Global Health in the Philippines

I had the opportunity to intern for the Child Family Health International (CFHI) Global Health in the Philippines Program under the Friends of the Philippines Scholarship. This experience was an extremely eye-opening immersion into the Philippine Health System. Our program started off in Manila, the Philippine capital. We observed and learned about the various tiers of health systems in the city, including the highly-regarded public Philippine General Hospital, private St. Luke’s Medical Center, and local Quiapo Medical Center. We even took a day trip to Cavite, a more rural community close to Manila where we were introduced to the healthcare system within rural communities in the Philippines. I found this introduction to the Philippines valuable prior to our journey on the San Jose island as it provided cultural context and awareness, along with a baseline comparison of how health systems functioned within the mainland. Then began our program on the island of San Jose in the Romblon province. Here, we stayed in a lodge within Poblacion, the main barangay (or small village) in the island. For the next few days/weeks, we interned at the San Jose Rural Health Unit (RHU) underneath the Municipal Health Officer (MHO), who was also the only primary care doctor on the island with a population of over 12,000. We experienced clinic days within the RHU, where the doctor would communicate, assess, diagnose, and prescribe treatments to various patient complaints. The doctor involved us in the clinic by supervising our own health history interviews and discussing various symptoms with their corresponding diagnoses and treatments. The RHU was also heavily involved in family planning, prenatal care, animal bite treatment, and dental care, so we were able to observe ultrasounds, birth control injectables, baby vaccinations, anti-rabies injections, etc. I was happily surprised by the organization of the health system on this island. They offered various free services to the people, including health assessments, basic screenings and lab tests (i.e. cervical cancer screenings, urine and blood sugar tests, H&H labs, etc.), and commonly-needed medications (i.e. antihypertensives, diabetes, tuberculosis, etc.). In a lot of ways, I found their system more organized and accessible than from where I come from! The doctor and local government were passionate about providing accessible and equitable care to the entire community. This routine would continue throughout the week in various Barangay Health Units, or smaller and more accessible sectors of the RHU. On weekdays, we were able to enjoy life on and around the island. We visited Boracay beach (one of the world’s most beautiful beaches) , ran a 5K marathon together, biked around the entire San Jose Island, went caving and cliff jumping, sang karaoke, and explored Kalibo, a city within the mainland. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed by the people and the community and were encouraged to immerse ourselves within the culture. We ate Filipino food, participated in the weekly flag raising ceremony, and watched the procession of Flores de Mayo, a May Festival devotion to the Virgin Mary. Overall, I found this program to be an amazing immersion to learn, observe, and experience the Philippine Health System through various settings and sectors, while also involving ourselves with the Philippine people and culture. Each part of this program felt very genuine and purposeful in providing a holistic and well-rounded learning/immersion experience. The local preceptors and coordinators were more than accommodating and talented in not only planning this program, but also teaching and encouraging us and being responsive to all our questions and ideas. I would do it all over again if I could!

My experience in the Philippines has been nothing short of transformative. From the very beginning in Manila to my time in the rural community of Alabat, this rotation provided an গভ গভ (fix) → (remove glitch) incredibly rich and well-rounded understanding of Filipino healthcare, culture, and community. The program thoughtfully combined historical and clinical learning, giving us the foundation to truly understand the structure of healthcare in the Philippines. From exploring national history and visiting major institutions like the Philippine General Hospital and St. Luke’s, to observing care in rural health units and barangay health stations, every experience built on the last in a meaningful way. What made this experience especially impactful was the opportunity to actively engage with patients and healthcare workers. The RHU teams were incredibly welcoming, supportive, and eager to teach. They created an environment where we could both learn and contribute, whether through patient interaction, observing public health programs, or participating in community outreach. One of the most rewarding aspects of my time was building connections within the community. As I developed my Tagalog skills, even simple phrases helped foster more meaningful interactions with patients. I’ll never forget a moment when I was able to help connect a community member to cervical cancer screening services after an organic conversation outside the clinic—an experience that truly highlighted the power of communication, trust, and community-based care. Beyond the clinical setting, the warmth and generosity of the Filipino people made this experience unforgettable. I was welcomed not just as a student, but as a guest and a member of the community. Whether it was sharing meals, singing karaoke, or simply spending time together, there was a deep sense of connection and joy in everyday moments. The spirit of “Mabuhay”—a genuine culture of welcome and hospitality—was something I felt throughout my entire stay. This rotation deepened my understanding of global health, strengthened my cultural humility, and reinforced the importance of community-centered care. It is an experience that has left a lasting impact on both my personal and professional growth. I am incredibly grateful for the relationships I built, the lessons I learned, and the perspective I gained. I would highly recommend this program to any student seeking a meaningful, immersive, and impactful global health experience.

I participated in a two-week Global Health program in the Philippines through the Child Family Health International and found both the on-the-ground experience and the administrative support to be exceptional. The program was thoughtfully structured and provided a meaningful introduction to the culture, history, and healthcare system of the Philippines. Through a mix of educational sessions and site visits, we gained insight into how historical, cultural, and social factors shape health beliefs and medical practice across different healthcare settings. A particularly impactful part of the experience was spending time in a rural community where we observed local health clinics and community health initiatives. The healthcare professionals were incredibly welcoming and eager to share their experiences, helping us understand how care is delivered in resource-limited settings and how strong relationships with the community support better health outcomes. From an administrative perspective, the program staff were consistently responsive and supportive both before and during the program, ensuring everything ran smoothly for participants. Overall, learning about the Philippine healthcare system from its historical foundations to its real-world practice was a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I would highly recommend this program to medical students interested in global health and in learning how healthcare is practiced in different parts of the world.