Child Family Health International (CFHI) Bolivia: Pediatric Health
La Paz | Bolivia
Bolivia-002 | Print This Position Description
CFHI and IE3 Global Internships have partnered to offer a special 10-week program for students. Interns rotate through a variety of clinics throughout La Paz and the surrounding area. Focus on pediatrics, including adolescents. Intermediate Spanish level strongly recommended. Includes Spanish classes and homestays.
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 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. 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.
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.
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.
Students and interns will be together as a group for case discussions and lectures, but may be in pairs for rotations and hospital work.
# of Positions per term
4-6; 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 students with some prior experience and exposure in the health field. 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 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 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.
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 and 2 meals/day) |
| International Travel | $1400-$1600 |
| Visa Fees | $100 |
| Recommended Immunizations | $500-$700 |
*See Additional Cost Information below.
Estimated Monthly Expenses
| Expense Type | Price/month |
|---|---|
| Housing | included* |
| Food | $100 |
| Local Transportation | $50 |
| Recreation | $100 |
| Personal Expenses | $100 |
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 Bolivia.
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).
Previous intern powerpoint presentation: InternshipPresentationKatieRice.pdf
Previous Intern Reports:
Important Notes: To come to this area, interns must have Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B vaccines.
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).
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 childrenuntended 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.
Last Updated on Aug 11, 2008