Description: The Ecuador Centers for InterAmerican Studies (CEDEI) Medical Spanish Immersion program seeks to develop language and cultural proficiency, enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals and improving overall healthcare services. The program concentrates on Medical Spanish, cultural immersion, and understanding the public health system. While at Upstate, students will undergo pre-departure travel and cultural competency training. During their four weeks in Cuenca, Ecuador, students will engage in intensive medical Spanish language courses and stay with a local Ecuadorian family. The classroom component includes 20 hours of grammar and 20 hours of conversational Spanish. Students will explore Ecuador’s public health and medical systems through visits to hospitals, medical schools, rural health programs, and traditional healers. Each day consists of 8 hours—4 hours of classroom instruction and 4 hours working alongside local healthcare professionals. Weekend cultural immersion trips are also scheduled. After returning, students are required to write a reflective final essay or blog post. Please refer to the planned calendar for more details on activities (available on Brightspace Global Health Portal).

Duration: 4 weeks

Language Requirements: Basic-Level of Spanish Required

Required Costs: Tuition to CEDEI ($3400-$5550 depending on number of students), plus round trip airfare, SUNY study abroad insurance, vaccines, day to day expenses. CEDEI tuition includes homestay lodging, meals, weekend trips, and coursework.

Description: The Upstate Global Health Institute and Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Hospital (KPPH) have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to support global health bidirectional trainee experiences. For the Global Health experience, trainees will travel to Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, to join a team of Thai physicians, faculty, and staff providing care at the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Hospital and village-based community health clinics. They will observe clinical rounds and educational activities within the medical system. Additionally, trainees will take part in community engagement activities organized through the village clinics, including educational outreach on endemic tropical diseases in the region. Trainees will also shadow dengue research-related fieldwork with the Kamphaeng Phet-Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (KPP-AFRIMS) team. Please refer to the planned calendar for more details activities and the clinical schedule (available on Brightspace Global Health Portal).

Duration: 4 weeks

Language Requirements: None

Required Costs: Program Fee, round trip airfare, SUNY study abroad insurance, vaccines, day to day expenses.

Description: Since 2018, the Upstate Global Health Institute and Maseno University School of Medicine have partnered in a bidirectional educational collaboration. The partnership aims to facilitate bilateral personnel exchanges, including faculty academic visits and trainee rotations for students and residents, with a focus on training Kenyan students. This program is specifically designed for MSIVs and residents, who will participate in clinical rotations at Jaramogi Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital, gaining exposure across various medical specialties such as general medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics & gynecology. Trainees will also engage in continuing medical education, grand rounds, and relevant lectures. This experience helps students observe healthcare practices in Kenya, expand their medical knowledge, and enhance cultural competency. It also offers valuable opportunities to build international networks and receive mentorship from experienced healthcare professionals, all while immersing in Kenyan culture. More program details are available on the Brightspace Global Health Portal and on the Upstate Maseno Educational Partnership (UMEP) – Global Health Equity in Kenya link.

Duration: 4 – 6 weeks

Language Requirements: None

Required Costs: Program Fee, round trip airfare, SUNY study abroad insurance, vaccines, day to day expenses.