A month in Ecuador

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.