• Global Health Resources

    A wealth of books, manuals, and online materials is available for physicians interested in global health. Many of these publications capture decades of experience in resource-constrained countries, and present diagnostic and treatment protocols that—although much simpler than Western practice—are evidence-based and effective in populations with few resources and limited education.

    General Global Health

    • ­Markle W, Fisher M, Smego R Jr. Understanding Global Health. McGraw-Hill Professional; 2007.
    • ­Merson MH, Black RE, Mills AJ. International Public Health: Diseases, Programs, Systems and Policies. 2nded. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2006.

    Tropical Medicine

    • ­Davidson R, Brent A, Seale A, eds. Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine. 4th ed. Oxford University Press; 2014.
    • ­Farrar J, Hotez PJ, Junghanss T, Kang G, Lalloo D, White N, eds. Manson’s Tropical Diseases. 23rd ed. Saunders; 2013.
    • ­Schull CR. Common Medical Problems in the Tropics. 2nd ed. Macmillan; 1999.

    Specific Common Specialty Problems

    • ­Patel V. When There is No Psychiatrist: A Mental Health Care Manual. RCPsych Publications; 2003.
    • ­Tyring S. Tropical Dermatology. Churchill Livingstone; 2005.

    Online Resources

    Hesperian Foundation
    A source of very well-regarded books focused on primary health care delivery by community health workers. Many physicians and health care professionals use these manuals in a variety of community-oriented health activities and in teaching.

    Consortium of Universities for Global Health
    A great resource for general and focused modules on global health topics, including preparation for global health service

    World Health Organization (WHO)
    WHO documents have set the standard of care at the community health center level in many developing countries and provide useful insight into practice in resource-constrained settings; many are written for nurses or paramedical health care providers.

    Additional Online Resources

    Peer-Recommended Resources

    The following resources are recommended by members of the AAFP's Global Health Member Interest Group.

    Books

    Lupton RD. Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers; 2011.
    Recommended by: Mark Meyer, MD, Director, Global Health Track, Family Medicine Residency, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

    Markle W, Fisher M, Smego R. Understanding Global Health. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013.
    Recommended by: Mark Meyer, MD, Director, Global Health Track, Family Medicine Residency, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

    Fikkert B, Corbett S. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… and Yourself. New Edition. Chicago, IL. Moody Publishers; 2014.
    Recommended by: Stephen P. Merry, MD, MPH, Consultant, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Downing R. The Wedding Goes On Without Us. Nairobi, Kenya. Jacaranda Designs; 2002.
    Recommended by: Andrew Janssen MD, FAAFP

    Seager G. When Healthcare Hurts: An Evidence Based Guide For Best Practices in Global Health Initiatives. Bloomington, IN. AuthorHouse; 2012.
    Recommended by: Maurice Henein, MD, Associate Program Director, Community East Family Medicine Residency, Indianapolis, IN

    Maranz D. African Friends and Money Matters: Observations from Africa. Dallas TX. SIL International; 2001.
    Recommended by: Ben Fredrick, MD, Director, Global Health Center; Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

    DiPrete Brown L. Foundations for Global Health Practice. Hoboken NJ. John Wiley and Sons; 2018.

    Articles

    Wilson JW, Merry SP, Franz WB. Rules of engagement: the principles of underserved global health volunteerism. Am J Med. 2012;125(6):612-617.
    Recommended by: Stephen P. Merry, MD, MPH, Consultant, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Iserson KV. Practical realities of doing volunteer medical work in the developing world. Fam Pract Manag. 2013;20(5):22-26.
    Recommended by: Ben Fredrick, MD, Director, Global Health Center, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

    Videos

    Miller MM (Director). Poverty, Inc. 2014. United States. Acton Institute.
    Recommended by: Stephen P. Merry, MD, MPH, Consultant, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Newberry C (Director). American Heart. 2013. United States. Free Country Media.
    Recommended by: Stephen P. Merry, MD, MPH, Consultant, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN\

    Janmaat E (Director). Why Kenya Needs Family Medicine. 2016.
    Recommended by: Bruce Dahlman, MD, FAAFP, MSHPE, Head, Department of Family Medicine and Community Care, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kabarak University, Kabarak, Kenya

    Holland T (Director). First, Do No Harm: A Qualitative Research Documentary. 2011.
    Recommended by: Ben Fredrick, MD, Director, Global Health Center, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

    Other Recommended Resources

    • Palmer D, Wolf CE. Handbook of Medicine in Developing Countries. 3rd ed. Christian Medical and Dental Association; 1999.
    • Brent A, Davidson R, Seale A. Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine. Oxford University Press; 2014.  -- This handbook is small, light, and can fit in your pocket.
    • Peters W, Pasvol G. Atlas of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. 6th ed. Mosby; 2006. -- This excellent atlas is full of images that teach you to recognize the appearance of tropical diseases.
    • Beeching N, Gill G. Lecture Notes: Tropical Medicine. 7th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2014.
    • Farmer P. Infections and Inequalities: The Modern Plagues. University of California Press; 2001.
    • Epstein H. The Invisible Cure: Why We Are Losing the Fight Against AIDS in Africa. Picador; 2008.  Garrett L.The Coming PlagueNewly Emerging Disease in a World Out of Balance. Penguin Books; 1995.