When planning for an international research or clinical experience, ensuring your health, safety, and security is an integral part of your travel preparation. Navigating a new environment can come with its own set of challenges, from understanding local healthcare systems and emergency protocols to being prepared for potential safety risks and travel uncertainties. This page offers a comprehensive collection of resources designed to help you stay informed and prepared before, during, and after your time abroad. By reviewing the following health, safety, and security resources and considerations, you can focus on maximizing your global health experience.
Key Resources
The resources highlighted below offer essential guidance for all travelers—regardless of your destination or the purpose of your trip. From staying updated on the latest travel advisories to accessing real-time security insights, these tools are designed to help you make informed decisions and respond effectively to potential risks. We strongly encourage you to review these resources before you depart and utilize them as needed during your time abroad.
You can access your destination's safety and security information on the Country Information page. This page includes the Travel Advisory and any Alerts. Be sure to read the whole page. It has more details about critical aspects of your destination that could affect your travel. Country Information pages cover entry and exit requirements, local laws, health, transportation, and other useful topics.
The Crisis24 Horizon App provides global travel advice regarding security, transportation, health-related issues, cultural affairs, and more. Global travel tips concerning security, health, culture, transportation, legal, financial, and language are readily available.
Safety and Security
Ensuring your safety and security while traveling abroad is a critical part of your preparation. There are a number of key tools, strategies, and considerations to help you navigate potential risks, protect your personal safety, and address important considerations such as housing safety, transit through higher-risk areas, diversity issues, and data security.
Currently, these types of resources can be accessed through the Trainee International Travel Resources online course. A new resource is being developed to offer an updated, engaging, and streamlined experience. Once available, a link to the new resource will be posted here.
Health Abroad
Staying healthy while abroad is essential for a successful international experience. This section provides key resources to help you prepare for travel-related health needs, including CDC guidance, pre-travel consultations, access to medications, and emergency preparedness tools. By reviewing these resources and planning ahead, you can focus on your global health experience with confidence and peace of mind.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers trusted and up-to-date guidance to help travelers stay informed and protected while navigating global health risks. These essential resources provide actionable advice for planning and preparing your international journey:
- Travelers’ Health: Access official U.S. government health recommendations tailored to international travelers. This comprehensive resource covers everything from required vaccines to region-specific health precautions.
- Travel Health Notices: Stay updated on global health risks with CDC’s Travel Health Notices (THNs). These alerts provide critical information during outbreaks, natural disasters, and other events, along with practical tips to reduce health risks and stay safe while traveling.
- Information by Destination: Use this tool to find location-specific health information, including vaccination recommendations and requirements, travel health notices, and advice tailored to your destination. This resource ensures you have the most relevant guidance for your international experience.
- Before You Go: Prepare for your trip with destination-specific tips and advice on packing, managing health risks, and ensuring you have everything you need for safe travel.Enter content.
A current UCSF pilot study is helping trainees who have difficulty getting PEPkits from their U.S. medical providers to take overseas. Students who may be exposed to blood or body fluids during their work abroad can get access to a $50 gift certificate for the usual co-pay toward a PEPkit (HIV post-exposure prophylaxis medications) and get quick, expert advice abroad after an exposure. To enroll, you will participate in a brief introductory Zoom meeting: talk with the study coordinator to confirm contact information, discuss the study, have any questions answered, review the consent form, and provide consent. Read about this pilot study. For questions, contact [email protected].
If adequate PPE supplies will not be available at your destination, contact [email protected] for information about accessing PPE at UCSF prior to travel.
Insurance While Traveling
UC offers a range of insurance options to meet the specific needs of travelers, including coverage for accidents, illnesses, medical and security evacuation, mental health counseling, and travel interruptions. You may be automatically covered by some insurance options, but you may need to take actions to enroll in other. Review the information below to make sure you are adequately covered and understand your insurance benefits and coverage before you travel.
Students, trainees, and residents traveling for UCSF-related travel are covered by UC Travel Insurance worldwide 24/7. This includes 14 days of personal travel before or after your academic travel. This coverage is provided at no cost to travelers. UC Travel Insurance may not include coverage for some types of travel and certain situations. Please read the Student Travel Benefits Summary carefully.
