A resident rotation in Peru
Each year, more medical residents in their 3rd or 4th year choose to take an elective rotation in South America, particularly Peru. We offer a complete global health rotation. The program includes clinical rotations, a CME-accredited medical Spanish program, and weekly community health fairs in underserved areas.
Each resident program in the US has its policy regarding international elective rotations. Some actively promote electives abroad, while others prohibit international rotations. However, an increasing number of programs want their residents to have the opportunity to experience health care abroad and develop medical Spanish skills.
Experiencing health care in a developing country allows residents to see different pathologies and work with fewer resources. There are many opportunities in Global Health. However, few will enable you to develop language skills to use throughout your career.
An elective rotation in Peru is also the chance to see at least a little of this amazing country and its places of interest.
Hospital Rotations
Medical Electives Peru is based in the colonial city of Trujillo, where we work with many hospitals. These include large teaching hospitals and smaller community hospitals. The most popular rotations for our resident participants are Emergency Medicine, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine. However, all main specialties are available. In most departments, you will find that some local professionals and students have English, though many do not.
Clinical rotations typically take place in the mornings. However, some include the option of the occasional night shift or afternoon. If you have a free morning, you can attend extra language classes.
You will rotate in a facility of one of the two Peruvian government health care systems, Es Salud and MINSA. As well as working with these state systems, The Medical Elective Network also partners with NGO health facilities working with patients with few resources.
Communicate with Spanish-speaking patients.
Medical Electives Peru programs are designed around the development of medical Spanish. Residents choosing to take electives with us are primarily motivated by our medical Spanish immersion program. The ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients is a real benefit to residents working in many hospitals in the US. Where 45 million speak Spanish as a first or second language.
Our medical Spanish program takes place each afternoon for 4 hours per day. We have a team of language teachers and physicians providing classes covering Conversation, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pure Medical Spanish. The courses are intensive and comprehensive. The program does not merely offer medical vocabulary and phrases. Instead, it is designed to enable students to communicate in Spanish in healthcare environments and beyond.
Most residents taking our language program have encountered Spanish-speaking patients at work. Many see patients every day. However, the residents thrive with a wide range of Spanish language experiences. Some come as complete Spanish beginners, and others more advanced. Our team of teachers will place you in the most appropriate class for your level.
Intensive Medical Spanish
Many residents and attending physicians focussed on developing their language skills choose our intensive Medical Spanish Course. This program offers 7 hours per day of medical Spanish, and you will still be working with patients in the communities each Friday morning at our Community Health Fairs.
Many choose this option for a week or so before taking a hospital rotation. Others decide to take this 7-hour intensive language program instead of taking a hospital rotation.
Accredited medical Spanish
The has a vast 128 CME credits with the American Academy of Family Physicians, reflecting the quality of our programs.
Living with a Peruvian Family
A residency rotation in Peru is enriched by staying with a local family. Our homestay families provide both language and cultural immersion. We work with a few families, all just a few minutes walk from our center. They are professional households with comfortable homes. All have Wi-Fi and private rooms for program participants, most with private bathrooms. More importantly, our families are interested in our participants and offer the immersion that adds to the student’s language learning and overall experience. We also welcome partners and spouses.
Health care Campaigns
One aspect of our programs that residents particularly enjoy is the Community Health Fairs. These occur weekly with local partners such as municipal authorities, the prison service, and the National Police. For residents, the health fairs are an ideal opportunity to put their medical experience and develop language skills into practice. Participants will typically see 40 to 80 patients with various conditions. At these health fairs, we provide free consultations and medicine.
Most health fairs take place in municipal facilities or central squares. Here, the client group is mainly women and children. However, we also conduct health fairs at the local male and female prisons, where health services are minimal. At the women’s prison, you will also attend to children under the age of 3.
Residents can see their patients with language support and local doctors. Local doctors write any required prescriptions for patients.
