The Clinical Global Scholars Program offers UCSF nurses and Advanced Practice Providers the opportunity to engage in a two-week immersive global learning experience as part of the CGN Global Nursing Certificate Program. Through our longstanding partnerships with global nursing teams, Scholars gain hands-on exposure to diverse healthcare environments while strengthening clinical assessment, leadership development, and quality-improvement skills.
Each Scholar is paired with a nurse collaborator at our partner hospital, engaging in bedside learning, clinical observation, leadership rounds, and shared problem-solving rooted in cultural humility and bidirectional exchange. This program is designed to deepen global nursing competencies while strengthening long-term partnerships that advance equitable care.
Program Objectives
- Translate learning into practice by enabling Scholars to apply knowledge from the CGN Global Nursing Certificate Program in a real-world global setting.
- Foster bi-directional collaboration through pairing UCSF Scholars with global nurse partners.
- Build quality-improvement skills through hands-on exploration of clinical challenges and joint development of locally relevant solutions.
- Strengthen experiential learning and reinforce competencies in global health sciences, leadership, and cross-context clinical care.
- Support reflective practice to deepen understanding of cultural differences, nursing roles, system challenges, and lessons learned.
Key Activities
- Pre-Departure Preparation: Participants will attend three virtual orientation meetings to meet their global partners and prepare for the international experience. A pre-travel checklist that they must complete prior to departure.
- Shadowing and Collaboration: Participants will spend significant time shadowing and working alongside their partner nurse at the AMPATH site.
- A3 and Root Cause Analysis: Participants will conduct a two-day root cause analysis on a specific issue identified at the partner hospital, collaborating closely with local staff to understand and address the problem.
Program Logistics
- Travel and Lodging: A stipend of up to $3000 will be provided to cover travel, visa, lodging, and food expenses for each participant.
- Nursing License: Participants must obtain a temporary nursing license or equivalent permission to be in the clinical setting at the partner site. Assistance will be provided to navigate this process.
Participant Terms of Reference and Frequently Asked Questions can be found here