Scott W. Tolan student, Medical School
	Students Improving Global Health in Texas (SIGHT UT-Houston Chapter)
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston has many interest groups for students to join however; one of the newer organizations’ mission is to educate students through helping the global community.  Students Improving Global Health in Texas (SIGHT) is only a year and four months old and already over 100 members strong. Scott Tolan, third year UT Medical School Student, founded the local chapter, modeling it after the original UTMB-Galveston chapter.  SIGHT’s purpose is to encourage and empower future physicians, be aware of the global health community and its needs, and respond appropriately with available resources.  Members believe that in addition to academic courses, global health awareness and activism should be part of a student’s overall education.  SIGHT encourages first and second year medical students to travel abroad during the three month summer break.  Participating in professional opportunities such as, working on a research project or a preceptorship are common and SIGHT is collaborating with Houston Initiative for Global Health Education and Research (HIGHER) to help facilitate these programs and other opportunities available to UT Medical School students.  Another experience for travel is the Annual Spring Break Clinic Service Trip.  Last year, 17 medical students and two physicians traveled to Roatan, Honduras to work at La Clinica Esperanza.  The students shadowed physicians, worked in pharmacies, examined over 500 elementary school children, and conducted a two day health fair in the center of town.  This trip encompassed everything that SIGHT represents.   This year there will be additional trips for students to choose from: Roatan, Honduras; Quito, Ecuador; and possibly a collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine to Santa Ana, Honduras.   Fourth year medical students have the time and opportunity to choose an elective abroad and receive academic credit.  Even though Houston has the largest and most comprehensive medical center, it is still beneficial for students to travel internationally and see how medicine is practiced and clinics are run.  Historically, UT medical school students travel to countries such as China, South Africa and Brazil.  SIGHT hopes to expand the number of supported opportunities and approved programs in various countries. The funds received from the Office of International Programs Award have allowed Tolan to set up two different types of scholarships: the SIGHT MS-IV Elective Abroad Scholarship and the Annual Spring Break Clinic Service Trip Scholarship.  The SIGHT MS-IV Elective Abroad Scholarship is awarded to two fourth year medical students who are traveling abroad for clinical electives.  Bill Covington and Annie Sprott are this year's recipients.  The Annual Spring Break Clinic Service Trip Scholarship will be awarded to six first and second year medical students and a faculty sponsor who wish to participate in a SIGHT planned trip.