Cape Town, South Africa
Spring 2027
Description
South Africa is a country with a turbulent history, with resultant large inequalities in wealth, education, and health. However, despite the challenges it faces, it has developed significant expertise in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly in addressing TB and HIV. Cape Town is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, with a population of approximately 1.6 million inhabitants. English, Xhosa, and Afrikaans are the three most commonly spoken languages in Cape Town. According to national policy, public health care is provided along a tiered referral system. Primary care clinics provide access points to health services, with more complicated conditions being referred to secondary level hospitals.
Somerset Hospital in Cape Town is a major affiliated teaching hospital of the University of Cape Town School of Medicine. GHP is pleased to offer clinical rotations in Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, at Somerset Hospital in the spring of 2027. With these rotations, students often perform blood draws and start IVs, and become more skilled in these areas.
Drs. Kelechi Okpara '23, Alex Vesling '23, and Lauren Textor '23 reflect on their MS4 global health clinical rotation in Cape Town, South Africa
Students care for a wide range of patients, including those presenting with common opportunistic infections associated with HIV (i.e., tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis). Supervision of UCLA medical students is by senior medical staff on site, and students work alongside the equivalent of residents and medical students from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
The rotation has been developed with formal goals and objectives. We are seeking students with an interest in caring for underserved populations, and those with enthusiasm for learning more about global health, infectious diseases, and health care delivery in resource poor settings. Students will be expected to demonstrate the highest level of maturity, professionalism, and cultural humility.
Details
Funding and Housing
Students will receive roundtrip airfare and an additional $1,000 in financial support for the South Africa clinical rotation. The host institution will provide housing recommendations. These funds are intended to help offset expenses such as housing, local transportation, and other travel-related costs. Students should anticipate contributing personal funds, as the total cost of the rotation may exceed the financial support provided by the Global Health Program.
Application and Orientation
Applications for this elective are due Monday, September 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Interviews for this elective will primarily be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Limited interview appointments may also be available on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students selected for this rotation must attend a mandatory, full-day pre-departure orientation in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
Rotation Dates and Post-Rotation Requirements
Rotation dates for this elective have been confirmed. Students applying to this three-week elective must be able to commit to the rotation from April 12 through April 30, 2027. Please note that international travel will require departing Los Angeles approximately two days before the official start of the rotation to allow sufficient time for travel and arrival in South Africa.
Following the rotation, students will be expected to complete written evaluations, participate in a mandatory full-group debrief on Thursday, June 3, 2027, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., and attend a site-specific debrief, which will be scheduled following their return and prior to graduation.
Questions
Questions regarding this rotation should be directed to Dr. Traci Wells at TWells@mednet.ucla.edu.