We have received 246 foreign medical students from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland, Europe and Latin America. Students who join our program have the opportunity to experience first hand a variety of clinical settings and healthcare problems in a developing nation. Currently the following rotations are available:

Mobile Surgery: In this rotation students join the surgical team of the Mobile Surgical Unit during the pre-operative evaluation of patients, participate as assistants during surgical procedures, are actively involved in monitoring patients during the early post-operative recovery and discharge, and lastly, they participate in the postoperative follow-up visits. This is an excellent opportunity to have hands on education in the surgical field as well as a unique human experience to interact with patients and their families whom have been offered this healthcare service in their own environment, close to their homes. The short weekly trips from Cuenca to neighboring towns and longer monthly trips (approximately 4 days) to other provinces, allow students to visit rural Ecuador.

Hospitals: Students can rotate through different specialties in local hospitals were in addition to have first hand experience in Ecuadorian pathology they can interact with local students, residents and health professionals.

Health Centers: Students can also rotate in small health centers and attend clinics in suburban and rural areas. We believe this is a good opportunity to obtain experience in primary care while at the same time encountering the popular culture and language.

Integral Healthcare Programs: This is a unique opportunity for students to become part of healthcare teams and participate in a variety of activities that transcend beyond the traditional healthcare scope as described above. The communities where students can observe the impact of our pilot programs are Santa Ana, Sinincay and Chordeleg.

Tuition: Students pay a tuition of $190 US per week. This money is used to buy medicines and surgical supplies. We appreciate any donation of materials such as sutures, caps, masks, etc. We recommend a rotation of four to eight weeks.

Living in Cuenca

Students may choose to stay with an Ecuadorian family where they will have room, meals and laundry for $15 a day. This is a good opportunity to practice Spanish and experience Ecuadorian family life. Students who prefer to be on their own can stay at a hotel. There are several economic hotels, safe and clean for about $10 a day.

More information about Cuenca is available at www.municipalidadcuenca.gov.ec.

Side Trips

In addition to the medical rotations we suggest to take advantage of Ecuador's multicultural environment and the extraordinary biodiversity. Several ethnic groups coexist in our country, also some Inca and Pre-Inca remains can be visited. The Andean slopes with scenic snow caped volcanoes, the beautiful Pacific Ocean beaches, the exotic Amazon jungle, and the unique Galapagos Islands make Ecuador a wonderful country to be explored.