Global Health Experiential Education in India

Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a global health education nonprofit that partners with local communities and health systems in underserved regions to provide transformative clinical and public health experiences for aspiring health professionals. With a strong emphasis on ethical engagement, cultural humility, and sustainable development, CFHI offers immersive programs that expose participants to real-world healthcare challenges while supporting local providers and promoting global health equity. The CanSupport–Cancer program in New Delhi, India, is one such offering—focusing on palliative and cancer care in a resource-constrained setting. It offers students firsthand experience in home-based care, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the social determinants of health affecting vulnerable populations.

As a Medical Observer through CFHI’s CanSupport–Cancer program, I had the privilege of working alongside physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals providing end-of-life care to patients in their homes and local daycare centers. We served individuals facing advanced-stage cancer, HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and other serious conditions. I witnessed the importance of dignity, emotional support, and cultural sensitivity in palliative care, and developed a deeper understanding of pain management, family dynamics, and ethical decision-making. This experience not only strengthened my clinical observational skills but also taught me how to provide holistic, patient-centered support during life’s most vulnerable moments.

In addition to community-based care, I completed a one-month clinical observership at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, one of India’s leading private healthcare institutions. Under neurologists Dr. P.N. Renjen and Dr. Avinash, I observed diagnosis and treatment approaches for strokes, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s, gaining familiarity with neurological exams, neuroimaging, and acute care. I also rotated in pediatric cardiology with Dr. Reetesh Gupta, where I observed echocardiograms, EKG interpretation, and pediatric cardiac surgeries. These combined experiences gave me a holistic view of both public and private healthcare delivery in India and deepened my passion for compassionate, interdisciplinary, and culturally competent medical care.

Spending a month in New Delhi through CFHI’s Global Health Program was truly one of the most transformative experiences of my medical and public health journey. The program offered a rare blend of clinical exposure, public health education, and cultural immersion allowing me to grow both professionally and personally.

Through rotations with major hospitals and nonprofit organizations, I saw firsthand how healthcare is delivered in resource-limited settings with innovation, empathy, and deep community involvement. I was especially moved by the home-based palliative care model, where patients and families are cared for with dignity and compassion. I also engaged with programs addressing infectious diseases, substance use, and sanitation gaining a more nuanced understanding of social determinants of health and systems-level interventions.

Equally impactful were the cultural experiences that gave me insight into the rich history and diversity of India. In Delhi, I explored landmarks like Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, and the Lotus and Akshardham Temples. On weekends, I traveled to Jaipur to see the Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal, visited the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra, experienced spiritual serenity at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and found peace in Rishikesh with yoga and a traditional aarti ceremony on the Ganges River.

This program helped me become a more reflective, culturally sensitive future physician. It challenged me to think beyond clinical care and consider how public health, community context, and culture intersect in healing. I highly recommend CFHI to anyone passionate about global health, equity, and personal growth. The lessons and memories from India will stay with me for a lifetime.

My time with CFHI in New Delhi was truly transformative, both personally and professionally. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a supportive and enriching environment that allowed me to grow and learn in ways I had never imagined.

The CFHI program provided an exceptional range of clinical experiences. I had the chance to observe and participate in various medical practices, which enriched my understanding of healthcare delivery in a resource-constrained setting. The hands-on experience, coupled with insightful lectures, deepened my knowledge and skills.

The mentors and healthcare professionals involved in the program were outstanding. Their dedication to teaching and their willingness to share their expertise created a nurturing learning environment. They were always available to answer questions and provide guidance, which made the experience even more valuable.

CFHI’s program in New Delhi offered a profound cultural experience. Living in such a vibrant city allowed me to immerse myself in Indian culture, traditions, and daily life. This aspect of the program was incredibly enriching and helped me develop a broader perspective on global health issues.

The program is designed with a strong emphasis on community health. I appreciated how CFHI integrates community service into the experience, providing meaningful opportunities to engage with and contribute to local communities. This aspect of the program was particularly rewarding and highlighted the importance of giving back.

The CFHI team was exceptionally well-organized and supportive throughout my stay. From pre-departure preparations to on-the-ground support, everything was handled with professionalism and care. Any concerns or issues were addressed promptly, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Participating in the CFHI program in New Delhi was an incredibly enriching experience that I will cherish for years to come. It provided me with invaluable clinical exposure, cultural insights, and personal growth opportunities. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in gaining hands-on healthcare experience while making a meaningful impact in a global context.

Overall, I had a good experience with CFHI in India. My goals for the trip were to get out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a new culture, meet and interact with the community directly, directly observe healthcare and health practice in India, and to expand my cultural awareness and humility. I was able to accomplish all of these things. For four weeks we stayed with hosts families and we got to know them as well as the culture they belonged to. There were many opportunities to interact with the community whether it be visits to public health sites while in Delhi, visiting the various clinics, or day-to-day interactions we had as we navigated unfamiliar terrain. In the clinics, Hindi was spoken most of the time so we did not always know what was going on, which was a minor detriment. However, there were many moments where guidance and clarification was given by the preceptors, often times when we were confident enough to ask quickly between patients. Some preceptors were intentional about making sure we understood what was going on and answering questions before or after clinic or during planned pauses in the clinic. A few were too busy to do such things, which is understandable. The experience also allowed for enormous growth. There were many times that I had to question my assumptions, evaluate my own perceptions, and/or genuinely challenge my beliefs, which I think has resulted in me being much more open-minded than before. With the intricate belief systems in India and resulting integration in daily life, I was able to begin learning what it truly means to acknowledge that I am no expert in the culture of another, and should be curious and open to learning about it. This is something I think I will take with me as I continue in Global Health.

Choosing to participate in this program is easily one of the best decisions I made this year. I have always wanted to participate in the internship program without success so I was very excited when I was awarded the Susan Hershey Scholarship for this program. The program director did a great job of curating Public Health classes, virtual facility tours, and even Hindi language classes. Even though it was virtual, I felt like I was really in India learning about the public health system and some of the successful interventions. I had the privilege of interacting with some of the NGO managers and getting their insight on solving their public health challenges. I also learned about cultural adaptability and found the global health lectures very informative. This experience was very enlightening and rewarding. I look forward to sharing my learnings and experiences with my colleagues.

I can confidently say that I am glad that I made the decision to travel to Mumbai, India through the CFHI Infectious Diseases Program in 2005. I went on this eye-opening trip in as a Public Health student and realized that I had so much to be thankful and grateful for. I understood that we were lucky in the United States and in some developed countries when it comes to having the capability and capacity to eradicate some infectious diseases such as Leprosy.
I had learned about Leprosy from my science classes and seen images of the devastation and incapacitating nature of the disease, but it is nothing compared to actually seeing it in reality. CFHI has made it an effort to provide the opportunity for access and information about global health to health professionals, nursing students, medical students and public health students. CFHI have been able to carry this role out because they constantly strive to maintain relationships with all their host countries institutions, and families. Access to health information and awareness of health maintenance is a fundamental human right. CFHI has a solid stance on that so it is not surprising to see CFHI at the top of the Great Nonprofits.
I also hope to someday join CFHI in bringing awareness to the global fight against Addiction and Mental Health issues.
I will end with Gro Brundtland’s words, “There can be no real growth without healthy populations. No sustainable development without tackling disease and malnutrition. No international security without assisting crisis-ridden countries. And no hope for the spread of freedom, democracy and human dignity unless we treat health as a basic human right.”

I chose this program in India and participated for 4 weeks during my summer semester of college in 2016 because I am interested in obstetrics and gynecology as well as, the challenges expecting mothers face in the developing world. Apart from that, I also love the vibrant and colorful culture of India. This program was worth the time and money because I got to shadow and interact with physicians from both departments of pediatrics and obstetrics/ gynecology as well as, primary care physicians from rural villages. This experience allows me to have a better idea of what I want to pursue and how I want to contribute to women healthcare. I highly recommend to anyone who's interested in working in the healthcare sector. Also, I would totally encourage others to go because it’s not only an opportunity to learn more about global health but also, to learn more about different cultures and forge everlasting friendships.

I completed a 4-week experience with CFHI during the summer of 2016. The Intro to Traditional Medicine experience in India was one of the most formative experiences I have had in medical school. I shadowed practitioners in reiki, naturopathy, allopathic medicine, and ayurveda. I also attended one-on-one teaching sessions with a 104 year old genius of a man. The organization is very supportive, easy to work with, and flexible. The experience was pivotal to my understanding of healthcare systems, rural medicine, and cultural awareness. The rotation was very useful to my medical career and presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel in India and southeast Asia. There was a good balance of education, culture, language skills, and travel. I enjoyed the experience so much that I will doing another rotation with CFHI this summer.