Global Health Education Revamped: Implementation of a Cross-Cultural Virtual Elective Through Continuous Improvement Methods

Introduction Virtual platforms can increase access to global health (GH) education and cross-cultural communication. The Cleveland-Cusco Connection (CCC) is a virtual GH elective between medical schools in the USA and Peru. This elective was held annually from 2020 to 2023, with monthly virtual sessions held in English and Spanish to facilitate bidirectional learning about healthcare systems, culture, and barriers to care in both nations. Using student surveys throughout the electives, we report the outcomes, barriers, and changes of the CCC over 3 years. Methods We administered pre- and post-elective surveys to students in the elective in their native languages. We evaluated self-reported non-native language skills, health systems, GH knowledge, and cultural sensitivity. We also surveyed students about course efficacy in achieving learning objectives and areas for improvement. We performed non-parametric statistical analyses to evaluate trends in survey responses. Results Over three academic years, 92 students participated in CCC. Students from the US had statistically significant increases in their self-reported understanding of the Peruvian healthcare and medical education systems ( p = 0.013). US students also saw an increase in cultural sensitivity scores, with statistically significant increases in the knowledge ( p = 0.035) and motivation components ( p = 0.031). The most frequently reported challenges encountered throughout the course included: competing coursework assignments, scheduling conflicts, and language barriers. Discussion Cross-cultural virtual electives demonstrate effectiveness in teaching trainees about international healthcare systems and can improve cultural sensitivity. Strategies to improve the elective include reducing workload, improving engagement for partner countries, and teaching bilingually.