Now an accredited Diploma Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine, offered by Saint James School of Medicine in partnership with leading Surinamese clinical and research institutions.
Two clear pathways: complete the full Diploma Course, or participate as a clinical elective rotation only.
Saint James School of Medicine offers a Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine that has been accredited by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the principal professional body for clinical tropical medicine in the United States. This places the SJSM program within the same accreditation framework as established diploma courses at institutions such as Tulane University, the Gorgas Course, and Baylor College of Medicine.
The course is delivered in Suriname, on the northeastern coast of South America, where a tropical climate and a richly diverse patient population create one of the most authentic clinical learning environments available for the study of tropical and infectious disease. Students train alongside senior Surinamese physicians and researchers and work directly with the laboratory, microscopy, and diagnostic methods that define the field.
Graduates who complete the Diploma Course, and who meet ASTMH’s additional eligibility requirements, are positioned to apply for the Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health (CTropMed) examination administered by ASTMH.
We offer two structured ways to participate, so the program fits both students pursuing a formal credential and those seeking focused clinical exposure.
The full pathway. Students complete the structured curriculum in clinical tropical medicine, including the laboratory and diagnostic components, and receive a Diploma in Tropical Medicine on successful completion. This is the pathway for students who intend to build a career involving tropical medicine, infectious disease, global health, or work in international and underserved settings, and who may wish to pursue the ASTMH CTropMed examination.
A focused four-week clinical elective for students who want hands-on exposure to tropical and infectious disease without committing to the full Diploma curriculum. The rotation counts toward SJSM elective requirements, appears on the academic transcript, and delivers the same supervised clinical and field experience in Suriname.
Learn about the Elective Rotation
Suriname offers something that simulated cases and US-based rotations cannot: a working clinical and public health system actively managing the diseases students need to understand. The country has internationally recognized programs in malaria elimination, HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious disease, and a patient population spanning Indigenous, Maroon, Hindustani, Javanese, Creole, and Chinese communities, which produces a breadth of clinical presentation rarely found in one place.
The training environment is English-friendly, supervised, and structured around direct engagement with Surinamese clinical and research institutions.
The course is delivered in partnership with Suriname’s principal tropical medicine, laboratory, and public health institutions, giving students access to clinical cases, diagnostics, and disease-control programs across a single coordinated network:
Few training settings anywhere give students hands-on exposure to clinical practice, laboratory diagnostics, and community-level disease control within one connected system.
The curriculum covers the core knowledge areas expected of an ASTMH-accredited diploma course in clinical tropical medicine:
Diagnosis and management of tropical disease, with supervised clinical experience and direct, level-appropriate patient contact.
Hands-on microscopy, pathogen identification, and diagnostic laboratory work in the institutions that run Suriname’s national diagnostic programs.
Malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, and other vector-borne and parasitic conditions studied where they are actively managed.
Travelers’ health, plus global and public health practice in resource-variable settings and real disease-control operations.
The Tropical Medicine Diploma Course is supported by experienced faculty in Suriname with expertise in internal medicine, infectious diseases, tropical medicine, maternal and child health, and public health leadership. Students benefit from direct instruction, supervision, and real-world clinical insight throughout the course.
$9,900
(lodging in Suriname included)
Students budget separately for:
Both the Diploma Course and the elective rotation are ideal for 3rd- and 4th-year medical students who:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SJSM Tropical Medicine Diploma Course accredited?
Does completing the course let me sit for the ASTMH CTropMed examination?
What is the difference between the Diploma Course and the elective rotation?
Who is eligible to apply?
Will this appear on my medical school transcript?
How much does the course cost?
What expenses are not included?
What diseases and conditions will I encounter?
Will I have direct patient contact?
Is Suriname safe for visiting medical students?
What laboratory training is included?
Are vaccinations or special health precautions required before traveling?
Will students receive orientation or pre-departure guidance?
Do students arrange their own travel and accommodations?
The SJSM Tropical Medicine Diploma Course offers a rare combination: an ASTMH-accredited credential, training in an authentic clinical setting, and instruction from physicians who lead tropical disease practice in the region. Whether you pursue the full Diploma or a focused elective rotation, you finish with clinical experience that distinguishes a residency application and a foundation for work in global and infectious disease medicine.
Learn more about the MD Program, our accreditation, or admissions requirements.
OPEN HOUSE
REGISTER NOW
