Lilongwe, Malawi

Spring 2027

Description

GHP has forged strong relationships in Malawi in order to conduct clinical, behavioral, and basic science research, and to provide training opportunities for UCLA students, residents, and fellows. Our main collaborator in Malawi is Partners in Hope (PIH) Medical Center (pictured) in Lilongwe, the capital city. PIH provides free HIV prevention, care, and treatment to over 5,000 patients, and has also developed outreach programs to support rural clinics in central Malawi. 

We are pleased to offer a clinical rotation at PIH Medical Center for two senior medical students in the spring of 2027. Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world, and students participating in this elective will gain broad experience in the delivery of primary care medicine to extremely underserved populations. The rotation has an emphasis on the management of HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings (HIV prevalence in Malawi is approximately 8.1%), and the management of malaria, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, and common routine health problems such as diabetes and hypertension.

Students rotate through an HIV clinic and a small inpatient ward at PIH. Approximately 70% of patients are adults, although one clinic each week is dedicated to maternal-child and family health. Students may have the opportunity to visit Kamuzu Central Hospital (Lilongwe’s largest tertiary care center), nutrition programs, and visit patient homes as part of community outreach.

Students will be supervised by other U.S. and Malawi-trained internists and family physicians, and work alongside Malawian clinical officers, nurses, and providers-in-training. UCLA students are expected to participate in educational conferences and journal clubs during the rotation.

The rotation in Malawi 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 global health, HIV, Aug-22 2 infectious diseases, and health service delivery in resource-poor settings. Students will be expected to demonstrate the highest level of maturity, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity. Students should be adaptable to the challenges of living in Malawi (frequent power outages and limited communications, including internet).

Details

Funding and Housing

Students will receive roundtrip airfare and an additional $1,000 in financial support for the Malawi clinical rotation. 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 March 22 through April 9, 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 Malawi.

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

For questions about this rotation, please contact Dr. Traci Wells at TWells@mednet.ucla.edu.