Global Health in La Paz, Bolivia

From riding the teleférico above the city to observing fascinating procedures and talking to medical professionals to exploring breathtaking salt flats and forests, everyday of my CFHI program in La Paz, Bolivia was exciting, educational, and perspective-opening. I had the opportunity to observe a variety of medical specialties in different settings, including private and public from physical therapy to neurosurgery allowing me to explore my interests. While observing procedures and patient exams was very educational, I learned the most in my conversations with doctors, medical students, and hospital professionals. They shared helpful insights on working across cultural barriers and the resource limitations experienced both by patients and medical institutions. I was able to interact with patients through non-clinical tasks such as play therapy which helped me to truly engage. While the language barrier sometimes hindered my full understanding, my clinical rotations were a great opportunity to challenge myself to ask questions, getting greater exposure to a wide range of specialties and patient cases. My homestay was much more than an accommodation — it was a deep, lifelong connection. I have forever gained an abuela in Bolivia, who I hope to stay in contact with forever. She deeply cared about my comfort and wellbeing as she shared her cooking and culture with me and my roommates. I felt strongly supported by my local team and felt my Spanish and health classes really supported my learning. Although it challenged me, I learned so much by delivering a case study to my class and medical director. La Paz is an incredibly vibrant city and a fascinating mix of strong traditions and modern comforts. There is so much to do in the city! Some of my favorite memories include watching a Jazz-Traditional show, a local soccer match, and visiting the El Mercado de Brujas. I loved visiting historical sites and museums through the program, especially the Tiwanku ruins, San Francisco Church, and the National Art Museum. I made the most of my free time on weekends to see the breathtaking nature of Bolivia through trips to Isla del Sol, the Cloud Forest, and Uyeni Salt Flats. My travels not only gave me a sense of adventure, but helped to better understand the bigger cultural picture. Through my time with CFHI, I developed a strong sense of cultural humility and a greater understanding of the social determinants of health, especially disparities faced by those of lower socioeconomic status and those in rural areas. My experience helped me to grow as a future medical professional and as a conscious human being. I would highly recommend this experience to any student looking to expand their perspective through global travel under ethical, safety-focused leadership.

In August 2019, I participated in the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Program in La Paz, Bolivia. It was the best trip of my entire life. I was able to shadow many different doctors and nurses, make new friends, try new foods, and travel to amazing places in Bolivia. I grew as a person. My career choices were narrowed down as well. Before going on this trip, I was unsure about if I wanted to be a doctor and go to medical school. While shadowing the doctors in the hospitals, I realized how much joy it brings me to help alleviate the pain of others. I also realized that I want to be involved in global health and continue outreach work. Before departing for Bolivia, CFHI made sure I was well informed on my accommodations, health, safety, and exactly what to expect. My homestay was amazing and each day for lunch and breakfast we had the best Bolivian food. The program directors in La Paz are very nice, available at all times, and super accommodating. La Paz itself is a beautiful and unique city that I miss so much. I grew very close to the girls who were also staying in my homestay. On the weekends, I would travel around Bolivia to amazing places such as Isla del Sol and Salar de Uyuni.

I participated in the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine program in La Paz, Bolivia for four weeks and loved it! I liked that I was able to see healthcare in La Paz in different settings: I had two weeks of rotations at two different local community clinics and two weeks at the city's largest children's hospital (one week in surgery and one week in the pulmonary unit). The physicians I worked with were patient, kind, and very willing to work with me. I saw patients with cases that I would never see in the United States such as echinococcus granulosus. Not only was the clinical experience great, but the cultural experience was even better. My group and I were able to visit a new tourist site every weekend and our language facility made it so easy to plan the weekends. I also loved my homestay mother. The homestay experience was key in helping me practice and improve my conversational Spanish. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to combine their interests in healthcare and experiencing new cultures!