Global Health in Ecuador

My two weeks with CFHI in Puyo, Ecuador, reshaped how I think about public health — not as an abstract concept, but as something lived daily by the communities I visited. As a physician, I came in with clinical knowledge, but I left with something harder to teach: a felt understanding of how geography, infrastructure, and culture shape access to care.

Spending time in indigenous communities around Puyo, I saw firsthand the distances people travel and the barriers they navigate just to reach a health post. I learned about local approaches to disease surveillance and prevention — vector control, community-based epidemiological monitoring, education campaigns — and how much of effective public health work happens outside the clinic, in trust-building, listening, and adapting to local realities rather than imposing external models.

What stayed with me most were the everyday moments: conversations with community health workers, the warmth of families who welcomed us into their routines, and the quiet realization of how much resilience it takes to sustain health and wellbeing in under-resourced settings. This experience was a turning point for me — it's part of what drew me toward epidemiology, and I'm now pursuing a Master of Science in the field, carrying the questions Puyo raised in me into my research.

I'm profoundly grateful to CFHI, to my local mentors, and to the Puyo community for an experience that changed the direction of my career.

My month with CFHI in Puyo, Ecuador was one of the most valuable experiences of my medical education. As a fourth-year student at UTMB with a strong interest in global health, I came into the program hoping to see medicine practiced in a different context — and it exceeded my expectations in almost every way.

Shadowing physicians at Hospital Shell gave me a completely new appreciation for outpatient care in a resource-limited setting, and my time at the Vectores clinic taught me more about public health and mosquito-borne illness control than I ever could have learned in a lecture hall. Visiting the San Virgilio community and learning about traditional medicinal plants was humbling in the best way, and reminded me that healing takes many forms beyond what I've been taught in medical school.

Living with my host family, especially Viviana, made Puyo feel like a second home. Their warmth, patience, and home-cooked meals turned this from a clinical rotation into a genuinely immersive cultural experience. I also loved having the freedom to explore Puyo on my own time — running through the city, trying new foods, and visiting the nature walk and river were highlights I'll remember for a long time.

This program strengthened my clinical skills, broadened my understanding of global health, and reaffirmed why I want to work with underserved populations in my future career. I'm incredibly grateful to CFHI and to everyone in Puyo who welcomed me so generously, and I'd recommend this program to any student looking for a meaningful, well-supported global health experience.

I had a great experience participating in Child Family Health International’s (CFHI) global health program in Ecuador. The program provided numerous opportunities to learn about the health care system in Ecuador. Over the course of the month, I was able to rotate through a private hospital, a non-governmental organization (NGO) hospital, and a public outpatient specialty hospital in the capital, Quito. I also spent a week in a community-based integrative medicine clinic in Otavalo, a small city north of Quito that serves as cultural hub for the Kichwa Otavalo people. The clinic focuses on blending indigenous Andean traditional and conventional medicine together. These experiences helped me appreciate barriers to healthcare and other socioeconomic disparities faced in the country. I also witnessed the resilience of Ecuadorian physicians, residents, nurses, and other critical clinical staff as they navigated limited resources to provide high-quality care to their patients and inspired me to continue to advocate for equitable, and culturally informed care wherever I practice.

My name is Sarah, I am a Registered Nurse from Canada. My experience in Puyo, Ecuador was truly life changing. I had the opportunity to gain a new family, new healthcare experiences, and to live in a place far away from home for a month. During my four weeks with CFHI I gained friends including other CFHI students, staff members of the facilities, and other tourists I met. Every part of the program felt smooth and they were extremely accommodating to whatever I needed. I loved the feel of Puyo. It was so easy to walk down the street and get an ice cream or go on a walk to get anywhere I needed to be in town. I spent my days learning about the benefits and challenges of many different aspects to community health and individual health, and my evenings and weekends doing spanish classes and spending time with my host family playing card games, going to the river to swim, going to different tourist attractions, and even basketball games of the oldest daughter of my host family. I truly felt like I had become part of the family and they did an amazing job always making me feel included, I never became homesick. A major goal of mine was to improve my spanish and that is exactly what had happened. At the beginning of my program I really struggled with speaking, and I was asking people to repeat themselves lots. By the end of the four weeks I was speaking with a lot more ease, having real conversations, and understanding people without asking them to repeat themselves as much. I had received many compliments from locals saying that I spoke very good Spanish for a foreigner! The rotations I got to experience had such a variety, from spending 2 nights in an Indigenous community in the jungle, to going to a private hospital and rural health centres and even walking around the city of Puyo collecting mosquito larvae to send them for tests on if they contained diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever, Malaria, and many others. I even got to work alongside a nurse from Puyo to make a presentation on Diabetic medications for their Diabetes support club. I truly could not have gotten a better, more immersive experience and I am so grateful for my host family and CFHI team.

As an incoming medical student, I applied to CFHI because of its commitment to ethical, community-based global health experiences—and I can honestly say the month I spent in Quito exceeded every expectation.

From day one, CFHI set the tone for a supportive, meaningful experience. The team connected us with a CFHI alum even before we arrived, who graciously met with us over Zoom and offered her number for any questions we might have. It created a sense of comfort and camaraderie early on, laying the foundation for friendships I now can’t imagine my experience without.

Our clinical rotations offered a dynamic mix of settings: public hospitals, private hospitals, community clinics, and even a space where we could observe traditional Ecuadorian healing practices. We rotated through various departments, such as family medicine, OBGYN, internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery, with some flexibility to tailor the experience based on our interests. Each day offered something new, and I learned not just by observing medicine, but by witnessing how care is shaped by culture, tradition, and resourcefulness.

The local CFHI team was outstanding: true educators and even better human beings. They led thoughtful orientations, checked in regularly, and eagerly organized weekend trips to help us explore more of Ecuador. When I fell sick, they personally reached out to make sure I had everything I might need. I was pushed out of my comfort zone more than once, yet I never felt alone. I knew I had a team, both local and international, looking out for me every step of the way.

One of the most grounding parts of my experience was my host family. My host mother welcomed not only me but also three other students into her home. Every evening, after a full day at the hospital or clinic, I came home to the comfort of a warm, traditional Ecuadorian meal, shared laughter, and a sense of belonging that made Quito feel like a second home.

I am deeply grateful to have received a scholarship from CFHI. This gift allowed me, and other recipients, to say yes to something that would’ve otherwise been out of reach. I carried that gratitude with me every day I was in Quito, and I will continue to let that sense of gratitude shape the way I hope to serve others.

Thank you to CFHI, the local team, my host family, and everyone who played a role in this journey. Importantly, I want to thank the patients, families, and community members who welcomed me into their homeland and lives. It was an incredible privilege to learn from each and every one of their stories. I have left Ecuador with a fuller heart, new friends, and a deeper sense of the kind of physician—and person—I want to become.

When I arrived in Ecuador, I was welcomed with warmth and hospitality. My host family made me feel at home, introducing me to local traditions, delicious food, and the fascinating world of vector control. Mornings began with fresh fruit and eggs, followed by hands-on learning about malaria and dengue prevention, including local remedies like Palo Santo and vitamin B for mosquito deterrence.

Most of my time in Ecuador was in Puyo. Here, life moved at a slower pace with mornings marked by the sound of chickens and steady jungle rain. I worked with the Vector Control team, gaining firsthand knowledge of mosquito species, insecticides, and field techniques. Visiting communities with standing water and high mosquito activity was eye-opening, showing me the direct impact of public health efforts. The generosity of the locals was striking; I was welcomed into homes, offered food, and even had the chance to taste fresh guava straight from the tree.

One of the most fascinating parts of my journey was discovering Ecuador’s rich natural medicine. At an ethnobotanical park, I learned about plants used for everything from wound healing to pain relief. A unique (and unexpected) experience was trying a traditional remedy for back pain: Ortiga. These stinging nettles were surprisingly effective.

At a local hospital, I observed a wide range of medical cases, from parasitic infections to chronic illnesses. My supervising physician was excellent—he took his time, listened deeply, and connected with patients on a level that went beyond medicine. His ability to integrate cultural and spiritual aspects into care left a lasting impression and reinforced my own passion for patient-centered medicine.

Another highlight was spending time in a remote Kichwa community. With no WiFi or modern distractions, life revolved around nature, family, and tradition. The children were eager to learn, and teaching them English became one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. I fully embraced the experience—bathing in the river, fishing with a machete, painting my face with natural dyes, and learning about traditional healing methods. Meals were fresh and simple, made from ingredients grown right in the backyard.

In my final days, I worked at a rural clinic and helped conduct medical visits in an isolated Shuar village. It was a humbling experience, reinforcing the importance of accessible healthcare in underserved areas. This journey wasn’t just about medical training—it was about cultural immersion, learning a new language, personal growth, and human connection. For anyone seeking an authentic and transformative experience, I can’t recommend this opportunity enough!

I had the best experience with CFHI in Quito, Ecuador. I received a scholarship to participate in this as a two week global health elective as a fourth year medical student. Without this scholarship I would not have been able to have this opportunity, so for that I am incredibly grateful.

I was provided information about CFHI and Ecuador prior to departure through modules and an orientation. I was paired with an alumni who I was able to chat with and she gave me the best advice from the student perspective. We ended up having very similar experiences. I visited my doctor a month prior to leaving on my trip so that I could be sure that I was up to date on my vaccines and recommended travel meds, which served me well since I didn't get sick while abroad!

CFHI did a great job communicating with me about my host mom and transportation to and from the airport. I really appreciated that someone was able to pick me up and drop me off at the airport, since taxis in Quito can sometimes take advantage of tourists. On my first day, my host mom walked me on the route to the school, which was also the way to get to the mall, the park and many of the restaurants in Quito. I always felt safe walking around the city, and it was fun living within walking distance of everything I could need! My host mom prepared breakfast and dinner, but I was able to choose my own meals out for lunch. I lived with one other student in my program and we became friends over the two weeks. We each had our own room and shared a bathroom in our home. It was nice to have a partner to do everything with!

I always had a driver who would take us to our hospital rotations. Some days after rotations and lunch, I would also have Spanish lessons for about two hours in the afternoons. My Spanish level was assessed on my first day in Quito so that I could work with an instructor at my level. Since I was only there for two weeks, I feel like I missed out on learning more Spanish at school. Most of my Spanish speaking practice was conversational in the hospitals, at home and around the city.

I enjoyed having hospital rotations at both the private and public hospitals in Quito. The private hospital was very slow since they had lower patient volumes, but the doctors and residents were super friendly and eager to teach and include us in rounds. It felt similar to my clinical rotations in medical school, except we didn't write notes or formally present patients. Most of my energy was spent trying to learn medicine in Spanish! The public hospital was a lot busier with more patients to see; however, didactic teaching time was non existent. I did get to perform physical exams and recheck blood pressures on patients in the family medicine clinic. Overall, as a fourth year medical student I feel like I was performing below my usual level of stimulation which was ok because I wanted to practice speaking more than medicine. In addition to rotations, we learned about Ecuador and the health system in lecture once a week with the doctor in charge of the program.

Ecuador is a beautiful country with incredibly warm and friendly people. I visited Cotopaxi, Banos, the equator line and the TeleferiQo in Quito in my free time. I enjoyed running at the park or going for walks in the neighborhood after school. The food was tasty, the fruits were fresh and the coffee was incredible. I loved learning about the traditional medicine culture and visiting the various markets around town. This experience was unforgettable and worth it! I think the medical rotations themselves are better suited for college or early med school stude

My experience with the global health program in Quito, Ecuador, was wonderful. Exploring maternal health and gender disparities in a foreign country was both challenging and rewarding. The program provided me with the unique opportunity to observe numerous births and C-sections, which significantly deepened my understanding of clinical practices and public health in a different cultural context.

One of the highlights was the chance to explore these critical issues independently while having a small, supportive team to lean on. This balance allowed me to gain valuable insights into the local health landscape while also feeling supported in my journey. My Spanish improved tremendously throughout the program (from knowing zero to knowing basic functioning spanish), which enhanced my ability to connect with patients and local healthcare professionals.

However, there were a few challenges. The weekend solo excursion time was limited, and there was little time for personal exploration during the week. Additionally, while the CFHI team did an excellent job vetting the homestay, my actual living situation was somewhat chaotic, and the unreliable WiFi made it difficult to stay connected.

Despite these challenges, I am incredibly thankful for the experience. For anyone seeking serious clinical experience in a supportive and affordable setting, I highly recommend the CFHI program. It offers an invaluable opportunity for hands-on learning at a better price point than many other study abroad programs.