This course aims to give participants an overview of all aspects of travel medicine. It provides the knowledge, conceptual frameworks and tools necessary to run an up-to-date, evidence-based travel medicine service and spark an interest in those who are new to the field.
Teaching will be by staff from the Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at LSHTM, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the National Travel Health Network & Centre (NaTHNaC); and invited external, national and international speakers eminent in the fields of travel medicine, infectious diseases, epidemiology and immunology.
The course has been running since 2002 and has been attended by more than 1,000 students from many countries around the globe. It is the diversity of the staff and the students that helps to provide such a rich learning environment and leads to many interesting discussions around different practices and policies worldwide.
This course is designed for physicians, nurses and pharmacists who provide a pre-travel health service or, those who are wishing to spark their interest in the field of travel medicine. It aims to provide healthcare professionals with an opportunity to develop and update their knowledge and skills in travel medicine.
Accreditation
The Royal College of Physicians has awarded 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits to the course for 2024.
Methods of assessment
There will be no formal examination or assessment, but a Certificate of Attendance will be issued to those completing the course.
Who should apply for the course?
The course is open to registered medical practitioners, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals with an interest in Travel Medicine. It is aimed at those who wish to use and develop their critical thinking skills within a health context to discern best practices and develop their judgement skills in a variety of social and cultural environments.
Teaching methods
Teaching will be through a variety of lectures, discussions, role-play, problem-solving workshops and the use of technology to access current health information. As part of the course, you will be expected to partake in a small group project, which may require some additional work outside the usual lecturing hours of 9 am-5 pm.
Funding
IAMAT Stella & George Bryant Travel Medicine Scholarship
One scholarship for a doctor from a country in South or Central America has been made available by IAMAT, with a preference to those applying from Bolivia, Columbia or Ecuador or in Central America (but not exclusively). As a pre-requisite, applicants will have completed the SLAMVI online course: (see 鈥淓ducacion鈥 tab). Preference will be given to practitioners with knowledge in travel medicine and the capacity to expand the practice of travel medicine in their country. The scholarship includes the Travel Medicine course at the LSHTM and clinical observation at NaTHNaC and/or the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
Please visit the for application details.
Student Testimonials
Take a look at some of the feedback for the course from previous cohorts.
鈥淎 really excellent course. I thoroughly enjoyed it, learned a lot and feel inspired. Thank you!"
"The best course I have attended in many years. The expert speakers were amazing. It has been inspiring and has left me feeling like I want to learn more."
"For me, it was an absolute privilege to attend this course, and was pitched at exactly the right level. Thanks to all involved."
"It was an amazing course. Thank you all for making it such a worthwhile experience. I'll be highly recommending the course to colleagues who are interested in the field of travel medicine."
Aims & Objectives
The main objectives are to make practitioners aware of:
- The role of practitioners in protecting the health of the traveller
- Major risks associated with travel and the skills involved in communicating these risks
- Appropriate methods for reducing and managing travel associated illness and hazards
- Communication skills to enhance their abilities as health educators
- The role of information technology in travel medicine
The course will cover a range of topics pertinent to the everyday practice of travel medicine, including:
- Principles of travel medicine
- Accessing travel health information
- Consultation and communication skills
- The epidemiology of travel
- Fitness to travel and repatriation
- Medico-legal issues
- Preparing the long term traveller
- Vaccines in practice
- Vector-borne disease; malaria, dengue, Zika virus, Yellow Fever
- Rabies and other infections from animal bites
- Haematological problems and travel
- Vulnerable travellers; children, pregnant/breast feeding, immunosuppressed, multiple co-morbidities
- Travel-related dermatology
- Sexual health and travel
- Food & waterborne disease
- Mass gatherings, Migrant health and VFR
- Bites, stings, envenomation and marine poisoning
- Altitude and diving medicine
- Fever in the returning traveller
Applying for this course
Applications are now closed. You can register your interest and we will let you know when applications reopen.
Please read LSHTM's Admissions policies prior to submitting your application.
Visas
The student is responsible for obtaining any visa or other permissions to attend the course, and is encouraged to start the application process as early as possible as obtaining a visa for the UK can sometimes take a long time. The Short Courses team can provide supporting documentation if requested.
Accommodation
A list of hotels located in the vicinity of LSHTM, along with further resources for short term accommodation, can be found on our accommodation pages.
Important information
Please note:
- Students will be required to bring their own laptops. The Stata package will be available for the duration of the course.
- If you have been offered a place on the course you will not be able to register without bringing a formal ID (Passport) and without having obtained the correct visa if required.
- It is essential that you read the current visa requirements for short course students.
- LSHTM may cancel courses two weeks before the first day of the course if numbers prove insufficient. In those circumstances, course fees will be refunded.
- LSHTM cannot accept responsibility for accommodation, travel and other losses incurred as a result of the course being cancelled.