Essential Questions for DO Graduates Seeking Global Health Residency

Understanding Your Unique Position as a DO Interested in Global Health

As a DO graduate aiming for a career in global health, the questions you ask residency programs are almost as important as the answers you give. Your interview is not just an evaluation of you; it’s your chance to evaluate how well a program will support your path in international medicine and whether it values osteopathic training.

Instead of only focusing on how to answer common residency questions, you should also prepare strong, purposeful questions to ask residency programs—especially those that reveal:

• How much they truly support global health interests
• How they accommodate or celebrate DO training
• Whether they offer a global health residency track or strong international medicine electives
• How they mentor residents into global health careers

This article is designed specifically for the DO graduate residency applicant with a strong global health focus. You’ll get concrete, categorized interview questions for them (program directors, faculty, residents, and coordinators), plus strategies for using those questions effectively.

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Core Strategy: How to Approach Asking Questions

Before diving into specific lists, understand the strategy behind your questions.

1. Align Questions With Your Priorities

As a DO graduate interested in global health, your core priorities might include:

• Consistent access to global health or international medicine experiences
• Strong mentorship from faculty engaged in global health scholarship, advocacy, or fieldwork
• Support for osteopathic recognition, OMT, and holistic patient care
• Program culture that values service, health equity, and interprofessional collaboration
• Protected time and funding to travel, conduct research, or do electives abroad

Use your questions to probe these areas repeatedly from different angles and different people (PDs, faculty, residents).

2. Ask Specific, Not Generic, Questions

Programs hear “What are your strengths?” dozens of times. Instead, embed your interests into focused questions:

• Instead of: “Do you have global health opportunities?”
  Ask: “Can you describe recent global health projects or electives residents have completed in the last 2–3 years?”

Specific questions:

• Show you’ve done your homework
• Push programs to give concrete examples rather than vague promises
• Help you compare programs more meaningfully

3. Tailor Questions for Who You’re Speaking To

• Program Director (PD): big-picture vision, curriculum, institutional support, policies, and outcomes
• Global Health or Core Faculty: mentorship, scholarly work, specific projects, typical resident pathways
• Current Residents: daily reality, culture, work–life balance, how opportunities actually play out
• Program Coordinator: logistics, scheduling, visas, credentialing, funding processes

Preparing separate lists for each group ensures you get a 360° view of the program.

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High-Yield Questions for Program Directors (PDs)

Your conversation with the PD is your best opportunity to understand the program’s formal stance on global health and how they view DO graduates. These questions to ask residency leadership should be thoughtful and aligned with your long-term goals.

A. Questions About Global Health Vision and Structure

1. “How would you describe this program’s long-term vision for global health and health equity?”

   • Listen for whether global health is central to the mission or just a side interest.

2. “Does your program offer a formal global health residency track, pathway, or certificate? If so, what are the core components?”

   • Ask about: curriculum hours, required projects, capstone expectations, and evaluation methods.

3. “For residents interested in international medicine, what structured opportunities (electives, rotations, partnerships) have been consistently available over the past few years?”

   • You’re testing whether opportunities are stable and recurring, not one-off.

4. “How do you ensure that global health experiences are ethical, sustainable, and mutually beneficial for partner communities?”

   • Strong programs mention long-term partnerships, local leadership, and avoiding ‘voluntourism.’

5. “Are there established partnerships with specific countries, organizations, or institutions for global health rotations or research?”

   • Ask for names of institutions/NGOs (e.g., Ministry of Health collaborations, academic partnerships).

B. Questions About Support, Funding, and Logistics

6. “How is resident participation in global health activities funded or supported—travel grants, institutional funds, or external partnerships?”

   • Clarifies whether costs fall mostly on residents or if the program invests financially.

7. “Is there protected time built into the schedule for global health electives, research, or international rotations?”

   • Look for concrete details: number of weeks, PGY level, and how often residents actually use it.

8. “If I were to pursue a multi-week international rotation, how would the program handle duty hour monitoring, supervision, and credentialing?”

   • Strong answers indicate existing systems and policies, not improvisation.

9. “Are there opportunities for longitudinal global health work—such as recurring visits to the same site, ongoing projects, or remote collaboration outside of electives?”

   • Longitudinal experiences are usually more meaningful and impactful.

C. Questions About DO Graduates and Osteopathic Identity

10. “How many DO graduates are currently in the program, and how have they typically integrated their osteopathic training into residency?”

    • You want to hear real numbers and examples, not vague reassurances.

11. “Does the program have osteopathic recognition, or are there structured opportunities to use and maintain OMT skills in patient care?”

    • If no formal recognition, ask how DO skills are still supported.

12. “How does the program support DOs in procedural competency, fellowship placements, and leadership roles compared with MD graduates?”

    • This probes equity and track records in the osteopathic residency match era.

13. “Are there faculty members with DO backgrounds in leadership or teaching roles?”

    • DO faculty representation often translates into better understanding of your training pathway.

D. Questions About Outcomes and Career Development

14. “Can you share some recent examples of graduates who pursued global health-focused careers, fellowships, or positions with international organizations?”

    • Push for concrete names or roles (e.g., working with WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières, academic global health divisions).

15. “How does the program support residents interested in global health academic careers—such as mentorship, research opportunities, or conference presentations?”

    • Look for mention of mentoring structures, travel funding, and protected scholarly time.

16. “When you think about an ideal graduate interested in global health, what skills and experiences do you hope they gain here?”

    • This question clarifies whether the program’s training outcomes align with your vision.

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Questions for Faculty: Deep Dive into Global Health & Mentorship

Faculty—especially those involved in the global health residency track or international medicine projects—can provide details that go beyond the PD’s high-level overview.

A. Questions About Ongoing Global Health Projects

1. “What global health or health equity projects are you currently involved in, and how do residents participate?”

   • Look for active projects, not only legacy work.

2. “How do you build continuity with partner sites so residents are not just ‘parachuting in’?”

   • Ethical global health programs emphasize continuity and local leadership.

3. “Can you describe a global health project that evolved because of resident initiative?”

   • Reveals how supportive the environment is for resident-driven ideas.

4. “What are the most common barriers residents face in engaging with global health work here, and how do you help them navigate those challenges?”

   • Real programs will admit trade-offs—call schedules, competing demands, funding.

B. Questions About Mentorship and Scholarly Work

5. “If I wanted to do a longitudinal scholarly project in global health, what mentorship structure would be available?”

   • Ask whether there are designated global health mentors or committees.

6. “What types of global health research or quality improvement projects have residents successfully completed and presented or published?”

   • Look for diversity: implementation science, health systems, community-based participatory research, etc.

7. “Is there a journal club, seminar series, or curriculum specific to global health and social medicine?”

   • A structured curriculum signals seriousness about building your knowledge base.

8. “How does the program support residents in attending global health conferences or courses?”

   • Ask what percentage of costs the program typically covers.

C. Questions About Ethics, Equity, and Training Philosophy

9. “How do you address power dynamics, cultural humility, and decolonizing global health within your training?”

   • Strong programs will discuss historical context, ethical frameworks, and structural competency.

10. “Are there opportunities to work with immigrant, refugee, or underserved populations locally as part of a broader global health framework?”

    • Global health includes domestic ‘global is local’ work.

11. “How do you balance residents’ desire for international fieldwork with maintaining patient care commitments and equity among co-residents?”

    • You’re probing fairness and workload distribution.

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Questions for Current Residents: Reality Check on Culture & Day-to-Day Experience

Residents are your best source of unfiltered insight. They’ll show you how the program’s promises actually look in practice.

A. Questions About Global Health in Real Life

1. “How many residents in your class are seriously involved in global health or international medicine, and how do they make it work with their schedules?”

   • The number and intensity of participation reveal whether global health is a core or fringe interest.

2. “Can you tell me about a co-resident who has done something interesting in global health during residency?”

   • Ask for specifics: where they went, what they did, and what support they received.

3. “Are global health opportunities accessible to everyone who’s interested, or do only a few people manage to take advantage of them?”

   • You’re probing for bottlenecks like limited funding, scheduling conflicts, or hidden selection processes.

4. “When you rotate internationally, how prepared do you feel clinically and culturally?”

   • Residents might describe pre-departure training, language support, or gaps.

5. “Have your global health or health equity interests grown, changed, or decreased since starting the program? Why?”

   • This gives an honest read on whether the environment nurtures or dampens your goals.

B. Questions About DO Identity, Culture, and Support

6. “As a DO, have you felt fully integrated and respected within the program? Are there any differences in expectations or experiences between DO and MD residents?”

   • Ask DO residents directly when possible.

7. “Do DOs here get the same access to procedures, leadership roles, and competitive rotations?”

   • You’re gauging whether the DO graduate residency experience is equitable.

8. “Is there a community or support network specifically for DOs or residents with non-traditional paths?”

   • This matters if you value shared identity and peer mentorship.

9. “What has the program done particularly well for DO residents? What could it do better?”

   • Residents can often name specific faculty champions or gaps that leadership won’t mention.

C. Questions About Wellness, Workload, and Program Culture

10. “What does a typical week look like for an intern vs. a senior resident here?”

    • Ask about average hours, call frequency, and how often people feel overwhelmed.

11. “How easy is it to schedule time off or electives for global health work without burning out or overburdening your co-residents?”

    • You want a culture where global health involvement doesn’t require heroics.

12. “When something goes wrong—personally or professionally—how does the program respond?”

    • Look for concrete stories of support, not just platitudes.

13. “If you had to decide again today, would you still choose this program, particularly considering your global health interests?”

    • This single question often yields very honest, nuanced answers.

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Questions for Program Coordinators and Administrators: Logistics & Practicalities

Program coordinators see how things actually get done. They’re key allies, especially if you plan on international rotations, research, or complex scheduling.

A. Questions About Scheduling and Electives

1. “At which PGY levels do residents typically schedule away or international electives? How far in advance do they need to plan?”

   • This affects how early you must line up projects or partnerships.

2. “Are there institutional caps on the number of weeks a resident can spend in away or international rotations?”

   • Some hospitals or boards limit this time.

3. “What’s the process for getting an international rotation approved? Are there pre-existing templates or does each site require new paperwork?”

   • Established processes = easier for you.

B. Questions About Visas, Insurance, and Risk Management

4. “How does the institution handle malpractice coverage, travel insurance, and clearance for residents rotating internationally?”

   • You want clarity on legal and financial protection.

5. “Do international sites need to meet specific accreditation or supervision standards for resident rotations?”

   • That’s important both for safety and for board eligibility.

6. “If global conditions change suddenly (e.g., political instability, pandemics), how does the program support residents in adjusting or reassigning rotations?”

   • Ask for recent examples if applicable.

C. Questions About Funding Streams

7. “Are there institutional scholarships, grants, or designated funds that residents commonly use for global health rotations?”

   • Coordinators often know the practical “how-to” better than anyone else.

8. “Can you walk me through a real example of a resident who did an international rotation—from planning to funding to travel?”

   • You’ll learn timelines, bureaucratic steps, and realistic expectations.

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How to Use These Questions Strategically

Having a list of strong interview questions for them is only half the battle. How you use them can significantly influence both your impression and the program’s impression of you.

1. Prioritize 5–7 “Non-Negotiable” Questions

You won’t have time to ask everything. Identify the top questions that will truly determine whether a program fits your needs—for example:

• “How many graduates in the last 5 years have pursued global health-focused pathways or roles?”
• “What formal supports exist for DO residents, both academically and culturally?”
• “How is global health integrated into the core curriculum, not just as elective experiences?”

Use those across most interviews, then tailor additional questions to individual programs.

2. Customize Questions to Each Program

Before every interview:

• Review the program’s website for mentions of a global health residency track, international electives, or health equity initiatives.
• Look up specific faculty involved in international medicine.
• Note any existing DO representation or osteopathic recognition.

Then adjust your questions:

• “I saw on your website that you have a partnership with [Country/Institution]. How have residents been involved in that collaboration over the past couple of years?”

This shows preparation and genuine interest.

3. Use Answers to Guide Follow-Up Questions

Active listening is key. If a PD says:

• “We have a strong relationship with a hospital in Guatemala.”

You might follow up with:

• “Could you describe how continuity is maintained at that site, and whether residents can return multiple times during training?”

Those dynamic follow-ups make your conversation more natural and insightful.

4. Take Organized Notes

Immediately after each interview day, jot down:

• Specific global health opportunities mentioned
• How DOs are described and integrated
• Any concerns or red flags (e.g., “global health” exists only on paper)
• Quotes from residents or faculty that resonated with you

Later, when you build your rank list, those notes will be invaluable.

5. Watch for Red Flags

Even if programs advertise global health opportunities, pay attention to signs of misalignment:

• Vague answers with no concrete examples or recent resident participation
• Heavy reliance on short-term trips with no discussion of ethics or local partnerships
• Comments that minimize DO training or reference DOs as less prepared
• Global health work driven by a single faculty member near retirement, with no succession plan
• Residents saying, “On paper we have global health, but in reality, no one has time to do it.”

Your questions are designed to reveal these issues early.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As a DO graduate, should I bring up my interest in global health even if the program doesn’t advertise it?

Yes—but do so thoughtfully. You might say:

• “I’m particularly interested in global health and international medicine. I didn’t see a formal track on your website—how have residents with similar interests shaped their training here?”

This signals your priorities while giving the program a chance to highlight under-publicized opportunities. If they show no interest or capacity, that’s useful information for your rank list.

2. Are there any questions I should avoid asking programs?

Avoid questions that:

• Are easily answered by the website (e.g., “How many residents do you take per year?”)
• Seem transactional or premature (e.g., “How many vacation days do I get?” as your first question)
• Put interviewers on the defensive (e.g., “Why don’t you have better global health opportunities?”)

Instead, phrase curiosity constructively:

• “How do you see global health evolving here in the next few years?”
• “What challenges has the program faced in expanding international medicine opportunities?”

3. How many questions should I ask each interviewer?

Aim for:

• 2–3 meaningful questions per 15–20 minute conversation
• Prioritize depth over quantity

For a PD, you might focus on big-picture issues (global health infrastructure, DO representation, outcomes). For residents, dig into daily life and the reality of pursuing global health within the program.

4. How can I show I’m serious about global health without sounding inflexible?

Frame your interest as a strong focus but not an absolute requirement:

• “Global health is a major interest of mine, and I’d like to integrate it into my training. At the same time, I’m committed to being an excellent clinician and team member here. How have you seen residents balance those priorities?”

This reassures programs that you’re a team player while still being clear about your goals.

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By preparing intentional, specific questions to ask programs about global health and DO support, you’ll make better decisions and present yourself as a focused, thoughtful applicant. Use this guide as a starting framework, adapt it to your personality and priorities, and let your questions highlight the kind of physician—and global health advocate—you aim to become.