U.S. Military Tropical Medicine Course (Mtm)
Tropical Medicine is an important skill set for operational medical providers both for recognition and prevention of disease in deployed forces as well as in support of humanitarian assistance operations. Navy Medicine Leadership & Professional Development Command continues to offer the Military Tropical Medicine (MTM) course which prepares graduates to recognize and treat Tropical diseases. Military Tropical Medicine is a basic 4-week curriculum conducted annually in July on the USUHS Campus with a follow-on 2-week field practicum for some graduates. In addition, a Virtual option is also available. MTM provides a broad range of topics in Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, lectures are from world renowned experts. Laboratories are equally comprehensive and include practical experience in visualizing various parasites, bacteria, and arthropods of medical importance. Whenever possible, live specimens are used and hands-on training is emphasized. Limited central funding is available for MTM students. Note this is an NMPDLC course supported by USU, not a USU course. MTM can be recorded in your officer service record, but is not a pathway to professional certification.
For full information on MTM and to register please click the NMLPDC link below, or contact LCDR Terrel Sanders the program director by email or phone.
CONTACT
Terrel Sanders MD
LCDR MC USN
Military Tropical Medicine Course Director
terrel.sanders.mil@health.mil
(301) 400-3935 office
Astmh (CTropMed®) certification course
Training in Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health is an advanced Masters level course designed to develop professional competencies relevant both to the practice of medicine in the tropics, and in a U.S. travel clinic. It is ideal for persons assigned to COCOMs, DoD overseas research labs or practicing adult or pediatric Infectious Diseases or Preventive Medicine especially as a subject matter expert in tropical or travel medicine.
This intense and comprehensive training course is designed for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants or pharmacists who seek to increase their knowledge of tropical medicine above a basic level. Graduates receive a certificate that qualifies them to sit the Certification in Tropical Medicine (CTROPMED®) exam offered by the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. Historically our graduates have 100% pass rate.
World-Class Faculty with substantial tropical medicine field experience provide comprehensive lectures, seminars, laboratories, and case-based learning activities. Graduates of the course receive a certificate in Training in Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health. Graduates also receive a formal university credential and graduate credit hours towards a Master’s Degree.
This course is recognized by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) as fulfilling the didactic requirements to sit for the Society’s qualifying examination for the Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health (CTropMed®), as well as The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries examination for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H).
COURSE CONTENT
- Principles & Practice of Tropical Medicine 4.5 Semester Credits
- Medical Parasitology 2.25 Semester Credits
- Malaria Epidemiology & Control 2.25 Semester Credits
- Travel Medicine 1.5 Semester Credits
- Public Health Issues of Disasters 3 Semester Credits
- Tropical Medicine Rounds 1.5 Semester Credits
- Epidemiology and Control of Arboviruses 1.5 Semester Credits
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this program of instruction, learners should be able to:
- Recognize common clinical syndromes in patients living in or traveling to developing countries and develop cost-effective, sound diagnostic and treatment approaches using either local resources or, as appropriate, the United States healthcare system
- Explain the epidemiological, immunological, and pathophysiological bases of disease processes common in the tropics
- Describe a practical and comprehensive prevention and control program for common tropical public health problems
- Increase competence and self-efficacy in the delivery of travel medicine services in accordance with professional standards
- Identify and analyze emerging disease outbreaks using epidemiological principles and investigative procedures
- Prepare specimens and identify parasites common in the tropics
- Construct medical practice in context
- Describe the biology of vectors of common vector transmitted diseases in the tropics
- Characterize health systems in the tropics incorporating local health operations, foreign governments, and NGOs
- Discuss impacts on health by local culture, religion, family structure, and alternative medical customs
COURSE STRATEGY
Mix of classroom, laboratory and tabletop exercises focusing both on disease etiology and clinical syndromes. Topics covered include prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of diseases; impact of nutrition on disease status; and local medical customs and healthcare system structure and function in the developing world. Multiple comprehensive written examinations and writing assignments during the course assess academic progress, as well as prepare the student for the professional society qualifying examinations such as the CTropmed Examination.
VENUE
The course is held at USU main campus from February to May annually. Course activities occur in state-of-the-art educational facilities at Naval Support Activity, Bethesda, and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
ELIGIBILITY
U.S. government employees have priority. Non-government applicants are welcome and approved on a space available basis.
FEES
DoD personnel and U.S. Public Health Service officers: $0
Participants sponsored by other U.S. government agencies: $1,500
All other participants: $5,000
Fees are due no later than 4 weeks prior to course start.
Requests for refunds must be made at least 1 week prior to course start.
APPLICATION
Please submit applications between November 1st and November 30th of the year prior to the spring semester that that training is desired. For example, applicants for Spring 2023, would apply in November 2022. Applications after November 30th will have to wait the following year to reapply. Applications should be submitted via Empower at:
https://registrar.usuhs.edu/
under 3.3 Trng in Trop Med & Traveler's Health and will require a CV, current professional license, and a copy of a transcript from your highest level of education (e.g. MD, DO, MSN-NP, PA-C, etc.).
To confirm course availability prior to November 1st, contact Dr. Kyle Petersen at kyle.petersen@usuhs.edu along with the following information:
Full contact information (name, email, phone, mailing address)
Curriculum vitae
Brief statement of interest
Foreign military students must apply through the Military Articles & Services List (MASL)
Course Catalog, MASL# P175038 TRNG TROPICAL MED & TRAVELERS HEALTH (USU-ASTMH)
CONTACT
Kyle Petersen, DO FACP, FIDSA
CAPT, MC, USN (Ret)
Sanford Chair in Tropical Medicine
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics
F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
(301) 295-9471
kyle.petersen@usuhs.edu