Travel medicine and travel clinics.

In response to the vast number of American travelers to the developing world, the discipline of Travel Medicine has become an emerging specialty. There are presently no formal Board or other requirements to practice Travel Medicine, but bona fide practitioners of this field, who also usually direct travel clinics, should at the least be well-trained and experienced in tropical medicine and medical aspects of travel, and have had considerable overseas work experience. The concept of travel medicine and the need for travel clinics operated by well-qualified physicians are discussed. The areas of involvement of travel clinics in protecting the health of the traveler are described.