Interhealth

South America

Study and Service Program in Ecuador For Medical Students and Resident Physicians

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Current Schedule

First Year Medical Students:

  • June 24 - July 21, 2012

Fourth Year Medical Students and Residents:

  • February 3 - March 2, 2013

Study Program

The Interhealth South America study and service program is an integrated onsite introduction to Ecuadorian and South American primary, community, and public health and healthcare for North American medical students and resident physicians.  In addition, emphasis is placed on medical Spanish language acquisition, with practical skills development in patient interviewing and examination in Spanish.  The principal format of the program provides structured group and individual field experiences in international health, coordinated with medical language immersion study.

Program Objectives

The program introduces participants to key principles in the practice of medicine and service beyond North America, and provides a framework for current and future individual clinic and other health care experiences. The course location in Ecuador allows opportunities for interactions and work with local practitioners serving at-risk populations in a variety of natural environments. Supplementary seminars bridge ideas and potential applications for domestic health care, in addition to work overseas. Immersion language training, and patient interviewing, examination, and diagnosing in Spanish provided throughout the time of the program are as well of considerable clinical utility at home.

Principal Program Elements

* Participation in individualized clinic and hospital activities

* Group health brigades in urban and rural underserved communities

* Seminar and participatory introduction to problems of healthcare provision in South America

* Observation of local practitioners’ work in primary and community health programs

*  Participation in local indigenous health activities

* Tours of Andes Mountains and Amazon River basin rainforest sites demonstrating a variety of natural and human-created environments

* Basic/intermediate level medical Spanish language instruction

* Introduction to patient interviewing and examination techniques in Spanish

*  Family Homestay for a portion of the program

 

A Brief Note On Applying to the Program

Because emphasis is placed on group-oriented and service processes with significant interaction among those taking part, director Don Wedemeyer is attentive that all aspects of the program will meet goals and objectives of individual participants. For this reason he discusses program details in depth by telephone with each prospective applicant.

For Further Information:

Interhealth South America

 Don Wedemeyer, MD

30404 Holly Drive USF, Tampa, FL 33620

 813-425-2096

 dwedemeyer@pol.net

 www.InterhealthSouthAmerica.net