Health Care Volunteering in Bolivia

Visiting Tarija for 2 weeks with CFHI has been one of the most meaningful summer experiences I could have had. Living in a new country, fully immersed in the culture, leads to growth that's difficult to find otherwise. After completing the program, I better understand the health challenges faced outside of the US. I feel more able and inclined to work to resolve them and discuss potential solutions. In addition, I believe I’m better prepared to help immigrants navigate the US health system now that I understand how their experiences with healthcare might differ from those who were born in the US. Overall, the experience helped me be a more well-rounded person and prepared me to serve diverse populations as a physician.

My CFHI elective in Bolivia was one of the most meaningful parts of my medical training so far. I rotated through surgery, primary care, infectious disease, and psychiatry. Each showed how medicine is practiced when resources are limited in a country with a completely different health system than in the US. The CFHI team was responsive throughout the whole process (before, during, and after) and the local team was extremely supportive and flexible. The medical coordinator went so far to coordinate a new rotation for me when I asked to rotate with a psychiatrist. This was especially meaningful, as I was able to connect with patients and learn from physicians in my preferred specialty. The local team also helped me organize weekend trips to other parts of the country or locally, such as the Uyuni Salt Flats. I walked to clinic almost every morning, which is something I love about Tarija. At midday I went home for almuerzo with my host family. Being able to live with a family added a rich layer to the experience as well—they made me feel like part of the family, exchanged life experiences with me, and we have remained in contact since I left. My Spanish classes were unique and significantly improved my confidence in the language. We discussed Bolivian history and culture, reviewed grammar, medical Spanish, differences between U.S. and Bolivian medical care, Chagas prevention, toured museums, and even visited a folk medicine ‘curandero’ to learn about traditional healing practices. Something that stood out to me about CFHI is that the program addresses the history of global health. They talk openly about how the field has been shaped by colonization, racism, and elitism, and how those patterns still show up now. They also shared how they actively counter this in their organization with concrete examples. Overall, this elective pushed me to think more deeply about health systems, culture, and communication. It made me more comfortable caring for diverse patients and reminded me why cultural humility is essential. I’m grateful I had the chance to learn from local clinicians, families, and patients, and I’ll carry these lessons with me into my training and future work. I hope to return to Bolivia one day and find ways to participate in global health as a resident physician.