The medical volunteering project in New Delhi was truly an amazing experience. The local team and the IVHQ coordinator were very supportive. The volunteering experience was very tiring, but fulfilling, considering the amount of patients that visit the slum clinic each morning. Even as a medical student I did lots of things there (basically everything). Just consider that the work you'll do there isn't like anything you're used to in your own country. For example, the physical examination is basically non-existent and the medications are prescribed based just on what the patient complains. If you're thinking about doing this wonderful experience just consider when to do it, from my personal experience August is probably one of the worst month. The temperature is around 40° and the humidity level is usually 90% (which is even worst than it sounds). In addition, there are at least 3 monsoons per week, which means all the street will be flooded with sewage water :)
Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a global health education nonprofit that partners with local communities and health systems in underserved regions to provide transformative clinical and public health experiences for aspiring health professionals. With a strong emphasis on ethical engagement, cultural humility, and sustainable development, CFHI offers immersive programs that expose participants to real-world healthcare challenges while supporting local providers and promoting global health equity. The CanSupport–Cancer program in New Delhi, India, is one such offering—focusing on palliative and cancer care in a resource-constrained setting. It offers students firsthand experience in home-based care, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the social determinants of health affecting vulnerable populations.
As a Medical Observer through CFHI’s CanSupport–Cancer program, I had the privilege of working alongside physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals providing end-of-life care to patients in their homes and local daycare centers. We served individuals facing advanced-stage cancer, HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and other serious conditions. I witnessed the importance of dignity, emotional support, and cultural sensitivity in palliative care, and developed a deeper understanding of pain management, family dynamics, and ethical decision-making. This experience not only strengthened my clinical observational skills but also taught me how to provide holistic, patient-centered support during life’s most vulnerable moments.
In addition to community-based care, I completed a one-month clinical observership at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, one of India’s leading private healthcare institutions. Under neurologists Dr. P.N. Renjen and Dr. Avinash, I observed diagnosis and treatment approaches for strokes, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s, gaining familiarity with neurological exams, neuroimaging, and acute care. I also rotated in pediatric cardiology with Dr. Reetesh Gupta, where I observed echocardiograms, EKG interpretation, and pediatric cardiac surgeries. These combined experiences gave me a holistic view of both public and private healthcare delivery in India and deepened my passion for compassionate, interdisciplinary, and culturally competent medical care.
The medical volunteering project in New Delhi was truly an amazing experience. The local team and the IVHQ coordinator were very supportive. The volunteering experience was very tiring, but fulfilling, considering the amount of patients that visit the slum clinic each morning. Even as a medical student I did lots of things there (basically everything). Just consider that the work you'll do there isn't like anything you're used to in your own country. For example, the physical examination is basically non-existent and the medications are prescribed based just on what the patient complains. If you're thinking about doing this wonderful experience just consider when to do it, from my personal experience August is probably one of the worst month. The temperature is around 40° and the humidity level is usually 90% (which is even worst than it sounds). In addition, there are at least 3 monsoons per week, which means all the street will be flooded with sewage water :)
Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a global health education nonprofit that partners with local communities and health systems in underserved regions to provide transformative clinical and public health experiences for aspiring health professionals. With a strong emphasis on ethical engagement, cultural humility, and sustainable development, CFHI offers immersive programs that expose participants to real-world healthcare challenges while supporting local providers and promoting global health equity. The CanSupport–Cancer program in New Delhi, India, is one such offering—focusing on palliative and cancer care in a resource-constrained setting. It offers students firsthand experience in home-based care, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the social determinants of health affecting vulnerable populations.
As a Medical Observer through CFHI’s CanSupport–Cancer program, I had the privilege of working alongside physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals providing end-of-life care to patients in their homes and local daycare centers. We served individuals facing advanced-stage cancer, HIV/AIDS, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and other serious conditions. I witnessed the importance of dignity, emotional support, and cultural sensitivity in palliative care, and developed a deeper understanding of pain management, family dynamics, and ethical decision-making. This experience not only strengthened my clinical observational skills but also taught me how to provide holistic, patient-centered support during life’s most vulnerable moments.
In addition to community-based care, I completed a one-month clinical observership at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, one of India’s leading private healthcare institutions. Under neurologists Dr. P.N. Renjen and Dr. Avinash, I observed diagnosis and treatment approaches for strokes, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s, gaining familiarity with neurological exams, neuroimaging, and acute care. I also rotated in pediatric cardiology with Dr. Reetesh Gupta, where I observed echocardiograms, EKG interpretation, and pediatric cardiac surgeries. These combined experiences gave me a holistic view of both public and private healthcare delivery in India and deepened my passion for compassionate, interdisciplinary, and culturally competent medical care.
