MEDICAL PROGRAM
Amazing Andes Spanish School works as a partner with Child Family Health International, a California non-profit organization (“CFHI”) that builds and strengthens sustainable health care services in underserved communities worldwide by providing pre-medical, medical, and health science students with opportunities for service-learning through its global health immersion programs in India, South Africa, Ecuador, Mexico and Bolivia.
We provide services and logistical support related to CFHI’s global health education programs to enhance the learning experience combined with second-language skills acquisition through Spanish classes. Students will spend four hours in clinical rotations and four hours in Spanish classes daily (Monday to Friday). The class schedule depends on the work hours of the clinics and hospitals. Your experience will be heightened tremendously if you can understand what the professionals and Ecuadorian people are telling you, and for this reason Spanish classes quickly become a very important part of the program. Ecuadorian family home-stays will also leave participants with invaluable life skills that will stay with them forever.
This program is for students who are more than 20 years old and have finished high-school. It offers a unique opportunity for those who wish to pursue a career in the medical field. Through clinical placements, students are able to observe the medical field in a unique setting, allowing them to decide on their future career path. Also, for those who are finished with their medical degree and practicing, this program allows them to experience and possibly assist with medical practice in a developing country. The program is open every month of the year.
ROTATION DETAILS
Students will work with an instructor in each clinic or hospital as they attend patients. The most common specialties are general medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and traumatology. Depending on the student’s education level, clinical experience and language ability, they may be able to help by simply observing, educating patients in the waiting room, organizing turns, or assist in surgeries. In no case will students have sole responsibility of patients. The instructor will always be with the student, and is responsible for each patient.
The following is a list of what the students/volunteers can do:
Public hospitals
The public health system in Ecuador has been in place for over a century. Today, public hospitals have specialties in areas such as emergency, pediatrics, gynecology, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, urology, intensive therapy, internal medicine, cardiology, triage, neurosurgery, and general surgery. They have all the necessary equipment: a pharmacy, x-rays, laboratories, endoscopies, and electrocardiograms. Hospitals are open 24 hours a day.
CENTROS DE SALUD (Health Centres)
These small clinics are located in different areas of Quito. They are for lower to middle class families. The centers offer basic ambulance services, family practice, pediatrics, and a teaching clinic for pre-medical students and residents.
PUYO PROGRAM
During a 4-week program, students spend 2 weeks in Quito working in two different clinics and 2 weeks in and around the jungle city of Puyo. This structure allows students to experience both urban and rural health care. In Puyo, students will travel with doctors as they visit various communities surrounding the city. Students can also choose to spend the last two weeks rotating in the hospitals of Puyo. Clinical shifts typically run between 4pm-6pm daily. Generally, students spend 2-4 days in each clinic or hospital. Each student will have a secure home-stay family in Puyo.
For more information contact CHILD FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL- www.cfhi.org
