Internships Details

About the Organization

Founded in 1992 by Dr. Evaleen Jones, Child Family Health International offers educational and community health programs at 20+ sites in 5 countries. To date, their programs have 5000+ alumni from 35 countries.

The “Sonrie Ecuador Clinics” provide dental care and promote oral health in Quito and its surrounding neighborhoods. The clinics have been operating for over twelve years and continually strive to better the services offered to their patients give attention to the dental health. In general, the main dental problem seen by Ecuadorian dentists is cavities. Ecuadorians are considered to be concerned about their dental health, although adequate oral hygiene is not, in reality, reported amongst the majority of the population. Read more at http://www.cfhi.org/web/index.php/program/show/id/315.

Job Description

The program intends to build and strengthen the skills of participants through an exchange of information, ideas, and practical knowledge of those involved in oral health. This unique program provides an opportunity for those interested in or already involved in the dental field. The principal component of the program is the clinical placement. Students will be able to actively participate in a variety of dental procedures while gaining valuable language skills in their Spanish classes. This incredible cultural experience, combined with an Ecuadorian family home-stay, will also leave participants with invaluable life skills. Participants will have an opportunity to observe and engage in the delivery of dental care in Ecuador, while providing the chance to develop one’s personal motivations and desired criteria for community service experiences.

CFHI programs offer participants the opportunity to learn more about health issues that transcend national borders, class, ethnicity, and cultural divisions. By participating in CFHI's global health education you will gain a unique insight into healthcare systems of developing countries and increase your cultural competency. Increasing one's awareness of other cultures (cultural competency) is becoming increasingly relevant for healthcare professionals as industrialized countries become more ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse.

# of Positions per term

2

Start Dates

Winter 2011: January 8- March 19; Spring 2011: March 26- June 4; Summer 2011:July 2-September 10; Fall 2011: October 1-December 10; dates and fees for 2012 will be announced in August 2011

Duration of Internship

10 weeks

Qualifications

Academic Background

Dental students with some prior experience and exposure in the health field (i.e. working as a CNA, volunteering at a hospital or clinic, shadowing a physician). Master's in Public Health students. Nursing students. Dentistry.

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 Ecuadorian society and culture are necessary. Applicants must normally be at least 20 at the time of their internship. The IE3 Regional Director may recommend candidates under 20 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

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.
ALL ESTIMATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IE₃ Program Fee

The IE₃ program fee is $3450 for the first term for both in-state and out-of-state students and $1000 for each additional term, regardless of credit earned. You do not pay tuition for the term(s) you are abroad. 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	$4850 (includes room, 2 meals/day)
International Travel	$1100-$1300
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	$50
Personal Expenses	$75

Compensation

None

Additional Expense Information

The host site fee from CFHI includes:
•Room and board for 10 weeks (homestay and breakfast/dinner with host family)
•Airport pick-up
•In-country orientation
•Weekly meetings with Medical Director and Local Coordinator
•Clinical rotations
•Use of a mobile phone
•Local transportation to and from the clinics from a central location (public transportation costs to the central location from the homestay are the responsibility of the intern)

Additional Information

Quito is the capital of Ecuador with a population of about a million people. It stretches lengthwise between two mountain ranges. It is nestled among incredible volcanoes and impressive peaks at an elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level. The climate is spring like with warm days and cool nights. Like most cities, this is a live urban center with dancing, dining, historical sites, shopping and museums.

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ for the list of recommended vaccinations. These out of pocket expenses are not included in the program fee.

See additional information at CFHI's webpage http://www.cfhi.org/web/index.php/program/show/id/315.