Internship Description

About the Organization:
“CFHI provides life-changing experiences for all students who are passionate about global health and medicine.”

IE3 Global Internships and Child Family Health International (CFHI) together offer an internship in La Paz, Bolivia focusing on Pediatric Health. The Pediatric Health program offers a holistic learning experience, which includes unique clinical rotations serving children and families, medical and conversational Spanish classes, and a home stay with a local family in La Paz.

Today La Paz is a vibrant city, growing and expanding in all directions. Although vibrant and growing, the city is rife with poverty, malnutrition, and poor sanitation. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and is home to a large population of children without access to adequate healthcare. Many of them are street and working children—untended children and adolescents who struggle to survive on the streets as well as children of desperately poor families in which all members must contribute to meet basic survival needs.

Students will be immersed in the region’s language and culture while participating in La Paz’s healthcare system. Although students will be working with children for the most part, they will have the opportunity to see or participate in public health work addressing other aspects of poverty as well.

Bolivia is a land-locked country bordering Brazil, Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. La Paz is the capital with a population of just over a million people. La Paz lies between two geographical regions, the Altiplano, the high mountain ranges of the west, and Las Yungas, a region of mid-elevation valleys. Bolivia is one of the poorest and underdeveloped countries in Latin America. Seasons in Bolivia are opposite those of the north, and the average temperature in La Paz is 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18C).

Local Activities:
Interns will be in La Paz, living with a Bolivian family. Their time will be divided between language classes, lectures, and clinical rotations. The language school is responsible for arranging all host families and offering 60 hours of language classes. The program includes basic grammar and conversational Spanish, and Medical Spanish interviewing skills. Some classes may be taught in small groups, and others individually.

The language school also provides coordination for other activities such as salsa dancing classes, cooking classes, and tours of the city and important landmarks. Activities of this nature are not included as a part of the program fee. They may be available to arrange weekend trips for the students if there are enough interested, and are always available to give suggestions and guidance for things to do and see.

Dra. Cecilia Uribe de Chavez is the medical director for the Pediatric Health program in La Paz. Dra. Uribe is a Pediatrician, working in the Medical Cabinet of the Bolivian Air Force. She is currently the Secretary General of the Committee of Adolescents for the Bolivian Society of Pediatrics. Dra. Uribe is responsible for coordinating all clinical rotations and lectures for program participants.

The Executive Branch of the Centro Boliviano Americano is where your Spanish classes and weekly meetings are held. The person who will be in direct contact with participants on-site is the Supervisor of the Executive Branch, Mr. Gonzalo Claure; he will organize all academic and extra curricular activities that are requested.
Important Notes:
To come to this area, interns must have Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B vaccines.

Students and interns will be together as a group for case discussions and lectures, but may be in pairs for rotations and hospital work.


Job Description:
Students on this internship program will observe healthcare in a variety of setttings. The student role is primarily to observe and learn, although some basic patient care may be part of the duties.

Additional Information:
To read previous interns final reports, click: Jessica, Tim, Linh, Jacob.

For more information on CFHI and their offerings visit http://www.cfhi.org
For a description of the Pediatric Health program
"I had such a life-changing experience in La Paz, Bolivia, and the program exceeded all my expectations. I loved how structured and organized the program was, and that our days were filled with meaningful experiences, ranging from hospital rotations in the mornings to medical lectures in the evenings. Gonzalo was an amazing local program director, and he was always there to assist us with anything we needed. All the information he sent to us via email before the program started was truly helpful. Cecilia, our local medical director, was one of the most inspiring individuals I have ever met, and she ensured that all of our medical experiences were as fulfilling as possible....This CFHI experience has definitely strengthened my passion for global health and delivery of health care to the underserved. Before my experiences in Bolivia, I always envisioned directing my efforts towards third world countries in Asia and Africa, but now I realize how dire the situation in South America is as well, and I definitely volunteer there in the future when I become a physician.”
- Sonya Soni, June 2007, Bolivian Pediatric program.

Start Date:

Fall 2008: Sept 27th- Dec 6th

Winter 2009: Jan 3 - March 14
Spring 2009: Apr 4 - June 13
Summer 2009: July 4 - Sept 12 (apply early)
Fall 2009: Oct 3 - Dec 12

Summer is a particularly popular time, please submit all applications materials before the deadline (including on-campus interview).

Duration:
10 weeks

Number of Positions:
6 positions per term in fall or winter; 4 positions per term in spring or summer; APPLY EARLY FOR SUMMER

Intern Qualifications

Academic Background:
Pre-med or pre-dental students with some prior experience and exposure in the health field (i.e. shadowing a physician; working as a CNA, volunteering in a hospital or clinic). Master's in Public Health students. Nursing students.

Skills/Experience:
Advanced First Aid and/or Nursing Assistant training are very helpful. Prior international studies and travel also recommended.

Language Requirement:
Some Spanish required (a minimum of one full year of university level Spanish), and the more the better, but part of the program will provide Spanish language training for interns who need additional language skills.

Other Requirements:
Cultural sensitivity and competency with respect to Bolivian society and culture are necessary. Applicants must normally be over 21 at the time of their internship. The IE3 Regional Director may recommend candidates under 21 who clearly demonstrate a high degree of cross-cultural competency and personal maturity. In every case, though, CFHI reserves the right to make the final determination.

Internship Costs

Program Fees:
The program fee includes tuition, internship site development and placement, pre-departure orientation, international health insurance, internship monitoring and follow-up.
Click here for application information, including the program fee, for your school.
Note: The program fee does not include airfare, housing, living expenses or any other estimated costs noted below.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR JOINT IE3 AND CFHI PROGRAMS:
CFHI internships have a special combined program fee that represents a discount on the normal IE3 and CFHI fees.
Go to the IE3 website for application information, including the IE3 program fee for your school. (See link in preceding paragraph and below under Application Information).

The combined program fee includes the cost of items listed below:

Academic credit on your home campus
Internship placement
Initial Spanish training, if needed
Room and board for 10 weeks
International health insurance
Pre-departure orientation
Airport pick-up
In-country orientation
Local transportation to and from the clinics
Weekly debriefing and on-site supervision

The combined IE3+CFHI program fee for 2009 programs is $6650 for Oregon University System in-state resident students and $6850 for all others.

Note: The program fee does not include your airfare, local transportation, incidentals and recreation or any other estimated costs noted below.

Note:
Any financial or in-kind support provided by the host organization is explicitly indicated.

Compensation:
None.

Accommodation:
Homestays will be arranged in La Paz and the cost is included in the combined program fee. Remember that there may be other interns or students on the program sharing facilities and rotation sites.

International Travel:
Approximately $1400-$1600 for a RT plane ticket to La Paz.

Cost of Living:
Monthly expenses, such as local travel, recreation, and incidentals, are approximately $200-$225 per month. Interns should also budget up to $500 for recommended immunizations for an extended stay in Bolivia. These out of pocket expenses are not included in the program fee. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ for the list of recommended vaccinations. A Yellow Fever vaccination is required to obtain a visa. Students are required to obtain a visa to enter Bolivia. The current cost of a visa is $100 USD.

Budget Note:
Applicants should use these estimates for preliminary budgeting purposes.
IE3 will issue an official budget after acceptance by the host organization.

Application Information

Academic Credit:
Up to 12 credits available as per arrangement with supervising department.

Application Materials:
IE3 is a program of the Oregon University System.
Students from participating partner universities are also eligible to apply.
Click here for application information and select your school from the list.

Created/Revised:7/17/08