Our medical program takes place in the Andes, the coast and the Galapagos Islands. The hospitals are mainly public run by the government or by foundations but they all have in common that they many times are in need of help and therefore gladly except an extra hand from volunteers and interns. For pre-med students and med students it is an excellent chance to see, learn and help and for professional doctors and nurses it is a chance to help patients in their area of specialization.

The participants will be working side by side with the doctors and nurses in different areas of the hospital. They normally start in the emergency room and after that they move on to other areas like pediatrics, obstetrics, internal medicine, surgery etc depending on where help is needed and on the participants interest . They will learn how to take vital signs, do minor suturing, remove stitches, take blood samples etc. Exactly what the participants will do also depends on their Spanish level and their knowledge/education. They might go to the operation room and see surgeries and they can always ask questions if they have any.

Sometimes they can chose to work either mornings or afternoons but most common is that the participants work the whole day and sometimes they also chose to stay and work even on the weekends or at night if they get the chance.

Experienced doctors and nurses will help with what is needed or in what they are specialized in and if they feel comfortable enough and the medical staff wants to they might be able to hold seminars, inform them on different working procedures etc.

The participants need to bring a white lab coat to work in and a scrub if they want to go to the operation room. Without these they will not be allowed to start their work. If they don't have a chance to bring this from home they can buy it in Quito Monday to Friday.

If participants want and can bring things to give the hospital or clinic they will work at it is a great idea and we can let them know what is needed most.

The hospitals we work with are located in many different locations on the coast, the Andes and the Galapagos Islands.

Interns work Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 with a break for lunch but if they also want to work in the weekends it is normally not any problem.

Interns needs to be forward and show that they are there not only to learn but also to help in any way they can. A shy person might have a hard time to get things to do as that will often be taken as a sign that you don't understand, you dong know or you don't have an interest in what they are doing.