Luci Boella, Warwick Medical School, UK, (April 2017)

For my elective I wanted to experience South American culture and medicine but with very rusty intermediate level Spanish I also needed some help with my Spanish which is why I chose Medical Electives. Initially when we arrived in Peru, the country was in a national state of emergency because of flooding and Trujillo was heavily affected. This could have really hampered our experience but for me it actually added to the adventure and gave us the opportunity to see first-hand how the community dealt with a natural disaster. Kevin and the medical electives team were fantastic ensuring the program ran as smoothly as possible during the floods. They also laid on extra lessons to make up for the fact that many of the local attractions were closed and even drove us around when local transport was limited!

Aside from working hard to make sure the floods affected the course as little as possible, I was incredibly impressed with the Spanish lessons ran by the Medical Electives teachers. Before studying medicine I was a secondary school teacher and trained in England which has very progressive and modern teaching methods. I was fully expecting the teaching in Peru to not match that of UK and to be old fashioned chalk and talk style lessons. However, that was not at all the case. The teachers made the lessons fun and interactive and incorporated games into the teaching to keep us entertained. They were all experienced language teachers and made the more challenging concepts both understandable and interesting to learn and I could not have been more impressed! Lessons were also very geared towards communicating in a medical environment. The medical Spanish lessons were based around role playing medical scenarios and this allowed me to take complex histories from Spanish patients in hospital by my 3^rd week.

I chose to do my hospital rotation in the emergency department of the EsSalud Alto Complexidad (EsSalud High Complexity) Hospital in Trujillo. My time in the hospital really opened my eyes to the challenges of emergency medicine in a 3^rd world country and how different the doctor-patient relationship is over there.

Whilst in Trujillo I stayed with Anna and her family in a lovely area of Trujillo and an easy walk from the language school. The top floor of the house is entirely dedicated to students and has its own dining area and fridge for our use. Anna is an incredible cook and fed us copious amounts of traditional Peruvian home cooked food for breakfast and lunch. She also worked hard to cater for me as a vegetarian.

Aside from the organised elective, Peru has an incredibly rich history and culture. Around Trujillo there are spectacular ancient sites to visit and I also spent a long weekend in Cajamarca – an old colonial city in the mountains. At the end of my elective I flew down to Cusco and did a 5 day trek to Machu Picchu which was truly stunning.

In short, my elective experience was everything I hoped it would be and more. The Peruvian people are, without exception, incredibly friendly and welcoming with a rich and fascinating culture. The food is amazing and the history, architecture and landscapes are truly breath-taking.

Jenny – PA-S, Wayne State University, USA (January 2017)

Making the decision to come down to Trujillo for my elective month was a difficult decision but it was honestly one of the greatest decisions I’ve made. I cannot speak highly enough of my experience.

To start off, the medical experience was very rewarding. I was in the Pediatric ER in Trujillo Regional Hospital. The doctors there were so kind and welcoming. They were very eager to speak about the differences between the medical system of Peru and the USA. They did a great job explaining things to me; it was easy to approach them with questions about virtually anything. Driving us to the hospital every day was Martin who was one of the kindest people I met in Trujillo. He spoke Spanish with us everyday giving us another facet for learning Spanish. There was never a dull car ride with him and this program is very privileged to have him as a part of it.

Next, the Spanish classes were truly a place for advancing my Spanish knowledge. Monday-Friday we had 4 hours of Spanish classes which were broken up into four 50 minute classes each with a different teacher, giving you different teaching styles. My teachers were absolutely phenomenal. Elvis, Aida, Magaly and Rocky did a great job of catering the Spanish classes to an appropriate level for me so that I felt challenged every day but not overwhelmed. I cannot say thank you enough to them for all of their work. No matter what your current Spanish level is, they will adjust to you and they also have different levels of classes where they place the students.

Next, I would like to thank the director of the program, Kevin. I read in previous reviews that he was very accommodating and helpful and he superseded all of my expectations. Any questions/problems/concerns he was more than happy to help. He was incredibly flexible and tried worked very hard to make the experience great for every student.

My home stay mom was Ana. Her home was so accommodating, I had my own bathroom and a spacious room. She made the most delicious breakfast and lunch – always making something different. Peruvian food is so natural and we ate the freshest of ingredients every day. I even took some recipes home with me for some of the best things that I ate while there. Ana was willing to help with any problems that you might come across and she always welcomed you into her home with a warm smile.

The city of Trujillo is such a beautiful city. After Spanish classes get done at 630pm, the rest of the day you have to yourself. I really enjoyed doing salsa classes at Salsa Madrid. They offer classes in the evenings and break up the classes into beginner, intermediate and advanced. This offered another opportunity to practice Spanish while having a lot of fun. The dance instructors were all so kind too and if you need extra help they will break down the steps for you. I definitely recommend trying them. If you prefer going to the gym, there is a gym that is close by as well which had very modern equipment. Also, the beach is about a 20minute taxi ride away and they offer surfing lessons for a good price too for anyone interested in that!

Another highlight of the trip was doing a medical mission trip in a poorer part of the city. It was so rewarding to be able to interact with the patients and to provide them with both medical advice and prescriptions for their problems. The people of the city were so welcoming and eager to be taught more about their medical conditions.

Overall this was a phenomenal experience, I am so glad that I spent my elective month in Peru and if presented with the opportunity again would love to come back down!

Jenny B, PA-S

Arno – Medicine, Monash University, Australia – (August, 2016)

We spoke with Arno regarding his home stay experience in Trujillo.

What were expectations of the living arrangements prior to arriving to Trujillo?

To be honest, I had just come from living in Bolivia in a homestay my expectations were quite low.

Briefly describe the setup of your specific living environment.

I had a private room with a single bed. Single bathroom. Full cupboard. Clean and tidy area.

Were you physically comfortable at home?

Yes, very much so.

Did you feel safe at home?

Yes, very safe. I never had any concerns.

Were there any restrictions or lacking resources that you wished you had available to you?

Nope. Literally, everything you needed was available. Even hot showers.

How many members were there in the host family?

Two, the host mother and father. There was also the housemaid/cook at this house. She would arrive each morning and stay until afternoon. At times, their son would also visit.

Did you feel comfortable communicating with the family members?

Yes. There weren’t great expectations of us to speak great Spanish, so there was no pressure in that regard. Prior to coming, I had a month of Spanish training which really helped with basic communication. The host father knew a bit of English, also.

Were there any pets in the home? If so, how did this affect your experience, if at all?

Yes, one amazing dog, named Ringo. I had a tough day at the hospital one day and when I returned and saw him it truly brightened my day. He is a very happy and outgoing dog.

Were there other students who stayed with you host family while you were there?

Yes, two other students at all times while I was there. They all had their own private rooms and bathroom, as well.

Where did you spend most of your time in the home?

Not counting my room, I spent a good amount of time around the breakfast and lunch table. I also spent time in the common area where you could relax and watch TV. But I was not home an awful lot because I attended the hospital in the mornings and Spanish classes in the afternoons.

What were your meal times?

Breakfast was around 7am before leaving to the hospital. Lunch was usually around one o’clock.

Did you have access to washing and drying clothes?

Yep! There was a washer machine available at all times. I used clotheslines on the terrace of the home to air dry them.

How did the location of the home impact your stay?

It was ideally located in a neighborhood that was walking range to grocery stores, restaurants, the gymnasium, and the school for our medical Spanish classes.

Carolyn – Resident in Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Hospital (June 2016)

I went to Peru with the hope of improving my Spanish – I had some background studying it in high school, and currently live in New Mexico, where many of my patients are Spanish-speakers. Before going to Trujillo, I was able to understand most things pretty well, but had a hard time expressing myself, especially with any semblance of good grammar. The Medical Electives program was everything I could have hoped. Since returning to the U.S.A., I now feel comfortable talking to my Spanish-speaking patients without an interpreter, and have been complimented several times by families saying that my Spanish is quite good.

Not only did I learn during the formal lessons, but also during the time I spent each morning in the pediatric ER working with the residents and doctors there. We talked about patient care, but also about a wide range of topics, which gave me the chance to practice speaking about everything ranging from food to sports and even politics (since I was there during the Peruvian election). Having this time to speak exclusively in Spanish and to listen to patients (who do not slow down their speech just because you are a foreigner) was essential to giving me more confidence in my language skills.

I also got the chance to travel with the other students nearly every weekend, and we shared many adventures together. Kevin helped us make travel arrangements, and the other teachers were more than happy to give recommendations about where to go and what to visit. We learned how to navigate the bus system, how to negotiate with tour guides and “taxistas”, and how to check in to hostels at 5 a.m. after an overnight bus ride. Even after the end of the formal program, I met up with two of the other students in Cusco to get lunch and spend more time with them, and went to Machu Picchu the next day with one of them. The friends I made from this program are dear to my heart, and though I may never get the chance to see some of them again I am fortunate to have met them.

I cannot think of a better way to have spent four weeks, and because of this program my ability to communicate and connect with patients has improved immensely. I only wish I could have spent more time there, and hope that someday I will be able to return and visit the friends that I made during that month.

Vivek – Medicine, Newcastle – (June, 2016)

Vivek, from Newcastle University in the UK  offers some helpful information about surfing whilst on your elective in Trujillo.

The medical electives program based in Trujillo is a well-established program in a fantastic location in Peru. Surfing being a keen interest of mine, I jumped at the chance to undertake my Medical Elective after my fourth year in a Spanish-speaking country in a coastal city. Peru is without a doubt under-rated as a surfing destination; mentions of the longest wave (chicama!) float around the internet but apart from that Peru has managed to avoid the spotlight.

The water temperature during the winter months are warmer than the summer months in England, and most will be fine with a summer wetsuit. During Peru´s summer only boardshorts will be enough. No matter what time of the year the sun is intense so cover up with strong water proof sun-cream. The air temperature never gets cold during the day, however temperatures during the night/early morning may be a bit chilly so bring a jumper just in case.

Close to Trujillo is an abundance of left hand point breaks which provide a fantastic opportunity for beginners-intermediates to hone their skills; the waves are easy to catch and highly predictable. Further afield there are more challenging breaks for the more able surfer, with opportunities for tube riding!

Huanchaco is the closest break to Trujillo (40 minutes by bus which costs about 30p) and provides a good left hand point with punchy sections, and is also home to the reed boat fishermen. The town of Huanchaco has an active back-packer vibe and is an easy place to go for short day trips (or even half day trips) with options of seeing some pre-incan ruins on the way in Chan Chan. The beach is self is rocky in parts, but there is a sandy section past the pier suited for beginners. Keep an eye out for sea urchins when you´re getting in/outof the water!

Puerto Malabrigo is about a two and a half hour bus ride away, and home to Chicama the longest wave in the world! So long that a picture will most likely not feature all of the 2km+ wave. The village itself is a lot smaller than Huanchaco with less amenities, so I´d recommend stocking up in the supermarket before you leave for food provisions. There are places to hire boards and wetsuits, however these are limited so bring your own if you can. Note that you will get charged 5 soles more for a board on the bus which may get mishandled! There are places to get lessons here but I would recommend at least surfing once at Huanchaco to truly appreciate this wave. The current here is very strong but only takes you down the beach, so swimming isn´t an option here. Prepare for surfing with a martian landscape backdrop, long rides and long walks back to the point (the real reason they call this wave a leg-burner) or you can spend a bit of money on a boat that will taxi you back to the top like a ski lift! The beach itself is a huge golden sand beach, perfect for sun-bathing, in your down time.

Further afield we have other breaks such as Pacasmayo (Chicama´s bigger brother), Lobitos, Mancora which if you have time can be explored!

Kevin was great in giving information on how to get to and from surf spots, and always enthusiastic to hear about how the trip went.

Things to bring which you may not consider:

• Bring boots!! The water temperature is fine, the rocks, long walks (Chicama) and sea urchins (Huanchaco) are not. And you will not be able to buy boots out here.
• If you have a wetsuit bring it (especially if you´re at the extremes of the sizing range- there are limited options), a summer 3:2 wetsuit will be enough in their “winter months”
• You can buy boards out here, but there isn´t a great range of boards and they can be a bit beat up. And usually they won´t sell with a board bag which can result in a lot of dings due to careless bus staff.
• Bring fins and leash if you have them- these cost the same if not more than prices back at home due to import prices.
• Talk to people about what conditions work for the breaks around here- you´ll find that Magicseaweed may not be 100% accurate (who knew?!)

Kennedy – Medicine, Virginia – (Feb, 2016)

This medical Spanish immersion program provided me the most productive month-long experience that I have ever undertaken. My goals coming in were to lend as much medical assistance as I could while learning as much Spanish as possible. These expectations were exceeded, thanks to the design of the program.

Let’s start with Kevin, the director of Medical Electives. Easily one of the most approachable and accommodating people I have ever met. I arrived to Trujillo on the same day as two other students. Kevin picked each of us up from the airport, introduced us to our respective host families, and later met up with us to have lunch while going over the lay of the land and the day-to-day structure of the month ahead of us. He is an excellent resource, great to talk to, and completely dedicated to optimizing the experience of every student who enters the Medical Electives Spanish Immersion Program.

The scheduling was very well designed and amenable to the concept of remaining busy without burning out. On weekdays, breakfast would be prepared by 7am. Our driver would pick us up around 7:30am and have us dropped off at the hospital before 8am. Hospital time was roughly from 8am-12:30pm. Our driver would take us back to our residence (often, not before a special requested, tasty, post-work cremalada run) to ready ourselves for lunch at 1pm, which was prepared by the host mother or housekeeper. Classes began at 2:30pm and ended at 6:30pm. The remainder of the day was ours.

The hospital experience will vary based on the location. I was primarily located in the emergency sector of Hospital Regional Decente de Trujillo. I was given the opportunity to directly attend to patient needs, perform modest procedures or assist with crucial ones, and team build with residents, nurses and staff members. This, of course, helped to greatly elevate my Spanish-speaking ability.

Class time was amazing. It was very well structured and organized in such a way that best catered to each student. The classes were broken into conversational Spanish, vocabulary, grammar, and medical Spanish (for students with healthcare interests). There was a separate instructor for each class, and the instructors were all fabulous. Each were very relatable, innovative in their teaching styles, and totally committed to the progress of each student.

Peru is an awesome country to visit. There are so many landmarks with so much history. Our group enjoyed spending most weekends traveling and exploring various towns to get as comprehensive of an experience as possible. Trujillo, our home base, is a pleasant city with friendly locals. I thought it was very conducive location for meeting the needs and wants of the students. Ultimately, I found Peru to be the perfect place to fulfill the goals of medical immersion, Spanish speaking development, and enjoy oneself during free time!

-Kennedy

Tyler PA-C from Virginia, USA (December 2015)

I cannot emphasize and resonate enough the great things that have already been said here about Medical Electives.  Kevin has created an ideal environment for students of all medical specialties (as well as others) to truly immerse and learn as much as possible about Peruvian healthcare and culture while at the same time study Spanish in a unique language learning center.

I was fortunate enough to visit two of Trujillo’s hospitals in my four weeks with medical electives.  While I opted for an emphasis on emergency medicine, the nature of the hospitals allowed me to visit and be welcomed into many different departments.  I was able to see several ob/general/trauma surgeries and at the same time participate and practice Spanish in ambulatory departments as well as acute care and follow up.  All of the doctors were very accommodating and having the opportunity to round on patients in Spanish (complete with gentle natured pimping) was a way to push my language learning to the limit.

The language center is amazing and exceedingly well structured.  The teachers are all exceptional and extremely professional.  Their dedication is easily apparent and their ability to keep four hours of class a day enjoyable speaks volumes as to their experience.

Trujillo is an ideal place to study abroad.  It offers an authentic window into large urban living in Peru.  There is nearby Huanchaco for relaxing on the beach.  The opportunity to stay with a host family is another way to greatly improve language skills.  The entire family that I stayed with welcomed me to their home and it is with nostalgia that I remember waking up every morning wondering how I might embarrass myself that day over a delicious home-cooked breakfast using my glaringly inept (to begin with) Spanish.  By the end of the four weeks I was happy to have moved from making a fool of myself with my words and replacing that with the still lacking physical prowess required to play football as well as Peruvians.

Lastly I want to mention the perhaps lesser acknowledged role Medical Electives takes.  Kevin adopts many projects outside of making sure the programs of several simultaneous students run smoothly.  He, along with the team of teachers, does amazing work in providing aid to the impoverished in Peru.  He is a person whom is truly “on the ground” and he and Rocky both genuinely return actual tangible results to the community around them.

This testimonial is only a fraction of thanks and praise I have for Kevin, Elvis, Rocky, my host family, the amazing Spanish instructors as well as the doctors and staff at El Regional and La Florencia.

Thanks again,

Tyler Prewett PA-C

Lisa, PA-C from Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (Sept-Nov 2015)

Hi, my name is Lisa Hoemeke and I came to Medical Electives after graduating from PA school in the U.S.  My time with Medical Electives was truly an experience of a lifetime!   I planned to come for 5 weeks, but extended my stay to 10 weeks.   After graduating from PA school in Chicago, Illinois, I was searching online for an immersion Medical Spanish program in Central or South America that would also offer clinical/hospital experience.  In Chicago, throughout my clinical rotations in PA school, I repeatedly encountered Spanish-speaking patients and would frequently have doctors asking me to interpret with my quite limited Spanish, because the need was so great.  I read up on many programs, but from the moment I began communication with Medical Electives, I knew that it was unique in that it offered everything I was looking for in a program abroad.  The director, Kevin Hurley, may just be one of the kindest, most thoughtful individuals I have ever met.   I believe that his hard work and commitment to the work that he does makes Medical Electives a truly special program.  His thoughtfulness is consistently manifested in his dedication to creating optimal experiences not only for his students but also for the healthcare provided in Peru.  He volunteers his time to work with the local healthcare system and government officials for multiple international healthcare initiatives, playing a crucial role for these campaigns and also offering a wonderful opportunity for students in his school.   I feel honored to have participated in a campaign and to have had this incredible experience all around with Medical Electives.

The team at the school, including Rosa, Kevin’s assistant, and the Spanish teachers—Rocky, Elvis and Anna—are not only exceptional teachers but amazingly supportive every step of the way.   Together, they made me and all of the students feel so comfortable and supported both with learning Spanish and, equally important, with our overall experience in Trujillo.  From the moment I met the team and my homestay mother (I stayed at the home of Ana and Oswaldo), I felt so very much at home.  Ana, my homestay mother, was not only the best cook, but also such a lovely, caring person—whether expressing interest in my daily experiences or helping me with Spanish homework during lunch (I would tease her that she should teach classes at the school because she was really a great teacher).  I truly felt spoiled by her in the most wonderful way.  We only spoke Spanish together, which was important to me for the immersion experience and added so much to my learning of Spanish.

My clinical experience with Medical Electives, working with Dr. Caballero in the Emergency Department and in General Surgery consultation at Hospital Regional, was equally satisfying and rewarding.  While amply challenging at times, both with respect to Spanish, the level of trauma in the E.R. and some of the “hands on “ experience, the whole time I felt very much accepted as part of the team of local medical students, interns and residents.  Dr. Caballero loved teaching and made an added effort to make me feel welcomed.   It was an experience that was not only educational with respect to medicine and Spanish, but added so much to my understanding of a very different health care system.   I was also very fortunate to get to spend one week with a U.S. visiting surgical team (ISHI- International Surgical Health Initiative), not only getting to assist in surgery consults, H&Ps and surgery, but also getting to function as one of the primary interpreters for a team of 20+ (before coming to Medical Electives my Spanish skills would not have been adequate for this and, without a doubt, my experience with Medical Electives gave me the experience and confidence to feel that I could actually function as an interpreter).  This experience and getting to feel part of team with a shared mission was so invaluable for me.   It also afforded me the opportunity to work very closely with local nurses and other staff at Clinica Madre de Cristo in Trujillo.  This, again, felt like an experience of a lifetime.

I cannot complete this testimonial without adding how much I appreciated getting to be classmates in Spanish classes with students from all over the world—just one more cross-cultural aspect that made the whole experience that much more mind opening and valuable and that much more fun.  This combined with living in Trujillo, a city filled with culture, museums, wonderful restaurants and surrounded by more than ample locations near and far to visit, allowed for both venturing out on my own and, at times, with classmates.  Whether it was visiting the archeological ruins of Chan Chan or Huaca de la Luna y el Sol, sandboarding in Conache, or surfing in Huanchaco, all nearby Trujillo, or embarking on surf lessons in Mancora (a 9 hour bus ride to the north but well worth it for the lovely beach resort, amazing surf, the opportunity to swim with tortoises and soak in the natural hot springs), the adventures were endless!  Many other classmates also traveled to the mountains, to Macchu Pichu and even the jungle….there really is something for every interest.

Clearly, I cannot say enough positives about Medical Electives.  I am just so grateful for the experience and to the entire team.   Trujillo and the school will always have a special place in my heart.  I have shared with Kevin that I am happy to talk personally to anyone with questions for a prior student.  As someone who has never written a testimonial for anything, this experience was just too great to not want to share and give well-deserved accolades.

Rachael from Cairns Australia (Oct. 2015)

Jon from Cambridge – Ophthalmology (Sept. 2015)

When I planned my elective, my aims were to practice ophthalmology and to go to South America to improve my Spanish. Medical Electives was an obvious choice as they offered a nice mix of clinical experience and language teaching, as well as the opportunity to stay with a local family in Trujillo. I stayed in Trujillo for 7 weeks, during that time Kevin and everyone else at Medical Electives were more helpful than I could ever have expected, making every effort to improve my experience.

I was placed in the Instituto Regional  de Oftalmologia, which handles ophthalmology referrals from all over the north of Peru. The hospital offers a wide range of clinics, including a general clinic handling almost every new presentation to the hospital from which patients are referred to one of the specialist clinics. The institute also has 5 theatres, and the surgeons were always helpful in explaining the procedures I was observing.

The Spanish lessons were extremely enjoyable, and much needed as I arrived with only basic Spanish. I initially struggled to communicate with the doctors, but with constant practice and teaching every afternoon I soon improved. The teachers (Rocky, Elvis and Anna) were always enthusiastic, and made sure that every lesson was entertaining. The lessons were also a good opportunity to get to know the other students placed elsewhere in Trujillo, and we were able to organise several weekend trips with the help of Kevin (who was always helpful in arranging transport and providing lifts)!

Being in Trujillo also gave me the chance to explore the north of Peru, and I spent weekends in Huaraz (which is stunning, particularly if you’re willing to walk into the mountains) and Cajamarca. The beaches of Chicama and Huanchaco were also well worth a visit, as no trip to the area would be complete without a meal of ceviche and pisco sours while looking out over the Pacific.

I’ll always remember my time in Peru, and the people that made it so special.

Jordan´s Health care Management Program – (August 2015)

I just wanted to start off by saying that the internship for hospital administration was, for me, the most valuable educational experience I have ever had.

I truly learned what it was like to be a hospital administrator in the country of Peru. Not only, was I able to work hand in hand with the CEO and actually make decisions for the hospital, but I had the privilege to work alongside with the Director of the corporation of EsSalud. I was able to complete projects to improve patient experience for the hospital; I gave a PowerPoint training to the Quality and Assurance department and also to the Director of Nursing and their staff.

The ability to learn the processes of how the hospital and corporation works, was truly intriguing and in fact I am writing a paper on it. Being in the hospital administration it gives you such a wide variety of fields to labor in. For example, if you love math, working with the CFO and the finance side of things would be a perfect internship. Also, I worked with the head of Public Relation for the entire system of the north of Peru and so if you like that aspect of hospital administration then that would be a perfect place for you. I highly, highly, highly recommend anyone and everyone who is serious about healthcare systems and hospitals and really making a difference in the world to do this internship with Medical Electives.

I cannot thank enough, the Director of Medical Electives, Kevin Hurley, for all of his hard work and diligence to help further my education and give back to the city of Trujillo.  You really can make a difference there, and your voice is heard. But you also learn an immense amount of knowledge on how to run a hospital. It’s a unique experience that you will not be able to find anywhere else in the world. I hope to go back someday and do it again. It was well worth it. If anyone reading this testimonial ever needed or wanted to talk to someone about it then definitely contact Kevin and he can give you my email address for more information for a first hand take on how amazing it was. Thanks so much Medical Electives!

Isaac from Rocky Vista University (May 2015)

“I cannot say enough about my time with Medical Electives!  It was beyond what I expected.  Honestly, it is hard to think of anything negative to say.  The staff are really there for you from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.  During the weekends, I spent my time traveling, surfing, and trekking.    My time at the Hospital Regional was a lot of work and certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone, but the physicians, nurses, and medical students I was working with were kind and patient.  I was impressed by the knowledge of the Peruvian medical professionals and learned a lot during my time there.  I made friends that I will have for life.  My host family was wonderful.  And the best food in Trujillo was in my host mom’s, Ana’s, kitchen.  As to improving my Spanish, when I started the program I really knew nothing.  By the time my 4 weeks were over, I felt very comfortable jumping in a taxi or walking into a store/restaurant by myself and communicating effectively.  The Spanish teachers at Medical Electives push you, but work hard to meet you where you are at and help you improve.  I recommend Medical Electives.  You will not be disappointed.”

Django from Sydney University (Feb. 2015)

I had a fantastic time with medical electives in Trujillo. it was exactly what i was looking for and my elective with Kevin and his team filled all my expectations. I wanted to learn Spanish, have an authentic experience living in Peru, make new friends, meet people and learn some medicine while having a great time.

I stayed in Trujillo for 4 weeks. during this time i was in a little hospital called Florencia, situated near the one of the poorer areas of Trujillo called Alto Trujillo. In Florencia the day was whatever i decided to make of it. I would arrive early in the morning in a car with the other medical students and Gali (our awesome, hilarious driver), then hang out with Dr Ruben, the director of the hospital for about an hour practicing Spanish while we decided where would be the best place to go on that day. i got along particularly well with the surgical team so i drifted in and out of whatever surgeries interested me, but i also did some obstetrics, gynaecology, general medicine and home visits with the director of family medicine. the staff were very welcoming, friendly, answered all my questions enthusiastically and encouraged me to get involved with whatever was happening. Dr Ruben was probably the highlight of the hospital. I loved spending the mornings talking with him, listening to stories and telling jokes. On my last day he took me and my friend Ben out to lunch and we spent the whole afternoon getting fat on delicious Peruvian food and laughing.

My afternoons were spent learning Spanish at the medical electives language school where I had three great teachers; Cinthia, Elvis and Rocky. Class was small, intimate, I learnt lots and got along really well with my teachers. They were kind when I made mistakes but always corrected them, encouraged me to learn new words and made the effort to make every class exciting, interesting and challenging. I was amazed by their dedication to us and it was so wonderful to build a friendship with our teachers.

I definitely recommend staying with a host family. My host mother, Ana, was one of the kindest warmest people i have ever met. Waking up to have breakfast with her was one of the highlights of my day, an excellent way to learn about Peruvian culture and she taught me so much Spanish. I felt at home, safe and excited about each meal and each day. When it was time for me to go home Ana drove me to the bus station and it was very sad to part but we will try to be pen pals.

One of the best parts of Medical electives is the other students. Meeting doctors and medical students from other countries, going out together on weekends, learning together, struggling through Spanish together and sharing the incredible experience of living in another country was very special and i hope i will have made some long term friendships.

What Kevin Hurley and his team is doing is fantastic. Much of the proceeds from medical electives is fed back into the community to organise free medical and surgical treatment for the local people, and in a few years when I am a qualified doctor with some experience under my belt i plan to come back and work with medical electives again. “

Kelly from Bastyr University (Oct. 2014)

My experience at the Medical Electives Program in Trujillo for the month of August was one in which I will never forget. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my time in Peru from my beloved host family, my community nutrition internship to my daily classes with my amazing professors at school.

As a graduate nutrition student, I went into the program seeking to learn about the current nutritional problems Peru is facing. I was the first group of nutrition students to be a part of the “community nutrition” elective as opposed to the traditional “clinical nutrition” elective. As part of this community nutrition program, everyday I would go into the lower socioeconomic communities of Peru with a local nutritionist and assist in giving lectures to local women, children and elders about an array of nutritional topics. Often times we would discuss the importance of balanced meals, clean water, foods to help treat anemia and foods to avoid altogether. After the lecture, we would talk to each person individually, calculate their BMI’s and answer any personal questions they had about any of the topics we had discussed. In the beginning of the month, the nutritionist, Iris, would do most of the speaking for us but by the end of just one month myself and two other nutrition students dominated the majority of the lecture on our own. During these presentations, we would often make green smoothies, hummus or other healthful snacks to engage our audience. Iris would allow us to research topics we felt were important to educate the groups on and let us lead a lecture all our own. There was a lot of freedom involved in deciding what we wanted to talk about with the community and it truly left us feeling empowered and important. Although I did not get to experience a traditional clinical nutrition experience in Peru, I believe I was able to experience a more hands-on authentic experience by being in the community, seeing peoples day to day lives and getting to engage with them on a personal level. I am certain my Spanish improved so much because of my full immersion in this community setting and I was able to lead lectures instead of playing behind the scenes like I most likely would have in the hospital setting.

In addition to my days in the community, my afternoons were spent in classes with all the other medical and nursing students in the Medical Electives program. With four different classes for conversation, grammar, vocabulary and medical Spanish everyday I was fully immersed in a wealth of knowledge and opportunity to improve my Spanish skills. All the information we learned in the classes was relevant to our days in the community and we learned vocabulary and medical concepts that we could implement into our lectures the following day. The teachers themselves were beyond helpful. Any question we had they would thoroughly answer with clear explanations. On Thursdays we would even have a fun activity-learning day where we would cook classic Peruvian meals, take field trips to the local garden or even make our own comfort foods from America to share with them as well. Kevin made himself available to answer any and all questions we had and even provided us with cell phones so that we could call him whenever we needed. It was such a supportive environment to grow and embrace all that Trujillo had to offer.

The last and best component of my life in Trujillo was my awesome host family. My host mother, Ana, cooked the most delicious foods and introduced me to an abundance of Peruvian favorites while also asking me what foods I would like. The family truly brought me in as one of their own and even invited me to their grandson’s baptism at the local church. I truly felt like a member of their family. Additionally, my host sister was a translator at the Medical Electives center and sometimes would go with us into the community to help translate. She would help me in the evenings with my vocabulary and lecture notes and was a great support system to have in my household. I could not be more thankful for being placed with such an amazing family for my time in Trujillo

Overall, my time in Peru was perfect. My four and a half weeks there allowed me the opportunity to volunteer, learn, travel and understand the customs and culture of the country. The support of Kevin, my host family, my fellow classmates and my teachers all made life in the Medical Electives Program a home away from home during my time there. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is seeking a cultural learning experience in an authentic South American city.

Sue from New Zealand (Oct. 2014)

In my final year of med school, I had the chance to travel for 3 months for an overseas medical elective. Since backpacking through South America several years ago, my heart was set on returning to Peru to improve my Spanish and experience clinical medicine here.

From the first point of contact I found Kevin to be clear, helpful and encouraging. Medical Electives organised my placement, homestay and transport to and from the hospital. In fact, there was very little at all that I needed to plan myself other than flights to Peru, and transport to Trujillo and even for this, there was support and advice available. Having the organizational side of things formally taken care of was a huge weight off my shoulders, and not something I would have been able to manage myself given the language barrier.

So what was it like?

Trujillo is a medium sized city. I was pleasantly surprised by how few tourists were in the city itself, given how much there is to do.  If you choose to come alone as I did, you will not find yourself without weekend travelling companions. I found both the local and other elective students really friendly and we had some great weekend trips away during my 6 week placement.

The programme is very organised; we spent the mornings at the hospital and the afternoons studying Spanish with a generous siesta break in between.  The doctors in the hospitals, while interested in teaching, are busy and the medical students for the most part took me under their wing. On Fridays we also had the chance to go to the elective-run clinic, which was great for gaining experience with common illness presentations but also for practicing medical Spanish with real patients! I feel like my Spanish progressed quickly with the daily lessons, and the non competitive, all levels, nature of the classes made for fun afternoons at the school.  

Overall I think I was lucky to get on one of the best elective programmes available in this part of the world. Go, you’ll love it!