Quito, Ecuador

Spring 2025

Description 

Ecuador has a robust publicly funded health system and national health insurance. Free medical care, including access to public hospitals and regional health clinics, is available to all regardless of income, and without requiring medical insurance. Isolated rural areas are also served by this system, as physicians, dentists, and nurses are required to perform one year of "rural service" to be eligible for licensing.

The David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) has partnered with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in Quito, Ecuador, a private university with an excellent medical school and global health program. In addition to its affiliations with public teaching hospitals in the center of Quito, USFQ has a strong focus on community engagement. As a result, DGSOM students have the opportunity, if desired, to rotate in community clinics that contribute to the improvement of healthcare access and outcomes across Quito.

Students can experience medicine in urban public hospital settings in Quito and/or in more rural community-based inpatient and outpatient settings, as follows:

In Quito:

Students will work under the supervision of experienced physician “tutors” and alongside local medical students and residents at the following public hospitals:

• Hospital Eugenio Espejo: A level one urban safety-net and major teaching hospital with most all specialties and subspecialties represented, except for Pediatrics and Ob/Gyn.
• Hospital Pédiatrico Baco Ortiz: A level one urban safety-net children’s hospital and referral center for patients through age 14 years; one of only two children’s hospitals in the country.

Just outside of Quito (commutable from the city):

Students will work under the supervision of physician “tutors” and alongside local medical students at these community-based sites:

• Hospital Básico Alberto Correa Cornejo – Yaruquí, a rural level two referral hospital with 36 beds for Internal Medicine, Pediatric, Surgery and Ob/Gyn patients.
• Puembo Community Health Center, which provides primary care to population of 19,000 residents and includes community outreach and research activities.
• El Quinche Community Health Center, which provides primary care to population of 22,000 residents and includes community outreach and research activities.

These clinical rotations aim to promote health equity and foster cross-cultural understanding through collaborative learning and hands-on experiences. Medical students will immerse themselves in the Ecuadorian healthcare system, gain exposure to diverse patient populations, and contribute to improving health while by providing quality public healthcare.

The rotation in Quito has been developed with formal goals and objectives. We are seeking students with an interest in caring for populations with limited access to care, and those with enthusiasm for global health and learning about a unique public health system. Students will be expected to demonstrate the highest level of maturity, professionalism, and cultural humility. Students must be proficient in both spoken and written Spanish to participate in this elective.

Details

Students will receive roundtrip airfare and $1000 of additional support for the Quito clinical rotation. These funds will offset the cost of in-country accommodation and food. Students will need to cover the remaining expenses from other funds, as the cost of this rotation will likely exceed the amount provided through the Global Health Program.

Participation in this rotation will likely include a short 10-minute interview with Dean Miller once applications have been reviewed. Students selected for this rotation are required to participate in a mandatory full-day pre-departure training program in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Upon return home from Ecuador, students will be expected to provide feedback through written evaluations and to participate in a mandatory lunchtime feedback session on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Separate from this, students will be asked to attend a site-specific debrief to be arranged upon return from Ecuador and prior to graduation.

Rotation dates for this elective have been confirmed. Students applying to this three-week elective must be able to commit to this elective from March 24, 2025, through April 11, 2025. Note that a March 24 start date will require departure from the U.S. by March 21, 2025, at the latest.

Questions regarding this rotation should be directed to Dr. Traci Wells at TWells@mednet.ucla.edu.