This post was most recently updated on February 16th, 2023

Your elective in South America

Medical electives and healthcare internships are available all over the world. Of course, we believe that one of the best destinations for your medical elective is South America and, specifically, Peru. You will be visiting one of the most beautiful countries and regions in the world. Furthermore, you will see and participate in health care in a developing country and develop Spanish language skills that you may use throughout your health care career.

Our unique program includes healthcare rotations at a local hospital or our own health center, an accredited medical Spanish program taught by doctors and professional language teachers, and the opportunity to provide healthcare in community settings.

Peru & South America

Peru is a beautiful country that boasts the Andes mountains, Amazon rain forest, and great beaches on a coastline of 1500 miles. It is still a developing country but is quickly advancing. While much of the population of around 33 million remain in poverty, a growing middle class and education sector are helping to reduce poverty levels each year.

In most cities, such as Trujillo, Cusco, and Arequipa, many beautiful colonial buildings from the times of the Spanish Conquistadores remain. Traveling further back in time, the country is full of fascinating archaeological sites from the Inca and Moche cultures.

Aside from its rich history, the country’s natural beauty is second to none. Unique destinations include the citadel of Machu Picchu, the fortress of Kuelap, Huaraz’s glaciers, and the Colca Canyon’s condors, which is over twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Many participants in our Peruvian programs are fortunate to have the time to see more of what South America has to offer. Popular destinations include traveling to see the mountains of Ecuador and Bolivia and the cities of Argentina.

Trujillo, Peru

Medical Spanish

Most electives around the world provide the opportunity to see and experience health care in the destination country. A South American medical elective offers the added opportunity to develop Spanish language skills. Many consider Peru to have the clearest spoken Spanish and is an ideal destination to learn the language.

Our Medical Spanish program provides an opportunity to quickly develop your language skills, regardless of your current level of Spanish. Our structured CME-accredited medical Spanish program in Trujillo is taught by a team of teachers and healthcare professionals. This immersion language program combines with hospital rotations and family accommodation, ensuring you live and breathe Spanish.

Clinical Rotations in Peru

You will see a healthcare environment in Peru quite different from your home country. You may rotate in your preferred area of medicine and see conditions and untreated illnesses you may not have encountered before. We work with several hospitals in Trujillo. These include hospitals in the Peruvian government health care systems and non-governmental organizations.

Residents and students on Medical Elective Network programs

Community

Health Care Missions

We work together with visiting international surgical teams who provide free operations for people with minimal resources. Aside from working with visiting teams, we also hold Community Health Fairs with local partners such as the Peruvian National Police, prison service, and local authorities each week. If you are here during one of these missions may have the opportunity to participate.

Where will you stay?

Accommodation is an essential but often overlooked question when considering medical electives in South America or elsewhere. Knowing where you will be living and the quality of your accommodation is necessary. Are you near the hospital? Is the area safe? Will you be sharing a room? You need to consider these and more questions.

While our program participants may be working in hospitals with few resources and visiting very low-income parts of the city, we feel it is essential that they have comfortable accommodation while here. All have private rooms (most with private bathrooms) in professional households close to our center.

Your South American Medical Elective

Each month we receive healthcare students and professionals from across the world. We provide a tailored experience on their South American healthcare elective for each person.

To learn more about the kind of experience you will have in Peru, contact [email protected]

Please see our testimonial page to learn from the experience of past participants.

What’s included?

Excellent Teaching

Courses taught by our team of physicians and language teachers

Hospital Electives

A choice of hospitals and specialities for rotations

Quality Accommodation

All private rooms and 90% private bathrooms. With 2 meals per day

CME Accredited

Up to 108 credits with the American Academy of Family Physicians

Community Health Fairs each week

Providing free health care and using your language skills

Up to 7 hours per day of classes

An intensive course to ensure maximum learning

Trujillo, Peru

The colonial city of eternal spring on the coast of Peru

Class Activities

Dance classes, cocktail making, and a tour of Huacas del Sol y la Luna

Local travel

Airport pick up/drop off, and travel to rotations

Travel insurance

12 months multi-trip coverage

Gym membership

Modern gym 2 minutes walk from our center

Local cell number

For constant free communication

Your elective in South America

Peru & South America

Medical Spanish

Clinical Rotations in Peru

Health Care Missions

Where will you stay?

Your South American Medical Elective

What’s included?

Excellent Teaching

Hospital Electives

Quality Accommodation

CME Accredited

Community Health Fairs each week

Up to 7 hours per day of classes

Trujillo, Peru

Class Activities

Local travel

Travel insurance

Gym membership

Local cell number

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