More photos of this internship may be found here.
Rich in cultural heritage, Bolivia is known for its vibrant indigenous cultures, colorful festivals, and warm hospitality. Bolivia is one of few countries globally to implement a universal health coverage model and recognize traditional medicine as an integral part of its National Health System. CFHI offers two programs in Bolivia where participants learn from local health workers who engage daily with indigenous populations in low resource settings and explore the socioeconomic and cultural barriers to access health care.
In the urban city of La Paz, you will learn about pediatric, adolescent, and maternal health. Engage in observational rotations at pediatric clinics and hospitals in and around La Paz, including the largest children’s hospital in the country. Learn from local physicians, residents, medical students, and nurses in wards such as obstetrics, oncology, inpatient, infectious disease, nephrology, and disabilities.
The program in Tarija, located in southern Bolivia near the Argentine border, focuses on hospital medicine, primary care, public health outreach, Chagas disease prevention, and rural health efforts in surrounding communities. During this program, you will come to understand the cultural and socioeconomic barriers patients face in accessing healthcare services. Learn from health professionals and become immersed in Tarija’s healthcare system, engaging in observational rotations in community clinics, secondary and tertiary level hospitals, and a leading clinic for the treatment of Chagas Disease.
In both programs, you will take language classes to enhance your Spanish speaking skills and immerse yourself in Bolivian culture through cultural activities and living with local families. Visit here the most up-to-date details and full program information.
Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a United Nations–recognized nonprofit that offers immersive, community-based Global Health Education Programs for students and emerging professionals. CFHI’s unique model emphasizes reciprocal partnerships with local health professionals and organizations, encouraging participants to grow in their understanding of health, culture, and global citizenship. Programs are currently offered in 10 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mexico, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, and the Philippines).
As a CFHI participant, you will observe local healthcare delivery, learn from experienced medical and public health professionals, and explore key global health topics through clinical shadowing and public health activities. CFHI programs help students explore health in diverse settings, build real-world skills like cultural humility and communication, and strengthen their foundation for future academic and professional success.
Intern responsibilities will include learning and completing all assignments given by the local team, completing pre-departure training so as to maximize competency development during the program, participating in engaged observation and shadowing in clinical settings, and professionally engaging in available projects and operations in any available NGO settings aligned with best practices for global health engagement.
CFHI's programs are rooted in strong ethical principles. The organization offers first and foremost a global learning opportunity, where interns learn by shadowing and engaging in clinical and public health rotations with local experts. In line with our commitment to best practices in global health, clinical rotations and public health activities in CFHI are strictly observational. Participants join the local team as learners and observers in Bolivia.
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:
CFHI program fees cover comprehensive pre-departure training and support, including access to interactive learning modules, cultural preparation tools, and virtual orientation led by CFHI’s team. On-site inclusions are housing, two meals per day, clinical and public health placements with oversight and supervision by local professionals, Spanish classes (in Latin America), local transportation to program activities, 24/7 local support, and international emergency medical and evacuation insurance. Participants are responsible for round-trip airfare, a third daily meal, visa and vaccination fees (if applicable), and any personal or leisure activities outside of the program. Learn more about CFHI scholarship opportunities here.
* This amount includes CFHI partner discount for OSU students.
* No visa required for U.S. citizens
** Fees vary based on medical history and insurance coverage
*** Check with your university's Global Opportunities Office for their pricing
All housing is screened by CFHI Local Coordinators and follows CFHI’s health and safety guidelines. Participants in this program stay with carefully selected homestay families. Beds, bedding, and bathing towels are provided. Accommodation also includes 2 meals a day. In some cases, CFHI scholars share a house or a room in the same homestay with fellow program participants of the same gender.
All CFHI Latin America programs include Spanish language instruction as an integral part of the experience. Participants attend classes, practicing conversational and medical Spanish. These lessons support communication during the experience and deepen cultural understanding. For those looking to accelerate their language learning, an intensive Spanish option is available at most sites, offering additional hours of instruction.
“I’ve had the opportunity to travel abroad throughout my life, but my time with CHFI on a global health trip to Tarija, Bolivia stands out as one of the most rewarding experiences as a pediatric resident in training.
After arriving, I was warmly welcomed by the medical director and local coordinator, who provided a comprehensive orientation. My host family was also incredibly kind and hospitable. My host mother went above and beyond to ensure my comfort, even accommodating my dietary restrictions throughout my stay.
Once I began working in the hospital, I met weekly with the medical director, who connected me with local specialists in my areas of interest including pediatrics, pulmonology, and infectious disease. During my first week, I focused on the pediatric floor, where I had the unique opportunity of working with residents in the same field and year of training. Together, it was interesting to compare similarities and differences in our medical practices. In the following weeks, I worked one-on-one with a pulmonologist, learning about infectious diseases and teaching medical students how to read chest films that we taped up to windows each day.
In addition to my medical rotation, I attended Spanish classes every afternoon which were unlike any I’d taken before. These lessons combined classroom instruction with cultural immersion, as we visited local museums, cafés, and shops to practice Spanish in real-world settings. Despite having studied Spanish for seven years, I learned more during these lessons than ever before and even hope to continue them virtually.
During my time in the hospital, I encountered medical conditions I had previously studied in school but had not seen during residency. It was a valuable opportunity to observe how these conditions are managed in a different healthcare setting. At the end of my rotation, I delivered a presentation on respiratory diseases in Bolivia, which served as a meaningful culmination of my experience. This opportunity allowed me to deepen my understanding of respiratory disease management within a different cultural context while fully immersing myself in Bolivian culture.
My time in Tarija was an enriching experience that I will always treasure. My host family was truly amazing—and even after the trip, they continue to feel like a second family. I am also deeply grateful to the medical director and program coordinator, who thoughtfully tailored my clinical experience to align with my passions. I will always have close friends and lasting connections in Tarija, and I’m incredibly thankful to CHFI for making it all possible.” Natalie E., 2025
“My name is Owen Chandler, and I was a fourth year medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina when I traveled to La Paz, Bolivia with CFHI. I have always dreamed of working abroad as a pediatrician, and CHFI allowed me the chance to have my first experience in global health. This organization and its programs are incredible, and I highly recommend going on one of their trips. My homestay with a local Bolivian family was one of my biggest learning experiences. The local team did a phenomenal job of teaching us about the culture, healthcare system, view of healthcare, and the local jargon! I felt like I could not have had a better experience than I did--truly a 11/10 experience! Not only do I hope to work abroad one day, but I would love to return to La Paz to see all the friends I made both with medical staff and my host family.” Owen C, 2023.
Fall: April 15
Winter: September 15
Spring: November 15
Summer:
-See Qualifications and Requirements section