of Medicine.
What makes the UF Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship unique?
- UF’s contacts with hospitals and health systems in other countries which are comprehensive on multiple levels—clinical, quality improvement, research and research capacity development
- A strong focus on training in research and scholarship, specifically in the area of global health
- Developing specific local capacity through special projects such as ultrasound development and prehospital care systems
- A strong focus on critical care skills in resource‐limited environments
- Elective rotations as Acting Fellow in one of UF Health’s Intensive Care Units, and on the EMS Physician Response vehicle as Prehospital Physician
Global Sites
The Department of Emergency Medicine’s Section of Global Health has several established international partner sites with opportunities for clinical work, education, and research. Our program focuses on partners in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Botswana. South American rotation opportunities as well.
Fellowship Structure
Duration: 1 year (Optional 2 years)
Core Components
- Clinical Rotations: Work in diverse international healthcare settings.
- Global Health Research: Conduct and contribute to research on pressing global health issues.
- Policy & Advocacy: Engage with global health policy discussions and initiatives.
- Education & Teaching: Train local healthcare professionals in evidence‐based medical practices.
- Disaster Response & Humanitarian Aid: Participate in global disaster relief efforts.
Optional Second Year
Applicants choosing to apply for a two-year pathway will complete a Master in Public Health degree at the University of Florida.
Training Locations
Fellows will have the opportunity to work in a variety of international settings, including:
- Partner hospitals and clinics in low‐resource environments
- Humanitarian and disaster response activities
- Global health research institutions
Clinical Experience
The fellows in this program are appointed as post doctorate clinical associates in the Department of Emergency Medicine. They have a core clinical commitment of 768 hours working as Attending Physicians in one of the four UF Health Gainesville Emergency Departments over the course of their fellowship year. Given the nature of a global EM fellowship, the average of 7‐8 shifts per month can be flexed in months with significant travel commitments. Options for additional hours with extra pay available.
UF Health Shands Pediatric Emergency Room
The Pediatric ER located in UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital provides families with a convenient one-stop children’s health center for emergency care. Open 24/7, patients 17 and under are cared …
Gainesville, Florida 32608
UF Health Shands Emergency Room / Trauma Center
The UF Health Shands ER is co-located with the UF Health Shands Trauma Center, the area’s only Level I facility, that sees both adult and pediatric trauma patients. Emergency care is something that …
Gainesville, Florida 32608
UF Health Emergency Center – Kanapaha
Located on SW Archer Road less than three miles west of I-75, the free-standing emergency department in the Kanapaha section of Southwest Gainesville is housed in a 10,881-square-foot building to …
Gainesville, FL 32608
UF Health Shands Emergency Center – Springhill
Located on NW 39th Avenue one mile east of I-75, the free-standing emergency department in the Springhill section of Northwest Gainesville is housed in a completely renovated 8,500-square-foot …
Gainesville, Florida 32606
Eligibility & Application
Thank you for your interest. The application for this year is now open!
Deadline to Apply: October 22, 2025 12:00 AM CDT/1:00 AM EST
This fellowship program participates in the NRMP Match. Applications should be submitted through the SAEM GEMA application portal or via email using the contact information below.
Who Should Apply?
- Board‐certified or board‐eligible emergency physicians
- Individuals with a passion for global health and international service
- Physicians seeking academic, leadership, or humanitarian careers in global health
Application Process
- Submit via SAEM GEMA Application portal or email UF‐GEM@ufl.edu that includes:
- Curriculum Vitae
- One‐page personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation (Residents must include one letter from the Residency Program Director).
- Interviews: Virtual or in‐person interviews with faculty mentors.
- Final Selection & Program Start: Accepted fellows will receive a structured onboarding process to prepare for international assignments.
Contact Us
For more information about the Global Health Fellowship, please reach out to our team at GEM@ad.ufl.edu or visit our main fellowship page.
Program Faculty and Staff
Graduates of the Global Health Fellowship have gone on to:
- Lead global health initiatives in academic institutions
- Work with international organizations
- Establish sustainable healthcare programs in underserved communities
Fellowship Program Director & Director – Section of Global Health & Medicine in Austere Environments
Torben K Becker MD, PhD, MBA, RDMS, E-AEC, FAWM, FAEMS, FCCM
Graduated and Current Fellows
- 2018-2019
Ideen Zeinali, MD (now: Dallas Baylor University Medical Center) - 2020-2021
Lindsay Beamon-Scott, MD (now: University of Rochester) - 2021-2022
Cassandra Clay, DO, MSHA (now: Saint Francis Hospital)
Joseph Pompa, DO (now: EMS & Disaster Medicine Fellow at Rutgers Health/Newark Beth Israel Medical Center) - 2023-2025
Mayur Patel, MD (now: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital)