Child Family Health International

Going into the program, I was unsure what to expect, but I'm glad I was able to experience it! I was able to learn about Bolivia's healthcare systems and improve my skills in Spanish. I realized that Bolivia has a healthcare structure that we in the U.S. should envy. I thought that I was pretty well educated and held little bias, but by learning more about Bolivia, I began to recognize all the ingrained biases that stemmed from the United States media.
I would love to participate in more programs like this whether they are Virtual or In-Person. Truly, it was a worthwhile experience!

Several years ago, I spent two years living in a rural village in the Dominican Republic as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Immersed in a different culture, language, and way of life vastly different from my privileged upbringing, I experienced immense personal growth and gained a perspective that informed my path in public health and medicine. Now in my 4th year of medical school, I had the opportunity to spend a month living in Tarija, Bolivia through Child Family Health International, rotating in clinics and hospitals, improving my Spanish language skills, and immersing once again in a vibrant culture and community. While these two experiences were different in many ways, what ultimately remains etched into my mind and my heart remains the same - the people I met and the relationships I built.

I lived in a 3 generation household consisting of my host mom, her son (host brother) , and her 6-year-old grandson. My host mom does it all. She works as a dentist, is the chef of the household (cooking not only for her family but also for her fiance and his daughter), attends to her plants, and keeps everything in order. The more time I spent with her, discussing everything from the weather to cooking to U.S. and Bolivian politics, the more it felt like a genuine friendship, similar to that which I have with my own mom. In addition, we realized that we both have a second stomach for sweets, which came in handy when we went to dinner and could back each other up on wanting to order dessert. It also made teaching her how to bake tres leches (my host brother’s favorite cake) a no-brainer. It lasted less than 2 days!

My host mom created the sturdy, comfortable envrionment that made me feel like I had a home away from home. She had a genuine curiosity to get to know me as well as teach me about the aspects of her life and Bolivian culture that she loves and appreciates. It was her delicious, traditional meals that kept me energized during my month there (well that and the coffee I enjoyed multiple times a day). Some of my favorite memories in Tarija were the times we spent in the kitchen/dining room, preparing food, eating together, or talking over tea and snacks. The previous student was right when she said that our host “is the best host mother!”

Then there was my host brother, who is around my age. When he’s not taking care of his son, working as a dentist, or taking online courses to become a professor, he runs with a local running club. During the first two weeks as I was preparing my residency application, we’d sit together at the living room table after dinner, doing our respective work. The companionship during this somewhat stressful time was unexpected and quite calming. More unexpected, however, was when he invited me to sing-up for a 5k race that he and his running club were participating in. I ran cross-coutry and track in college (over 10 years ago), and it had been a hot minute since I participated in any competition. But as soon as we arrived in the early morning, doing warm-up experciese together, I had the familiar nervous excitement that always comes with racing competitions. After the race was over (I came second in my age group with the prize of a botte of wine made in Tarija!), we joined the rest of the running club members for a celebratory brunch. The following week we ran in another, more low-key 5k, and afterward I chatted with some of the same running club members as the week prior. They tried unsuccessfuly to get me to join the triathlon the following week. Though brief, I felt I was part of this energetic and supportive community.

The day before leaving Tarija, my host brother brother messaged me: “You’re not leaving yet, and I’m already missing you 🥲.” This sentiment alone describes what I find most valuable about my experience: the ability to connect with people, to compartir (share) parts of your lives, even if briefly, in a way that leaves a positive mark.

I had the opportunity of participating in the CFHI Virtual Program for Ghana. Through this program, I gained much insight and exposure to what Ghana's healthcare system is like, as well as the societal, political, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to their identity as a country today. The nuances and intersections in much categories was insightful to learn about as well as their rich culture. I learned so much through the activities, modules, and discussions we had in groups with the program director. Overall, I learned to apply many skills and came out with so much learned about Ghana, its identity as a country, its people, and more. I was able to gain a better perspective and understanding of important health issues prevalent in many countries such as the AIDS/HIV epidemic along with numerous communicable and non-communicable diseases.

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.