Description: The Ecuador Centers for InterAmerican Studies (CEDEI) Medical Spanish Immersion program aims to promote language and cultural competence, and to enhance the skills of health service professionals and consequently overall healthcare.  The program focuses on Medical Spanish, cultural, and public health system immersion training.  Students are based in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador for two weeks of intensive medical Spanish language training and are placed with a local Ecuadorian homestay.  In classroom training consists of 20 hours of grammar and 20 hours of conversational Spanish.  Students are exposed to the public health and medical system in Ecuador through visits to local hospitals, medical schools, rural health programs, and traditional healers.  Each work day will be 8 hours (4 hours in-classroom and 4 hours spent with local doctors, nurses, or public health professionals in the community).  Weekend trips will consist of cultural emersion trips (one trip per weekend).  Upon return students will be expected to complete a reflective final essay/blog post. 

Program Cost: $1500.00 for two weeks, including homestay with Ecuadorian family, meals, CEDEI tuition, and weekend trips. Tuition is paid directly to CEDEI. Program cost does not include airfare and cost of travel insurance.

Credits: 2

Faculty Contact: Tina Lupone, MPH LuponeC@upstate.edu

Description: The program begins with a two week Medical Spanish Immersion program through the Centers for InterAmerican Studies based in Cuenca, Ecuador (described above in PRVM 6426) and follows with an additional 6 weeks where students integrate into a team of Upstate investigators conducting research in the southern coastal city of Machala, Ecuador. Student projects will depend on the individual’s skills and prior professional experience. Upon return students will be expected to complete a reflective final project and work with the Institute for Global Health and Translational Science faculty to disseminate research results from field work. Application and research proposal must be approved by Global Health Office to participate.

Program Cost: $1500.00 for Medical-Spanish Immersion program (Paid directly to CEDEI), and estimated $1000/month of living expenses in Machala, Ecuador. Cost does not include airfare and cost of travel insurance.

Credits:  Variable, 4-8

Faculty Contact: Tina Lupone, MPH LuponeC@upstate.edu

Description: Students will travel to Machala, Ecuador where they will integrate into a team of investigators conducting research on infectious disease, climate, and public health through Upstate’s Institute for Global Health and Translational Science. Student projects will depend on the individual’s skills and prior professional experience. Students will spend anywhere from four weeks to one year in the field. Upon return students will be expected to complete a reflective final project and work with the Institute for Global Health and Translational Science faculty to disseminate research results from field work. Students must have moderate to advanced Spanish speaking skills. Application and research proposal must be approved by Global Health Office to participate.

Program Cost: Estimated $1000/month of living expenses in Machala, Ecuador. Cost does not include airfare and cost of travel insurance.

Credits:  Variable, 4-8

Faculty Contact: Tina Lupone, MPH LuponeC@upstate.edu

Description: Students will travel to Kisumu, Kenya where they will integrate into a team of investigators, community health workers, and clinicians conducting population health research through Upstate’s Institute for Global Health and Translational Science. Student projects will depend on the individual’s skills and prior professional experience. Students will spend anywhere from 6 weeks to one year in the field. Upon return students will be expected to complete a reflective final project, abstract, and/or publishable manuscript and work with the Institute for Global Health and Translational Science faculty to disseminate research results from field work. Application and research proposal must be approved by Global Health Office to participate. Clinical shadowing can be made available in addition to the research project at a local hospital on a case-by-case basis.

Program Cost: Estimated $3000-$3500 for an 8 week experience (includes flight, housing accommodations, food, and mandatory travel insurance).

Credits:  Variable, 4-8

Applied Practice Experience – MPH Program Students