Costa Rica Spring Break Program

Students participating in the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved curriculum have the opportunity to participate in an international medicine experience during the third and fourth years (six weeks during Year 3, four weeks during Year 4) of their curriculum.  Students complete Spanish and cultural classes prior to participation in the international experience.

Currently third year students attend primary care clinics in the area surrounding San Jose, Costa Rica.  A curriculum is presented emphasizing understanding of strengths and limitations within a national health program, tropical medicine, evidence based medicine, and public health planning in a developing country.  In addition, students have the opportunity to observe and interact with providers and patients in secondary and tertiary health care settings.  

Upon their return to the international underserved setting in the fourth year, students participate in public health project implementation and exposure to health care delivery for those patients who are not able to benefit from the organized services of the national health care system of Costa Rica.    

Students are supervised by faculty from the sponsoring foundation in San Jose, in addition to being accompanied by a CHM faculty member.