Health and Medical Internship in Ecuador

What is the Health and Medical Internship in Ecuador all about?

This health and medical internship in Ecuador will give you insight into issues in global health, urgent care and medical practice in in an international context. Be part of the bigger picture as you assist the provincial government with their goal to improve the quality of, and access to, healthcare for the vulnerable population.

Shadow local doctors and nurses as you focus on providing medical care to the most vulnerable populations in Quito. The program is based on primary care and it receives patients on a daily basis to be seen by doctors of different specialties (general medicine, dentistry, gynecology, pediatrics, clinical lab and trauma). The project also has a mobile clinic that goes to remote locations of the province to provide medical care. 

Depending on your skill set and interests, you may have the opportunity to be placed at a medical center, which focuses on sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, as an intern, you would be able to visit some rural Ecuadorian communities to not only provide medical attention but help educate the young adults on family planning.

Why choose this Health and Medical Internship?

There is a shortage of Ecuadorian medical professionals and interns help to fill this vital gap. Nearly 30% of the population lives in poorer rural communities, where access to health care is very limited. As an intern, you will be shadowing and working alongside healthcare professionals. Interns can work in a variety of areas including family planning education, dental assistance, basic healthcare prevention methods, nutritional education, and much more. Depending on your skills and interests, we will match you with projects that suit your interests. As well as gaining an invaluable insight into the local health-care system, you will also be providing essential services to communities who will greatly benefit from the extra medical support they can get. On a personal level, develop your teamwork and communication skills, making this internship a great addition to your CV / Resume.

Role of the Medical and Healthcare Intern

Health and medical interns in Ecuador will largely observe their supervisor, and may be asked to assist with admitting patients, taking vitals and if your skills and experience deem it appropriate, even administer basic first aid. You may also be asked to shadow or assist a doctor, a dentist, a pharmacist or a lab technician. Your involvement will very much depend on your experience with this placement being suitable for medical, biology or nursing students. Your preferences will be discussed with you and it may be that you rotate around departments or spend more time in one. This will also be determined by the needs and demands of the project at the time. Additionally, you may have the opportunity to accompany doctors on medical outreach missions to provide care to the community. There is also an option for you to participate in sexual health awareness campaigns. Please discuss this with a Kaya advisor if you are interested in incorporating this into your placement during your interview. During your placement, you will have regular meetings with your supervisor to assess your progress.

What skills do I need to be a Medical and Healthcare Intern in Ecuador?

If you are a medical, biology or nursing student you will be able to apply for a position as a medical intern in Ecuador. You will be asked to submit your CV/resume and to attend a Skype interview to be considered for this placement. Participants should also be open-minded, flexible, patient, caring and passionate. You must speak Spanish (level B1 Intermediate User of CEFR) to get the most out of this placement and to contribute effectively to the hospital, clinic or medical center. It is suggested that medical interns who want to get the most out of this placement should sign up for medical Spanish lessons in Quito prior to commencing this placement. Even those who are fluent in Spanish will benefit from these lessons. Interns are asked to complete a learning diary during their placement and to produce a presentation about their learning for the local team at the end of the internship.

REQUEST MORE INFO   RESERVE YOUR PLACE