Community Health in Oaxaca, Mexico

This experience has awarded me the opportunity to observe the practice of medicine with limited resources. I was able to observe physicians that genuinely care for their patients and truly enjoy their profession." - CFHI alumna, 2006



Introduction


July 25 - August 22, 2009 PLEASE NOTE: This program is only open to Stanford students with a strong interest in and commitment to community health. Interested applicants must complete a preliminary application through Stanford. Please click here for further information regarding the preliminary application process.
The Community Health in Oaxaca program is a collaboration between the Stanford Office of Community Health and Child Family Health International (CFHI), aimed at developing future leaders in immigrant and community health.
The Community Health in Oaxaca program is designed as an immersive training experience for students who are committed to working with the immigrant Latino population in the United States and who wish to increase their cultural and linguistic competency as well as their understanding of the health factors affecting Latinos. The main objectives are to prepare students for better service to immigrant populations in the US by broadening public health knowledge; increasing linguistic competency in Spanish; providing exposure to health care systems and clinical interactions in another culture; and fostering an understanding of the social and economic factors that impact the health of Mexicans and Mexican-American immigrants to the United States.While all CFHI programs have an ethic of service, all our programs, including the Community Health in Oaxaca Program, are not designed to provide service to those who would otherwise not have healthcare.
Read the Why CFHI bullet on the right side menu to find out more about the goals and objectives of CFHI programs as well as the service-learning concept. For quotes and stories from students who participated in the Community Health in Oaxaca, Mexico program, see the What Alumni Say bullet (right side menu). If you would like to speak to alumni of this program via email, please contact alumni@cfhi.org for more information.We look forward to having you join our grassroots work to build a global community in support of better healthcare for underserved communities!CFHI’s Social Networking Sites: Join our groups below for the latest updates on CFHI and to connect to CFHI participants and alumni.

Reproductive Health in Quito, Ecuador

Introduction


Please contact us before you apply to determine the availability of spots if you are interested in applying for this program between April and August! Thank you.
The Reproductive Health program gives students the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations that are focused strictly on reproductive and women's health. Students will be able to observe how reproductive healthcare functions in a socially conservative country where there is limited discussion and openness regarding sexual health issues. Students will also see first-hand how cultural attitudes toward gender equality often affect women's willingness and ability to seek treatment or even information about reproductive and sexual health.
Students in this program will experience Quito alongside students in the Andean Health in Quito program, although their clinical experiences will be more focused. Clinical rotations will allow students to observe and/or assist doctors in a variety of capacities, whether it is assisting in a delivery or giving talks on reproductive health. Students will take medical and conversational Spanish classes at the Amazing Andes Language School. However, cultural education continues outside of the classroom as well, through the home stay experience and interactions with medical staff during clinical rotations.Our programs in Quito are among the most popular programs, as they allow students to experience one of the most exciting cities in South America. Many students take advantage of the variety of museums, historical sites, eye-opening weekend trips, and other attractions in and around the lively city of Quito during the evenings and weekends.
Read the Why CFHI bullet on the right side menu to find out more about the goals and objectives of CFHI programs as well as the service-learning concept. For quotes and stories from students who participated in the Reproductive Health in Quito program see the What Alumni Say section on the right side menu. If you would like to speak to alumni of this program via email, please contact alumni@cfhi.org for more information.We look forward to having you join our grassroots work to build a global community in support of better healthcare for underserved communities!
CFHI’s Social Networking Sites: Join our groups below for the latest updates on CFHI and to connect to CFHI participants and alumni.

Womens Reproductive Health, Mexico

Introduction


Please contact us before you apply to determine the availability of spots if you are interested in applying for this program between April and August! Thank you.
The Women's Reproductive Health in Mexico program takes place in Puerto Escondido, a small seaside town in the state of Oaxaca. There, students will gain exposure to many of the challenges that women in rural Mexico face when managing their reproductive health. In addition to rotations in local clinics and public healthcare centers, students will take medical and conversational Spanish classes at a local language school. During clinical rotations, students will have the opportunity to see Puerto Escondido's healthcare system for women in a variety of settings. Opportunities range from working in primary care clinics to participating in rural reproductive healthcare programs with midwives or parteras. Overall, Mexico has a maternal mortality rate of approximately 83 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, a number which is often higher in poorer, more rural states such as Oaxaca. Over 60% of registered births in this coastal region are performed by parteras in the home. By the end of the program participants will have a clear understanding of the way the public healthcare system is organized in the coastal region of Oaxaca to address women's health issues. Participants may be able to participate in monthly educational workshops for women that are a part of the world famous comprehensive program with origins in rural Mexico, Oportunidades. Its success has been widely evaluated and recognized and is now being replicated by governments worldwide, including in New York City (for more information on Oportunidades, please visit their website at: http://www.oportunidades.gob.mx/).
Read the Why CFHI bullet on the right side menu to find out more about the goals and objectives of CFHI programs as well as the service-learning concept. For quotes and stories from students who participated in the Womens Reproductive Health, Mexico program, see the What Alumni Say section (right side menu). If you would like to speak to alumni of this program via email, please contact alumni@cfhi.org for more information.We look forward to having you join our grassroots work to build a global community in support of better healthcare for underserved communities!CFHI’s Social Networking Sites: Join our groups below for the latest updates on CFHI and to connect to CFHI participants and alumni.

UC Davis Quarter Abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico

Introduction


CFHI and UC Davis have teamed up to offer this new and specialized program that offers University of California students the opportunity to take UCD classes on transnational (US-Mexico) health issues and participate in internships in hospitals and clinics in Oaxaca, Mexico! Courses offered through this program are designed to provide students with cultural competencies that are crucial for effective health care professionals. This program is also designed to provide in-depth clinical experience that will not only lead to greater Spanish fluency, but also, greater awareness of the similarity and differences of medical practice in Mexico and United States and the implication of these issues on medical practice and treatment of the growing Mexican immigrant population in the United States.Oaxaca remains one of the richest states in the world - in history, culture, tradition, natural beauty, unexploited mineral deposits and other natural resources. It is also one of the poorest - in average income, in modern and efficient services of water, drainage and ... healthcare ...
In Oaxaca CFHI students can explore a different culture and way of life while learning about the region's healthcare system through clinical rotations. It is truly a crossroads where different cultures and healthcare practices intersect. Oaxaca City, one of the most unique cities in Mexico, is steeped in history, tradition, and the influences of a vibrant indigenous culture. Students will be immersed in the region's language and rich culture while learning about contemporary social issues facing the local population.
Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico, and many of its inhabitants, especially those of the large indigenous population in rural areas, have limited access to even rudimentary healthcare services. Participants will be exposed to various elements of Oaxacan healthcare: public and private, urban and rural.Read the Why CFHI bullet on the right side menu to find out more about the goals and objectives of CFHI programs as well as the service-learning concept. For quotes and stories from students who participated in the UC Davis Quarter Abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, see the What Alumni Say section (right side menu) If you would like to speak to alumni of this program via email, please contact alumni@cfhi.org for more information.We look forward to having you join our grassroots work to build a global community in support of better healthcare for underserved communities!CFHI’s Social Networking Sites: Join our groups below for the latest updates on CFHI and to connect to CFHI participants and alumni.