Latinx Health Internship in Oaxaca
On this Quarter Abroad program, you can:
- Earn 20 quarter units.
- Enroll in UC Davis courses to fulfill degree, major, minor, or GE requirements as listed in the General Catalog.
- Experience academic coursework enriched by both the program’s location(s) and activities.
Host Institution
This Quarter Abroad program is offered in partnership with Child Family Health International, a nonprofit organization that offers health-focused placements, rotations, and internships around the world. Courses take place at a classroom facility rented by CFHI not far from student homestays and local health centers, hospitals, and clinics where students participate in shadowing activities.
Courses (20 units)
You will enroll in the course set below. Expand the sections to view course descriptions. Auditing is not an option. UC Davis programs are academic programs so participants should expect a substantial amount of course work.
- Chicana/Chicano Studies (CHI) 21S. Latino/a Health Care Issues* (4 units)
- Syllabus Draft (PDF)
Overview of health issues of Chicanas/os and Latinas/os in the State of California; role of poverty/lack of education in limited access to health care. GE credit: OL, WC, WE. - Chicana/Chicano Studies (CHI) 145S. Bi-National Health* (5 units)
- Syllabus Draft (PDF)
Examination of health status and intervention strategies presented in public health care settings, private clinics and by indigenous healers in Mexico. Analysis of impact of high risk diseases. Offered in a Spanish speaking country under supervision of UC Davis faculty/lecturer. GE credit: OL, WC, WE.
This course is designed for bilingual (Spanish-English) students considering careers in medicine or allied health professions and interested in improving their cultural competency skills within the Mexican origin population. The course will be team taught in Mexico with health professionals and experts in the medical field. Content areas of the course include the following: overview of bi-national adult and child morbidity and mortality rates, standard practice patterns for disease treatment in Mexico and the US, risk factors associated to selected diseases, and distinct cultural and indigenous practice patterns. A major goal of this course is to provide specific knowledge on the Mexican and indigenous population for future health professionals so that they may systematically understand the unique cultural, linguistic and health needs of this population. In addition, the course should assist students in developing skills that allow them to appropriately interpret standard medical risk factors related to the onset of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dengue, tuberculosis, HIV, and specific cancers within this population. - Chicana/Chicano Studies (CHI) 147S. Indigenous Healing and Biodiversity in Latin America* (5 units)
- Syllabus Draft (PDF)
Contrast between western and traditional healing practices in Latin America and the role of the natural environment in creating sustainable health delivery systems. Questions of health status attributable to public health and environmental risk factors. GE credit: OL, WC, WE.
Focus on the intersection of western and traditional healing practices in Latin America and the role of the natural environment in creating sustainable health delivery systems. Analysis is provided of the major health issues attributable to public health risk factors and environmental degradation in Latin America. These include the emergence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, drug resistant TB; food-born bacteria such as salmonella and tropical diseases such as dengue, chagas and malaria. Assessment of comparative health policies identifies current cultural and environmental strategies in Latin America to tackle emerging illnesses within the context of existing health care resources, systems and treatment modalities. - Chicana/Chicano Studies (CHI) 192S. Clinical Rotation Internship (*6 units, Pass/No Pass)
- Syllabus Draft (PDF)
Internship in the Chicana/Chicano Latina/Latino Community. Academic guidance combined with internship in community agencies serving Mexican/Latina/Latino/Chicana/Chicano clients. Use of bilingual skills and knowledge of history, culture, economics, politics and social issues. Internship project required. May be repeated up to 12 unit(s). (P/NP grading only.) GE credit: OL.
For details about clinical rotations, please refer to the Placements tab.
*The language of instruction for these classes will be Spanish.
Prerequisites
Interested applicants must demonstrate sufficient Spanish language skills to understand and converse with Spanish speaking medical professionals (during guest lectures and clinical rotations), patients, and host families (housing will be homestays).
Along with the general eligibility requirements, Quarter Abroad will be enforcing the following prerequisites:
- BIS 2A & 2B
- SPA 21 or SPA 31 or consent of instructor
In addition, students must be junior standing (90 quarter units or above) or possess the demonstrated maturity and coursework to understand fundamental medical and biological terms/functions and their impact on people.
Prerequisites can only be waived by individualized consent of instructor—please contact the instructor if you wish to discuss this option. Native Spanish speakers may contact the instructor to seek exemption from the language requirement. Failure to complete unwaived prerequisites can result in administrative withdrawal and fees owed accordingly.