Global Health in Ecuador (Quito)
Join a program spanning Quito, Ecuador's vibrant capital city located in the Andes mountain range and home to a more cosmopolitan population. Come away with an understanding of how lifestyle, behavior, and environment influence urban and rural health outcomes. One of CFHI's longest-running programs, this program offers a comprehensive experience that showcases a holistic view of the healthcare systems in Quito as well as how Ecuadorians access healthcare services in urban and rural settings.
In Quito, experience a range of clinical sites and services including government hospitals delivering higher-level diagnostic, specialized, and emergency care that is free of charge and accessible to all, as well as community level clinics on the outskirts of the city serving low-income populations. Shadow healthcare professionals through rotations at a public maternity hospital where high-risk pregnancies are managed, and at a clinic in Otavalo providing primary care to the local indigenous community.
Become immersed in Ecuadorian culture and language while living with local families in Quito. You will also participate in 20 hours of Spanish lessons (for a 4 week program) or 10 hours of Spanish lessons (for a 2 week program) which will further your Spanish communications skills. CFHI participants may also organize weekend trips from Quito to destinations such as the town of Mindo and its subtropical forest, and Otovalo, an indigenous community with a bustling weekly market.
Duration
Clinical Rotations & Public Health Placements
This program takes place in multiple geographic areas within Ecuador.
Quito
Public Maternity Hospital- Located in the center of Quito, this public hospital of over 400 beds serves pregnant women of all ages from some of the poorest areas in the city. It is also a referral center for high-risk pregnancies and deliveries, and all services provided are free of charge. It is a teaching hospital for medical students and residents, with labor and delivery, emergency, outpatient, and inpatient ward for more complicated cases and post-partum care. Join healthcare teams for morning rounds, followed by rotations at one of the wards mentioned above. While rotating at the outpatient ward, witness healthcare professionals engaging in pre- and post-natal check-ups. This hospital is one of the busiest in the country, thus opportunities to ethically observe labor and delivery and related procedures are frequent.
Government Primary Health Clinic- This small clinic serves low-income populations and is managed by a family medicine physician in a low resource neighborhood in northern Quito. This public facility has a small emergency room, a dentist and a psychologist. Patients come to receive free services such as pediatrics and obstetrics care, preventative medicine and vaccinations. Clinic staff also conducts home visits for patients that cannot travel to the clinic.
Tertiary Care Hospital- With approximately 400 beds, this facility provides services to military staff and families as well as civilians in the central part of Quito. Patients from all over Ecuador are referred to this hospital to receive specialty care. Rotate alongside hospital staff within two of the busiest and most dynamic areas of the facility, the internal medicine and surgical wards.
Nonprofit Hospital- Founded by an Italian priest as a social services center for Quito’s poorest citizens, this outpatient hospital houses approximately 150 beds and over 25 specialties. Rotate within wards including surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, ambulatory care, and family medicine. In addition, the hospital runs a mobile medical unit, a school for developmentally disabled youth, two daycare centers, a legal services center, a microcredit institution, and social work department.
Indigenous Medicine Clinic- Otavalo -This clinic is located in an indigenous town about an hour and a half outside of Quito. It serves patients from all over Ecuador and specializes in combining medicina naturalista or traditional medicine alongside western modalities. Witness Andean healers using herbal medicine and curanderos or spiritual healers who employ traditional diagnostic techniques.
CFHI is considered a global health ethics leader therefore CFHI programs uphold strict standards and comply with all local laws regarding student involvement in health settings. Your experience on the program depends on your previous clinical training (if applicable), Spanish level, and the relationship you build with your supervising preceptor. Above all, YOU are the most important factor in making the CFHI experience as fulfilling as possible by being respectful, culturally-humble inquisitive, and open to the wide variety of learning experiences which you will encounter.
Location
Quito is the capital of Ecuador, one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. Founded in the 16th century atop the ruins of an Incan city, today this modern metropolis boasts a diverse population of about two million people. As the capital and economic hub of the country it attracts migrants from rural areas - mostly indigenous groups, as well as immigrants from neighboring countries.
Quito is nestled in a valley within the Andes Mountain Range, surrounded by volcanoes and impressive peaks. At an elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level, it is considered one of the highest capital cities in the world. Due to its close proximity to the equator, the climate is spring-like all year long, with warm days and cool nights. Quito’s historic center is one of the largest and least altered in the Americas and one of the first world cultural heritage sites declared by UNESCO in the 1970’s. As the nation’s capital, it is a lively urban center with dancing, dining, historical sites, shopping and museums.
Nanegalito is a stark contrast from Quito’s headlands, both culturally and ethically. Politically,
Things to Do
CFHI participants have free time during most evenings and weekends and may choose to organize weekend trips to nearby destinations and take part in cultural activities offered within Quito itself.
Within Quito, popular activities include visiting the “middle of the world” or the equatorial line, the famous Guayasamin art museum and home, and the historic city center. Quito is also served by various bus lines thus is an ideal jumping off point to see the rest of the country. Travel to the Amazon to hike, nature watch, and visit jungle communities. Closer to Quito and ideal for a day or weekend trip is Otavalo, a primarily indigenous town that has maintained its traditional way of life and is renown for its weekly market.
In Nanegalito, relax and take advantage of the slower pace of life. Enjoy yourself at the Hosteria Sumak Pakari, a down-to-earth hideaway featuring an informal restaurant, an outdoor pool & volleyball court. Or destress at the Yumbo Spa and Resort, a luxurious retreat in the heart of the evergreen cloud forest just a 90 minute drive from Quito and 1 hour from Mindo. Or explore the beautiful nature around you, at Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge. The lodge is an amazing destination and a great place to visit on the way to the Galápagos. Sights of hummingbirds, beautiful plants and fog-covered valleys are guaranteed, and it’s been known to be able to get glimpse of even a toucan or monkey.
Participants stay with homestay families, chosen and screened by CFHI’s Local Coordinator. Homestays are located in a middle class residential neighborhood in the northern part of Quito. They are located in close proximity to one another and the language school, allowing participants to walk to language classes and meetings with ease. In some cases, CFHI participants may be housed with others in the same homestay, though each student on this program will have their own room.
Homestays provide a unique opportunity to learn about local culture and practice Spanish skills on a daily basis in an informal setting. At the orientation session upon arrival, participants will be informed about recommended transportation from homestays to clinical rotations and getting around the city.
Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
This CFHI program is ideal for students who have a foundation in Spanish and have an interest in health and medicine in rural and small town settings. Non-students are also eligible. The program offers an overview of primary and secondary level care through visits within a hospital and primary care clinics, as well as Spanish language classes with an emphasis on medical Spanish. To confirm whether you're eligible to apply, please read CFHI's general eligibility requirements.
Minimum Language Required: Beginner 1 Spanish or Above
Beginner 1 Spanish: “I can speak a little and understand at times if people speak slowly and clearly.”
- I can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and simple phrases to get across basic needs.
- I can introduce others and myself. I can ask and answer questions for example where I live, people I know and things I have.
Leading this program on-site are our on-site partners (see Local Team tab), all of whom share Spanish as their native language, but may speak English as well. To provide authentic learning experiences translators are not provided. Daily interactions will be in Spanish, but CFHI’s local team is able to support and help you through your experience.
All CFHI participants applying to programs in Latin America will evaluate their Spanish language skills as part of their application. This information will then be shared with the on-site partners. Most important is your general ability to communicate verbally with those around you and to be proactive in speaking Spanish, versus accuracy with grammatical tenses. All CFHI Latin America programs include Spanish language instruction on-site.
Not sure about your Spanish level? View a full list of CFHI’s language levels for all Latin America programs on our Spanish Level Guidelines page.
CFHI partners with Canopy to offer high-quality online Medical Spanish courses. Apply using this link for a 20% discount and start improving your medical Spanish today!
Arrival Information
Participants should arrive in Quito, Ecuador on the program start date (a Saturday) and will be met and picked up from the airport by a CFHI representative and taken to their homestay. The medical orientation will take place on Sunday at 1 pm; the language school orientation on Monday at 8:30. If you arrive on an alternate date, please consult with the local coordinator for your orientation schedule.
Visas are not required for U.S. citizens staying less than 3 months in Ecuador. More information on travel and logistics will be provided by CFHI after acceptance into the program.
What's Included:
CFHI Program fees include the majority of on the ground costs. As a nonprofit, CFHI strives to keep fees low and offers fundraising opportunities, scholarships and discounts.
Pre-Departure Support
- Guidance from CFHI staff in San Francisco before departure
- Pre-Departure Training materials including program-specific materials with information on making travel arrangements, visa requirements, recommended immunizations, historical, geopolitical, cultural, ethical and other need-to-know preparatory info.
On-Site Services
- Airport pick-up upon arrival and transportation to homestay in Quito with local CFHI representative
- Welcome orientation with other participants covering safety, transportation, and other logistics
- Welcome dinner, city tour and cultural activities through language school
- Spanish Classes: 20 hours of Spanish classes (4 week program); 10 hours of Spanish classes (2 week program), including medical Spanish and cultural activities (students may purchase additional hours)
- Weekly meetings and lectures on local healthcare system and socio-economic determinants of health
- Accommodation, two meals a day, and laundry services once a week
- CFHI Local Team: providing instruction, logistical support, and 24/7 emergency response
- Placement and coordination of clinical rotations/public health activities
- Local cell phone
- International emergency medical and evacuation insurance
Uniquely CFHI, 50% or more of student program fees go directly to the communities they will be visiting, benefiting the local economy at large and specifically underserved health systems. Read more.
Meet the Local Team
Dr. Susana Alvear - CFHI Medical Director in Quito. The role of the Medical Director is to arrange clinical and public health placements, supervise the participant experience at these sites, and provide instruction on healthcare topics during weekly meetings. Dr. Alvear is the expert on socioeconomic determinants of health in the region and healthcare delivery strategies in low-resource settings.
Dr. Alvear has served CFHI since 1996. She is an accomplished family physician who obtained her MD and specialty certificates in Ecuador. She then completed clinical education courses at the University of New Mexico and workshops at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Alvear teaches at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, where she manages their residency program. Dr. Alvear has participated in several international trips providing healthcare services to countries after natural disasters stricken areas such as Pakistan and Ghana.
clinical education courses at the University of New Mexico and workshops at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Alvear teaches at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, where she manages their residency program. Dr. Alvear has participated in several international trips providing healthcare services to countries after natural disasters stricken areas such as Pakistan and Ghana.
Elvira Hinojosa -Assistant to the Medical Director. Elvira schedules your medical rotations, introduces you to your preceptors and is always happy to help you with any questions or challenges you may face in your medical program.
Patty Ribadaneira & Sandra de Maldonado - CFHI Local Coordinators in Quito. The Local Coordinators in Quito are members of the Academia Latinoamericana de Español, Quito. Their names are Patty Ribadaneira and Sandra de Maldonado. Patty and Sandra are sisters and have been servicing students since 1989. They both studied in the U.S. and are aware of the specific needs that students have. Patty is a collaborative, motivational and inspirational leader; she instills
confidence in others. Sandra is a consensus builder, and acts with integrity and fairness when dealing with students.
What Alumni Say
"I worked with Dr. Sancho, who is a family care physician. It was really great to see a mix of pediatric and adult patients, as well as the variety of issues that come with primary care. I had a few new experiences this week, such as using a fetal stethoscope to listen to a fetal heartbeat, a skill that has been replaced by…” read more on Matt's blog.
-- Matt Riddle (Urban & Rural Comparative Health Program Participant, February-March 2013)
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global roadmap set forth by the United Nations General Assembly to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure the well-being of all individuals by the year 2030. This program highlights the following SDGs:
