About the Organization

Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a global family of committed professionals and students who work at the grassroots level to promote the health of the world community. CFHI does this through various means, including the following:

Community Initiatives: healthcare for underserved communities through local medical professionals and clinics Medical Supply Recovery: collection and distribution of salvaged medical supplies Global Service Learning: medical student programs that focus on cultural competency in the health setting

Since 1993, Child Family Health International has run international health electives for over 1500 pre-medical, medical and other students of the health profession. Students travel to India, Bolivia, Mexico, South Africa and Ecuador to immerse themselves in new cultural contexts and to learn about the way healthcare is practiced and experienced worldwide.

IE3 works in partnership with CFHI to provide superior programs to students studying pre-medicine, pre-nursing and other health-related fields.� The CFHI/IE3 combination program provides students with all of the benefits of IE3 program participation, as well as in-country support and guidance from CFHI.

Job Description

IE3 Global Internships and Child Family Health International (CFHI) together offer an internship that includes a 10 week program where students can explore a different culture and way of life while learning about the region’s healthcare system through clinical rotations, is truly a crossroads where different cultures and healthcare practices intersect. Oaxaca City, one of the most unique cities in Mexico, is steeped in history, tradition, and the influences of a vibrant indigenous culture. Students will be immersed in the region’s language and rich culture while learning about contemporary social issues facing the local population.

Interns will be in Oaxaca City (colonial city of approximately 500,000 inhabitants), living with a Mexican family. Their time will be divided between language classes, lectures, and clinical rotations. Spanish instruction will total 65 hours of instruction at the Becari Language School. The Spanish lessons will focus on medical Spanish as well in communication skills and grammar. The lectures will cover common tropical diseases like malaria, dengue, chagas, and parasites. The lectures and discussions will be conducted in Spanish, but all accompanying written materials will be in English. This way, interns will be able to comprehend Spanish lectures with the help of the written materials. Clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics in Oaxaca City and the surrounding area will enable the interns to practice their medical Spanish in clinical surroundings and be exposed to various elements of Oaxacan healthcare.

Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico, and many of its inhabitants, especially those of the large indigenous population in rural areas, have limited access to even rudimentary healthcare services. Students will assist local clinical practitioners in providing and improving the healthcare services that are desperately needed in this region. Participants will be exposed to various elements of Oaxacan healthcare: public and private, urban and rural. The student role is primarily to observe and learn, although some basic patient care may be part of the duties. Students and interns will be together as a group for case discussions and lectures, but may be in pairs for rotations and hospital work.

The population of Oaxaca, in both rural and urban areas, suffers from lack of adequate healthcare. Oaxaca has the highest maternal mortality and infant mortality rates in Mexico. It is estimated that 50% of the state’s population has no access to primary health care. The Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas together have the highest level of poverty and the highest percentage of indigenous population.

Their clinical supervisor, and medical director of this program is Dr. German Tenorio Vasconcelos. He specializes in gastro-surgery and Public Health. He is the director of La Clinica Carmen. He has served in various clinics and urban hospitals over the past 20 years. Dr. Tenorio speaks Spanish and English

Interns will also have the local coordinators, Martha Canseco Bennetts and Sandra Rivera Bennetts, who are the directors at the language school and will assist you with your language training and accommodation aspects of the program.

# of Positions per term

4 (spring & summer), 2 (fall), 6 (winter) ; apply early for summer

Start Dates

2010 start dates: January 2, March 27, July 3, October 2

Duration of Internship

10 Weeks

Academic Background

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

Skills/Experience

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

Language Ability

Some Spanish required (minimum completion of first year university level Spanish); the more the better. The program will provide Spanish language training and Medical Spanish.

Other Requirements

Cultural sensitivity and competency with respect to Mexican 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.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee for the first term of any internship is $2,750 - $2,950. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
Host Site Fees	$4100 (includes room, 2 meals/day)
International Travel	$500-$800
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	$500-$700

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	Included
Food	$100
Local Transportation	$50
Recreation	$75
Personal Expenses	$50

Compensation

None

Additional Expense Information

SPECIAL NOTE FOR JOINT IE₃AND 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.

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 (2 meals per day) for 10 weeks
• International health insurance
• Pre-departure orientation
• Airport pick-up
• In-country orientation
• Please note that program fees do not include local transportation to and from the clinics
• Weekly debriefing and on-site supervision

The combined IE3+CFHI program fee for 2010 programs is $6850 for Oregon University System in-state resident students and $7050 for all others. Note: The program fee does not include your airfare, local transportation, incidentals and recreation or any other estimated costs.

Monthly expenses, such as local travel, recreation, and incidentals, are approximately $200-$225 per month. Interns should also budget about $500-$700 for recommended immunizations for an extended stay in Mexico.

CFHI Scholarships

CFHI has partial scholarships for Fall and Spring term programs. See the CFHI website scholarship criteria page for complete details. For spring '09 scholarships, the deadline is November 15th, 2008 (NOTE: this is BEFORE the IE₃ application deadline - please apply early to IE₃ if you wish to be considered for a CFHI scholarship).

Oaxaca City is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. It is about 500 km south of Mexico City. The state and the city of Oaxaca have a large and diverse indigenous population with a rich culture of music and art. There is a significant route of migration from the state of Oaxaca to the Pacific Northwest of the US.

Important Notes: To come to this area, interns must have Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B vaccines.

Read a previous intern's final report:

Joel

Carson