Applied Immersion & Internship Programs
Diverse Disciplines. Shared Purpose. Real Collaboration.
Bring your academic interests, experiences, and perspectives to Ecuador. Collaborate with international professionals and community partners on ongoing initiatives that advance community health and well-being.
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Your field.
Your perspective.
Your contribution.
Community health and well-being benefit from knowledge and experience across many disciplines. Discover how your interests, academic background, and skills could contribute to ongoing initiatives in Ecuador.
Health & Human Sciences
Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, Nutrition, Social Work
Explore health education, nutrition initiatives, mental health programming, and community healthcare outreach.
Environment & Food Systems
Environmental Science, Agriculture, Ecology, Sustainability
Explore agroecology, food security, water and sanitation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable livelihoods.
Business & Social Sciences
Business, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Policy
Contribute to community enterprise planning, feasibility studies, organizational strategy, and applied social research.
Education & Communication
Education, Languages, Journalism, Design, Communications
Develop educational resources, communication strategies, visual storytelling, and community engagement materials.
Research & Technology
Statistics, Data Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Research
Support research design, data analysis, program evaluation, geographic mapping, and practical technology solutions.
Other Fields & Interests
Arts, Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, and More
Bring a different perspective, an original idea, or a combination of skills. Explore how your interests might support ongoing work with our Ecuadorian partners.
Your academic background is a starting point, not a limitation.
You don't need to be pursuing a healthcare career to contribute to community health and well-being. PACH works with students and Ecuadorian partners to identify meaningful opportunities that align individual interests with ongoing projects and community priorities.
7 Years Active
After much encouragement from our university partners, we started offering student internships in the summer of 2019
Interns Engaged
60 talented individuals have accompanied our team in Ecuador to create lasting impact through various initiatives.
Our Partner
We are grateful for Fundación Internacional Buen Samaritano Paul Martel (FIBUSPAM) founded in 2011 in Riobamba, Ecuador
Many perspectives.
Shared opportunities.
A defining part of PACH's immersion experience is the opportunity to gain extensive firsthand exposure to healthcare through shadowing and collaboration with international doctors and Ecuadorian medical teams.
Students gain insight into clinical practice, patient care, and community health while learning directly from healthcare professionals. Beyond clinical experiences, students from diverse academic backgrounds can apply their knowledge and skills to ongoing initiatives in research, education, environmental sustainability, and community development.
Learn alongside experienced healthcare professionals.
Through physician shadowing, hospital-based observation, community outreach, and collaborative activities, students experience healthcare from multiple perspectives. Opportunities are guided by professional supervision, student preparation, and local healthcare requirements.Community Health & Well-Being
Gain exposure to healthcare delivery through physician shadowing and collaboration with medical professionals. Support initiatives addressing preventive healthcare, nutrition, mental health, and community well-being.Ecology, Environment & Food Systems
Explore the relationships between ecosystems, biodiversity, environmental conditions, and community well-being. Students may contribute to ecological research, conservation initiatives, agroecology, water quality assessments, and sustainable food systems, working alongside Ecuadorian partners to better understand and address environmental challenges.Applied Research & Evaluation
Help develop evidence-informed initiatives through research, needs assessments, data analysis, and program evaluation in collaboration with local partners.Education, Communication & Outreach
Develop educational materials, communication resources, and outreach strategies that support community programs and strengthen the exchange of knowledge and perspectives.Program Development & Sustainability
Contribute to planning, implementation, evaluation, and long-term development of initiatives with PACH, FIBUSPAM, and community partners.Clinical experience. Interdisciplinary collaboration. Lasting contributions.
A student's immersion may bring together clinical observation, community engagement, applied research, and project development. Individual activities are shaped by student interests, available opportunities, and the priorities of our Ecuadorian partners.How Your Immersion Takes Shape
Your interests. Our partnerships. Shared goals.
Every student brings a unique combination of academic preparation, experiences, and aspirations. PACH works directly with students and our Ecuadorian partners to develop individualized immersion experiences that connect personal learning objectives with ongoing community initiatives.
Alongside opportunities for extensive clinical observation and physician shadowing, students from diverse disciplines can apply their knowledge through collaborative projects, fieldwork, and applied learning.
Explore Your Interests
We begin by learning about your academic background, professional interests, practical skills, and personal learning goals. Your experiences and aspirations help shape the opportunities we explore together.Connect with Ongoing Initiatives
We explore how your interests align with ongoing work at PACH, FIBUSPAM, and our community partner organizations. Local priorities, available opportunities, and your preparation guide the development of your experience.Develop Your Project Plan
Together, we establish realistic learning objectives, activities, and potential deliverables. Your plan connects your academic interests with practical work that can support ongoing initiatives in Ecuador.Learn & Collaborate in Ecuador
Gain firsthand exposure to healthcare through physician shadowing and learning alongside international doctors and Ecuadorian medical teams, where arrangements permit. Collaborate with local professionals and community partners while advancing your individualized project and cultural understanding.Contribute to What Comes Next
Your research, educational resources, project plans, presentations, or other deliverables can contribute to work that PACH and our Ecuadorian partners continue developing after your immersion concludes.
Be Part of a Global Commitment to Health
Students from every a variety of backgrounds contribute to healthier communities in Ecuador. Interns learn, collaborate, and grow through hands-on projects with local partners in medicine, public health, and community development.
Fieldwork that matters
Participate in mobile clinics, outreach, and applied research that supports community priorities.
Mentorship & Learning
Collaborate with an international team that values shared knowledge and practical skills.
Cultural Immersion
Live with homestay families, practice Spanish, and engage in daily community life.
What You Will Gain
Intercultural Teamwork
Applied Research Skills
Community Engagement
Spanish and Kichwa Practice
Leadership Growth
Who Thrives in This Program?
Open-minded
Adaptable
Collaborative
Inquisitive
Basic Spanish Speaker
Where You Will Work
Central Andes
(Riobamba is your base location)
Southern Andes (Loja and Cuenca)
Amazonia (various locations)
& plenty of opportunities for travel
Ready to Apply?
Be part of a global network that advances community well-being while you build real skills.
Recent Immersions
Interns from universities like Princeton University, New York University, University of California – Berkeley, Harvard, Quinnipiac, Western, Loyola, Cal Poly, and George Washington have participated in intensive in-person immersion programs where they learned about the work of PACH and FIBUSPAM, and develop projects and research to support the communities we engage.
Project Areas for 2027
While we encourage prospective interns to discuss their own initiatives that they may want to undertake, we will also have projects that are in progress that will require their support. Most of these projects are meant to continue the amazing work that prior interns have contributed. Continuity of the unique and impactful projects that we develop is a main goal of this program. Interns can choose to support the following:
Cervical Cancer Program: Implementation & Evaluation
Developed by a recent intern, this program aims to make a direct impact on woman’s health in the Andean region.
Women's Health: Program Development
A major point of emphasis for 2026. We aim to improve current projects and create new ones, special focus on mental health.
Indigenous Nutrition: Program Development
Developed over several years by our interns, this program aims to develop programming that can be delivered through our partner organization FIBUSPAM on a permanent basis.
More Projects for 2027:
- Institutional Health Care Education
- Water Safety and Hygiene Care
- Mental Health Care Assessment
- Dental Health Programming
Project Presentations
At the end of each internship, our interns give a project presentation as they complete their period of collaboration with us. A major goal of ours is continuity of project development. As you can see in these video presentations, our interns care greatly about their projects and the future impacts that they intend to make.
Our Team
Interns work alongside PACH’s international team of experts in sustainable community health development. You will collaborate with PACH staff, FIBUSPAM staff and medical professionals, our network of international development collborators and organizations as well as have the opportunity to be mentored by members of our Board of Directors.
Skill Development
– Gain insight into the opportunities, inherent risks, and limitations in healthcare in the developing world
– Have ample opportunities to significantly increase Spanish and Kichwa language proficiency
– Observe, and learn in a diverse cultural setting
– Embrace the opportunity to collaborate with international development and relief organizations
What Our Interns Think About the Program
Toyosi
Noah
Hilal
Medical Campaigns
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Also know as “Caravanas”, these are opportunities to accompany the international FIBUSPAM medical outreach team when they visit communities. This experience will allow participants ample ability to contribute directly to the well-being of communities that are desperately in need of support.
Eco-Tourism
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Interns will have the opportunity to visit several parts of the Andes and Amazon to experience what local communities are doing to sustainably improve their environment.
Group Dynamics
INNOVATION IN ACTION
Participants will interact with international medical professionals, NGO’s, governmental entities, and indigenous professionals, making a profound community impact while also gaining in-depth knowledge of the factors of sustainable development in Ecuador.
Questions?
Send us a message and our team will get back to you.