SUBMISSION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What is Global Pulse?

Global Pulse has become one of AMSA's most popular national projects, gaining the attention of tens-of-thousands of readers (literally) and medical institutions. Publication of your work in the journal is a great way to demonstrate your merit, as well as your commitment to molding the future of medicine.

Moreover, many of you have engaged in eye-opening experiences abroad which have changed your perception of health conditions around the world. This journal affords you the opportunity to share these insights and to help influence others' decisions about global health issues. Our team of editors is committed to helping you share your viewpoints and discoveries with an international audience.

Finally, this journal makes the statement that medical students are concerned about health issues of people all around the world. Our journal is distributed nationally and internationally. Please, help us demonstrate that American medical students are concerned with the health of the international community.

Why should I make a submission?

Looking for an opportunity to get published? Want to share your insights and projects in global health with over 60,000 health professional and students nationally and internationally in print and online? Global Pulse, AMSA's International Health Journal, welcomes submissions on a year-round, on-going basis, and is published twice a year, with a "Spring Issue" and a "Fall Issue", usually published around February-May and November-January, respectively.

What topics can I write about?

Global Pulse will accept pieces on ANY topic which discusses issues in international health.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

How, and when, can I send you an article for publication?

Since Global Pulse has become an online journal, we can publish more frequently. We will announce when the submission process is open on this page and through various listserves.

When the submission process is open, please send all materials for consideration (articles, pictures) to submissions@globalpulsejournal.com. Please include your full name and contact information.

What is Global Pulse looking for?

Submit a piece on ANY TOPIC related to global health. We accept all the following:

• Editorials (OpEds)
• Research Articles
• Personal Accounts
• Book/Movie Reviews
• Short stories & Poems
• Images
• Other ideas approved by Editors

What are some potential topics that I can write about?

We welcome articles that convey a wide range of perspectives, including but not limited to social, cultural, economic, environmental, psychological, ethical, personal, artistic, and/or political views on global health issues. We wish to accept varied, critical opinions from all political leanings.

Below are some potential topics from which you can choose to write. Bear in mind that these are just recommendations.

Background on Health Issues Abroad

• What constitutes global/international health? Who defines issues which come to international attention? How are 'global health' issues managed differently from other health issues? What constitutes a typical response to international health problems? Who are the major players?
• What are the most common diseases and health problems facing the different nations? What features contribute to development of these diseases? What elements of these societies contribute to the health problems: virology, sanitation, food/shelter, etc?
• How does the development of disease and the gravity of health outcomes differ abroad? Which nations have better health outcomes than the U.S.? Why do they? What lessons can we take away?
• Which nations face worse health outcomes than the U.S.? What are the likely outcomes of common diseases abroad? How does medical management of these diseases differ abroad? Why are the health outcomes worse?
• What resources are available for the management of disease abroad? How do physicians and patients cope in resource-poor settings?
• How do patient characteristics vary between nations? Who receives medical care? How does the role of the patient differ between countries? How does the role of the physician differ between countries?
• What are the medical traditions and practices of different nations?
• What agencies are there to handle medical responses to international health problems? Who typically manages health problems in the country: governments, private organizations, NGOs, etc? What have the traditional medical responses looked like?

Social Structure & Health Outcomes Abroad:

• Who in society is most afflicted by the health problems? Who is most vulnerable and least able to cope with the health effects? Who requires the greatest medical attention?
• How do the national health care infrastructure, national resources, and/or government planning affect the success of medical relief efforts around the world?
• How do poverty, inequality, gender, racism, and political violence, among other cultural, social, political factors explain the gravity of health outcomes abroad?
• What factors predict strong international cooperation and assistance? How do governments respond to interventions from outside governments, private groups, etc in the management of global health issues?
• What elements are most essential to achieve in the management of health needs around the world? Which areas of medical attention yield most productive results in population health?
• What demands are placed on public health and medical infrastructure? What systems are in place to manage such health burdens? How should responsibilities be delegated among different agencies/groups to handle such tasks?
• How have the management of psychological illnesses and needs been addressed by the medical community? How about terminally ill needs, medication access, maternal and perinatal needs, etc.?
• How do cultural values and beliefs affect medical practices?

Taking a Stand: Evaluations and Recommendations for Managing Health Issues Abroad

• Is there an ethical obligation for national and international governments to respond to health crises around the world? What is the appropriate response for aid by the international community?
• Where have current practices and responses fallen short? Which areas in the management of recent health burdens around the world showed particular failure? What lessons from the management of recent health issues can be applied to future international health work?
• What successful practices have been applied/used by the medical community in responding to health demands abroad? How could these strategies have been applied in other disaster situations?
• Have recent events generated a list of essential strategies that should be employed in the future management of situations?
• How have some countries successfully coped with their respect health burdens?

These are tough questions. How can I provide solutions to such dilemmas?

We definitely do not expect 'the end-all' policy solutions or articles that will solve these dilemmas that have exhausted scores of authorities and experts. What we want from you is your thoughts, opinions, reflection, responses and research, identifying what priorities stand out in the minds of medical students. We would like you to share your personal experiences abroad, for example, that exemplify the challenges and difficulties with global health concerns. And we would like for you to share creative, unique, and/or successful strategies your groups used to respond to such urgent needs. Your writing can take the form of any of the following:

• Personal narratives of people you worked with or your own accounting of your service
• Research articles on the topics above
• Interviews with officials involved in medical relief
• Photo-narratives of experience
• Fictional stories, poetry, etc that address the issues raised
• Policy proposals/Action Plans
• Philosophical/Ethical arguments
• Any other type of submission that can be effectively address these issues

Once again, the topics above are just suggestions; you will NOT be at disadvantage if you choose to write about another topic.

What format do you prefer?

Take a look at our previous issues to see the type of material we published last time. Please note that we are open to all formats - prose, poetry, research-based and analytical pieces, photo essays, personal accounts, interviews, book and movie reviews, etc. - as long as the theme relates to global health.

If my article is research based-do I need to cite my work?

Yes, we encourage you to include citations whenever possible.

Are co-submissions allowed?

Yes! However, we ask you to designate one author as a contact person with whom we will correspond.

I am not a medical student. Should I submit an article?

Yes! You do not need to be a medical student to make a submission.

EDITING

What happens if my piece is selected?

The editing process will vary between pieces. In general, there will be two rounds of editing. In the first round, you will be asked to make certain changes based on our recommendations. If we still feel that changes are needed, we will make them ourselves. We will then show you the revised version to obtain your permission before publishing. After obtaining your permission, we will try our best not to make further changes; however, last minute stylistic or grammatical revisions are a possibility.

PHOTOS AND ARTWORK

Can I submit artwork or photos?

Yes, we invite submissions in all types of print media! We would love to have submissions that illustrate your varied experiences or are simply expressions of your creative or artistic spirit. Please scan in all photos or artwork (at 300 dpi, if possible) and submit to submissions@globalpulsejournal.com. We may ask you for a higher resolution photograph if it is selected for publication.

OTHER

When is the journal published?

As we are now an online journal, we will try to publish 3-4 times a year, depending on the amount of submissions we receive, though we will always announce when we are open for submissions. Please contact our editors-in-chief Julio Bracero or Preeti Kaur with any questions or suggestions.

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