The MSI Ecuador Medical Service Experience is a four week medical volunteer experience based in Ecuador. The trip takes place in June and/or July, immediately following the MSI calendar year at PCOM. Volunteers undertake a medical study – abroad experience. They live with a family, study Spanish, and volunteer in a variety of medical settings in and around Guayaquil & Duran, Ecuador. The experience focuses on participants gaining intimate knowledge of the language and customs of the people, as well as the delivery and shortcomings of the medical system. It is the belief of Physicians for Humanity that only by living with, working alongside, and sharing in the struggles of the poor, is one truly capable of understanding and appreciating the underlying causes of societies' problems. While PFH has a primary care focus, participants also receive unique clinical exposure to the fields of infectious disease, rural/community medicine, maternity care, pediatrics, surgery, and others.

This experience Is grounded in humanitarian service work, as PFH believes that healing with the heart and hands is fundamental to becoming a complete care provider. PFH volunteers spend time forming lasting relationships with families and communities, as well as clinics, hospitals, and hospices with little or no resources. They visit areas where families are without homes, squatting in empty fields, and living in land fills - essentially lacking all basic necessities of life. PFH believes that by spending time immersed in such poverty, volunteers are forced to address the reality of human suffering and disease without bias or disconnect.

Applicants are implored to contemplate the significant immersive quality of this experience before applying, as they will live with families, sharing completely in their lives, language and culture. While this affords an intense and unique introduction to learning and using the Spanish language in daily life and in the field of medicine, it is also a very rigorous and challenging endeavor.

PFH makes every effort to provide this experience at a reasonable cost to its volunteers. Airfare, room and board, immunizations, and Spanish lessons, average approximately $1500 per person, excluding spending money. Offering such an experience at this cost and having limited housing has necessitated the implementation of an application process.

Interested students must complete the following application to be considered for the summer Ecuador experience. All submitted applications will be reviewed, and some students will be selected for an interview. Submitting an application does not guarantee an interview. Shortly after the interviews, PFH's selection committee will send personal letters to each applicant informing them of their status. This process is selective and subjectively based on the opinions of the selection committee.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION(s):
In order to be considered for a PFH volunteer position, you must complete an application. Because of the life commitment it takes to become a volunteer and the amount of applications we receive, not everyone will be selected for our humanitarian trips. Please email your application request to: PFHapps@gmail.com