More photos from this internship can be found here
Experience the university town of Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina, while rotating in several clinics and hospitals where you will witness government efforts to provide universal health coverage to the Argentinian population.
Located in the southern cone of South America, Argentina is the second largest country in the region and is famous for its European-inspired cities, tourist sites and gastronomy. In 2001 Argentina experienced the worst economic collapse of its history, yet since then, the country has been on a path to economic growth and social inclusion.
Over the last several years, there has been a concerted effort to provide universal health coverage to the entire population through a decentralized network of primary and secondary clinics and hospitals, several of which interns may observe firsthand.
Interns will complete rotations in a variety of facilities throughout the city and surrounding area. Examples of possible clinical rotations may include: pediatrics, ophthalmology, dentistry, psychology, cardiology, internal medicine, speech therapy, neurology, surgery, public health outreach and education campaigns, social services, and more.
This program includes 75 hours of Spanish language classes.
Interns are provided with opportunities to learn about global health while imbedded in the existing health systems and social services sectors alongside local community members and champions. This internship seeks to develop students’ broad-based understanding of the interplays between disease processes, social circumstances, poverty, resiliency, geopolitical realities, historical contexts, culture, and the complexities of health and wellness. Our partner company’s expertise is in “preserving the authenticity of the community’s expertise and presenting ‘real-life’ global health, while nesting programs in gold-standard educational pedagogies and safety standards”.
Thousands of students and medical professionals have taken part in their unique programs, which foster reciprocal partnerships and empowerment in local communities. Internships are open to all students with an interest in health in an international context and is especially ideal for pre-med, pre-nursing, public health, and global health students.
Our partner company in Argentina is a global health ethics leader; as such, their programs uphold strict standards and comply with all local laws. This program is not an episodic volunteer experience, and is not designed to provide service to those who would otherwise not have healthcare. Therefore, the internship experience will be predominantly observational and interns should be aware that they are not to be providing direct healthcare to patients. The learning objectives for this internship, as outlined by our partner company, are:
This program in Cordoba provides interns the opportunity to further develop their Spanish language skills while rotating alongside primary healthcare providers and hospitalists. A huge shift in public health policy in Argentina during the last 10 years has meant more funds have been designated towards the public healthcare system, resulting in the increase of access, services and quality. On this program, students can experience:
Hospital Medicine: Interns will experience a wide-range of specialties within clinic and hospital settings. Rotations sites may include some of the oldest and most renowned teaching hospitals in Latin America, such as the premier infectious disease hospital, a public pediatric hospital and the main trauma center in the area. Examples of possible rotations may include: infectious disease, HIV/AIDS, surgical care, oncology, dermatology, pediatrics and psychology, emergency medicine, and more.
Nursing: Interns may also choose to participate in rotations with nurses to gain insight into the nursing profession in Argentina.
Public Health: Additionally, interns can opt to spend time at the various hospitals’ Social Services Departments, which run education and outreach programs from the federal and state Ministry of Health, such as monthly diabetes education groups, a free diabetes medication program, sexual health education, and healthy eating campaigns.
Activities and Tasks: This is an observation-based experience (see “About the Organization”). Much of interns’ time will be spent shadowing physicians and healthcare providers as they work with patients during routine exams, taking medical histories, and performing procedures and surgeries. Interns will observe patient-physician interactions, and may assist with note-taking as their language skills allow. They may also be asked to assist with fetching and preparing supplies, and may participate in community outreach initiatives. As time and circumstances permit, interns may have the opportunity to ask questions of medical providers and patients.
NOTE: All rotations are subject to change depending on availability and local conditions.
Spanish classes: 75 hours of Spanish language classes are built into this program, and are provided by a local language school. Class sizes vary depending on the number of participants and their language proficiency levels, and are generally conducted in small groups.
Budgeting Note: Estimated costs are based on typical internship-related costs and a modest standard of living. Each intern’s costs will vary based on lifestyle choices (eating out vs. cooking or eating provided meals, taking taxis vs. walking or taking the bus) and recreational spending (travelling on days off, expensive hobbies, etc.).
The Host Site Fees include:
* No visa required for U.S. citizens
** Fees vary based on medical history and insurance coverage
Interns stay with homestay families located in the downtown area in middle class neighborhoods. Most homestays are in high-rise apartments, a common feature of urban living in Argentina. Homestay families are located near one another, close to a variety of shopping and entertainment districts, and with convenient access to public transportation. Interns may be placed in a homestay with other participants and may share a room. Accommodations include 2 meals per day.
Homestays placements may be with Argentinian university students, couples with young children, working professionals or retirees.
Interns are responsible for their own transportation in the city. Advice and tips on travelling locally will be provided at the welcome orientation.
Check out pictures from this internship.
Summer: January 25
Fall: April 15
Winter: September 1
Spring: November 15
-See Qualifications & Requirements section