Guatemala - Antigua Medical Internship

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Become a medical intern in Antigua, Guatemala and expand your Spanish language skills! Throughout this internship, interns will be able to gain hands-on and practical medical experience, although specific tasks will be determined by interns’ education level, prior experience and Spanish language skills. Interns will be working primarily in Spanish and will; therefore, be embracing the opportunity to gain a wider knowledge of medical terminology. This internship offers medical students a broad perspective on global healthcare systems and patient care practices.

Location of the Project: Antigua, Guatemala

Project length: Min 4 weeks - Max 12 weeks

Arrival Airport: La Aurora International Airport (GUA)

Volunteer Work: Patient care, clinic work

Age: Minimum age of 18

Important Note: Participants are required to bring their own basic medical supplies, including a white coat, scrubs, disposable latex gloves, antibacterial soap or sanitizer, a stethoscope, and a blood pressure cuff.

What's Included

Accommodations: Private room in a homestay

Food: Breakfast and dinner are provided each day

Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided on arrival day

Orientation: Interns’ experience, education and Spanish level will be evaluated before the internship begins in order to determine exact tasks.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What's not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance. lunches, daily transportation (about $5 USD per day), personal expenses

Guatemala is the northernmost Central American country, right below Mexico. This internship takes place in Guatemala’s southern city of Antigua, which served as the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala from the 17th until the 19th century. Today it is a beautiful city surrounded by volcanoes and nestled in the highlands. It is most well-known for its famous architectural structures and ruins, such as the Santa Catalina arch and San Francisco church; the city itself has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Interns in this program will have the unique opportunity to assist Guatemalan health care service providers, from local hospitals and clinics to assisted living facilities. This internship provides interns with hands-on experience while they expand their skills in diagnosis, intervention and evaluation. In addition to these medical skills, interns will also be enhancing their Spanish language skills through daily one-on-one lessons and regular practice throughout the work day.

Some of your tasks may include:

Assisting with physical examinations
Taking patient’s vital signs, measuring height and weight
Organizing files
Assisting with family planning services
Assisting with sutures, suture removals and injections
Assisting with patient consultations and prescriptions
Interpreting laboratory tests

Please note: Specific tasks will depend on your level of experience, education and Spanish language skills. Physical therapy and dental placements may or may not be available at any given time. For the two-week and four-week programs, a one-hour presentation or 10-20 page paper is required upon completion. For the eight-week program, both a one-hour presentation and paper are required. Weekly journals are also required.

Typical Schedule: Interns will work Monday-Friday, typically 4-6 hours/day, Monday-Friday and join one hour of Spanish class. Weekends are free for interns to spend as they wish.

Internet: Internet is available at the institute in Antigua.

Laundry: Laundry facilities may or not be available at your host family, but there are laundromats in Antigua.

Accommodations: Interns will stay in private rooms with a host family in Antigua. Host families may live up to one hour from the intern site. Interns should be prepared to spend about $5 USD per day on public transportation.

Food: Breakfast and dinner are provided each day by the host family. Interns will be responsible for arranging their own lunches.

Please take note of this program's minimum requirements:

Strong, Intermediate level of Spanish
Short interview to evaluate Spanish level
At least 18 years of age
Pre-med, medical, and nursing program students; alternatively licensed medical professionals
Copies of training and credentials
Proof of medical education, training, certifications, and licenses
CV/ resume
Police clearance
Internship questionnaire
Final project required upon completion of placement
Able to be creative with limited resources
Hard working

During free time, volunteers may choose to take part in a variety of free activities sponsored by the local team, including salsa classes, cooking lessons, a language and cultural exchange program and more! For additional fees, volunteers can choose to travel and the area on their own. A few recommendations are listed below.

Surf School - Five-day surf school at the beautiful Manuel Antonio beach

Scuba Diving Certification - Four-day PADI diving certification

Mini Adventure—Catch the best highlights of Guatemala on this week-long tour including hiking Pacaya Volcano, visiting the jungle ruins of Tikal, engaging in beach activities and more!

ChocoMuseo
Every intern should visit the chocolate museum while in Antigua! Guatemala is well-known for its Mayan chocolate, and here interns will have the chance to learn how chocolate is made and to sample different chocolate products.

Volcán Pacaya
Hike up Pacaya Volcano for a breathtaking view of the city! It takes approximately an hour and a half to reach the summit.

De la Gente
If you agree that chocolate and coffee go hand-in-hand, then don’t miss the chance to visit a family owned coffee farm after your visit to ChocoMuseo to complete your Guatemalan cultural experience.

Please note that these are available for a fee.