David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
2006 UC-Mexico Medical School Student Exchange Program
  REV DATE: 04/10/2006

The UC-Mexico Medical School Student Exchange Program will take place again this summer.  This is the fifth year of the program. Here are the details:

  • All five UC medical schools will participate – each sending 2 medical students
  • Program dates are Thursday, July 6 - Saturday August 5, 2006 (4 weeks in length)
  • The program has been:  4 hours/day clinical (basic skills) instruction in a hospital or clinic setting; 3 hours/day of language immersion; Mexican and Mexican-American cultural competency will also be taught
  • EVERYTHING will be in Spanish – there will be no translators
  • There will be weekend immersion excursions
  • All travel expenses including airfare as well as room and board will be covered by the program
  • Living accommodations will be with a family
  • A small stipend will be given each student for personal expenses – all other costs including those mentioned above are expected to total $3,300/student
  • Current level of Spanish competency must be at least at the intermediate but below that of a NATIVE speaker (e.g., a minimum of 1 year of college level Spanish or 3 years in high school); therefore Beginning Spanish language students are not appropriate for this program
  • An orientation for program participants will be scheduled most likely in late May

If you are interested – please be aware of the following:

  • You will be viewed during your time in Mexico as a REPRESENTATIVE of the University of California – therefore appropriate behavior will be expected at all times
  • You will be relied upon by the UC Office of the Vice President – Health Affairs to give feedback on your experiences
  • You need to be the kind of person who takes initiative
  • You will be expected to be inquisitive and engage the clinical instructors in discussion

The deadline for you to let me know of your interest, VIA E-MAIL – is MONDAY, March 20th .  You must express your interest by writing a ONE PAGE STATEMENT describing your interest in this opportunity, as well as a description of your prior Spanish language experience.

If you have questions about the program please address them to Ravi Dixit and Andrea Macfie who participated last summer.

Thank you,

Fran Kissel

Office of Student Affairs

David Geffen School of Medicine

at UCLA
Fkissel@mednet.ucla.edu