Global Health in Quito, Ecuador

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.

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 (asking my homestay, cfhi team, and spanish teacher questions). 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 just a few greetings to knowing how to function alone in a market), which enhanced my ability to connect with patients and local healthcare professionals. However, there were a few challenges. The weekend excursions werent built into the program and time was limited, also leaving little time for personal exploration during the week due to clinic and spanish class. Additionally, while the CFHI team did an excellent job vetting the homestay, my actual living situation was somewhat chaotic (randomly chaotic though it isn't common in CFHI), 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.

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I’m a fourth-year medical student who participated in the Global Health in Quito, Ecuador program through CFHI. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning more about the unique Ecuadorian healthcare system, practicing Spanish with host families, patients, and other healthcare workers, and exploring Quito, surrounding cities, and the Galapagos! I spent three weeks in Quito and 1 week in Otavalo at many different clinical sites including OBGYN clinic and wards, the OR, the pediatric ED, and primary care clinics. I spent many hours practicing speaking with Spanish and building my physical exam skills. I was able to really explore what makes the Ecuadorian healthcare system so unique and get an understanding of how it operates. Throughout my month, I participated in many home visits for patients that couldn’t make it to the clinic, which allowed me to see more of the country and the people of Ecuador. My host family was amazing. They made me feel very welcomed and treated me as a part of their family. We only spoke in Spanish so that I could be fully immersed and continue to improve my Spanish. They made sure I had everything I needed and gave me wonderful advice on fun things to do in the city and surrounding areas on my free afternoons and weekends. My daily Spanish classes were very helpful and focused on getting a solid foundation in medical Spanish to make my time in clinic easier. The afternoon excursions through the school allowed me even more time to learn about Ecuadorian history and culture and practice Spanish in a real-life setting. After my program ended, I went to the Galapagos Islands where I saw thousands of animals and saw firsthand many of the things I had learned as an undergraduate Biology major – including visiting museums focused on the discoveries of Charles Darwin!

My internship experience with CFHI was one that has found a permanent home in my heart. I have nothing to share but endless praises! From weeks before my departure until the moment I landed back home, my experience with the program and staff left me feeling safe and prepared for the entire duration of my journey. Pre-departure, the staff remained kind, accommodating, and responsive. I had the pleasure of corresponding with Madelene for most of my pre-departure experience, and she was so kind and responsive! Even to the point of helping me navigate scholarship options (and I am grateful to call myself a recipient of the CFHI AMSA Scholarship, which helped me fund this experience). My stay was very smooth: transportation was well-organized, regarding a secure pick-up to and from the airport as well as safe transportation to and from our clinical sites. My homestay experience was a blessing, and was incredibly immersive. Mama María (my host mom) only spoke Spanish, which added so much to my growth during my stay. She was loving and accommodating, and I felt that I found a real temporary home while I was there. My experience with my clinical rotations was unforgettable. I indicated interest in OB/GYN, Family Medicine, and Traditional Medicine, and was able to experience each of those so beautifully. With OB, I was able to learn from not only my preceptor, but also from the nurses, anesthesiologists, and other medical students on his team. I spent a lot of time in the operation room (my first time in an OR ever!), and was able to observe hysterectomies, laparoscopic surgeries, births, and so much more! With Family Medicine, because I am a medical student I was able to practice taking vitals (which the doctor triaged beforehand), listen to lung and heart sounds, and witness how Ecuadorian physicians apply different skills that I have been gently exposed to through my clinical studies. My preceptor was patient, and such an excellent teacher. My traditional medicine rotation was life-changing. I accompanied a doctor to home visits, and observed curanderas and parteras as they conducted limpiezas con huevos and other treatments with pregnant patients. It was beautiful to see how integrated and respected traditional medicine is within the Ecuadorian healthcare system. The learning curve with my conversational and medical Spanish during my rotations was very steep, and I was both impressed and humbled to see how much my listening and comprehension improved over the course of the four weeks. My Spanish classes with LatinoSchools were a good balance of pushing us out of our comfort zone to speak and practice, while maintaining an atmosphere comfortable enough for us to want to challenge ourselves. Sra. Antonella will always have a place in my heart! Te amo mucho! The weekends were ours to enjoy, so I had the opportunity to explore so much more than I anticipated throughout Ecuador. I hiked volcanos, visited waterfalls and thermal baths, went tubing and ziplining in the rainforest – the school helped us navigate how to book our transportation and adventures securely. I am still in awe! Everything about my CFHI experience in Ecuador was such a beautiful teacher. I will carry so much of this with me as a medical student and aspiring physician. I am eternally grateful for the experience, and for the scholarship that allowed me the opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, CFHI!

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I decided to study abroad during my 4th year of medical school in order to practice my medical Spanish and learn about healthcare in a developing country. My medical school advisor suggested CFHI. While reading the description of each program, I was particularly drawn to the Quito, Ecuador program because they offered rotations in Obstetrics and Gynecology (my future specialty) as well as Indigenous, ancestral medicine (which has contributed significantly to modern medicine). I was also granted the CFHI Loeliger 4th year International Elective Scholarship, without which, this incredible experience would not have been possible. Throughout the program, I was impressed by the thoroughness and organization. The program organized drivers to pick us up from the airport when we arrived and the same drivers also picked us up from the school to take us to the hospital each day. The drivers themselves were incredible! They spoke slowly, clearly, and were incredibly patient, so they functioned as great impromptu teachers. They taught us about the local culture (plata y placa driving system based on license plates, education system, growing pains of the Metro, etc) and gave us great suggestions for where to go on our weekend trips. CFHI did a great job choosing a host family. I also really appreciated that I was placed with two other American medical students who were also participating in the program. Because there were three of us, it made it feel safer to walk around and explore the city and it was easier to make plans for the afternoons and weekends. They were built-in travel buddies, and it was perfect! Our host mom was incredibly welcoming and experienced in hosting students. She spoke slowly enough so that we could converse and understand her Spanish. She had previously worked in the tourism business, so she knew all of the good places to go and gave us recommendations for what to do and how to get there, etc. Her food was also absolutely amazing! She introduced us to so many Ecuadorian dishes. When we left for weekend trips, she also packed us breakfasts for the road which was super sweet of her. CFHI also did an impeccable job choosing hospitals and doctors to work with. I learned so much from all the doctors, medical students, and medical staff. Dr. Cadena in the ER was very patient and helped us practice taking patient histories in Spanish. Working with Dr. Jacome in Family Medicine was an incredible experience even though I'm not going into family medicine; she's a great teacher and the patients love her. Dr. Carrera, in the ObGyn clinic, was also very patient and an excellent teacher. It was great to learn more Obstetric and Gynecology vocabulary in Spanish and learn about some of the cultural differences in the field. We discussed the similarities and differences in our healthcare systems. She told me about the frustrations regarding medication shortages and the months-long wait to get an appointment (similar to the US). At the Jambi Huasi clinic in Otavalo, we observed the interactions between Western and Indigenous medicine practices. Jambi Huasi means Health House in Quichua, the native language. We had the privilege of watching one of the indigenous parteras (mid-wives), Mama Michi, perform "La limpia con cuy" (direct translation: the cleaning with a guinea pig). It was a unique opportunity to witness this centuries old tradition (the earliest references are around the 1500s) and how the indigenous use guinea pigs as both a diagnostic tool and treatment. We also did some house calls for the people who couldn’t make it to the clinic, During the first two weeks of the program, we had class in the afternoon, in addition to the morning hospital observation. Our teacher, Monica, was very receptive to reviewing vocabulary and grammar topics that we wanted to practice. I also really enjoyed the class excursions. The first week we went to the market where we tried a variety of fruit (taxo, granadilla, granada, mango, zapote, pitahaya, piel de serpiente (salak), guanabana, caqui, orito, chirimoya, uvilla, gulupa, achotillo, pepino dulce). The next week we went to el Museo de Guayasamin and the professors got us a half off discount! In addition to the market and Museo de Guayasamin, there’s an endless list of activities to do in Quito! The first weekend we explored Parque Carolina and Metropolitana. We also visited La mitad del mundo (middle of the world) and made sure to check out the two museums. Fun fact: the larger, more well known, monument is actually not the true middle; the true middle is actually at El Museo Intinan where you can do fun scientific tests like the Coriolis effect and balance an egg on a nail. We rode the teleférico (cable car) up the mountain side to get an incredible view of Quito- just make sure to go on a sunny day without clouds and bring a jacket because it’s surprisingly cold up there. Centro Histórico was also full of history and we found out that the hostel, Secret Garden, did free tours- I would highly recommend it! We also happened to be in Quito during Semana Santa (Holy Week) so we saw the parade (La Procession de Jesus de Gran Poder). On the weekends, we ventured outside of Quito to Baños and Quilotoa. After the program, we went to the Galapagos and the Amazon. Ecuador has so much to offer in terms of culture and dramatically different environments. It was a privilege to be welcomed into so many communities; I learned so much from the medical staff, the patients, CFHI staff, and my host mom. I'm so glad I found CFHI and that they helped make this trip possible with the scholarship. I'm looking forward to starting residency soon and incorporating the language skills, cultural competencies, and medical knowledge that I have learned in Quito, Ecuador to benefit future patients.

This was a great program. Everything was very organized and structured so that I didn't have to worry about not knowing where I was supposed to be at any given moment. There were many points of contact throughout the whole process. From being picked up at the airport, adequate knowledge about the program from the host family, tour of the city and public transportation on the first day, coordination of hospital sites and physicians, the whole process was very seamless. Quito is a very easy city to navigate with great and cheap public transportation. Uber is also very cheap there. There are also lots of weekend trips that can be done to explore more of Ecuador. The rotations were all interesting and educational, with physicians teaching in between seeing patients. You get to work in a maternity hospital ER, adolescent pregnancy clinic, postpartum floor, outpatient clinics, and labor and delivery. I felt that the Spanish classes were excellent especially since there were only 4 students or so in each class. I would recommend this program!