Coupling Culture and Medicine in Chile

• Main Authors: Kaitlin Marie Christine Endres, Mitchell Eric Nicholls
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Ottawa 2019-05-01
• Series: University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine
• Subjects: international elective, Chile, internal medicine, culture
• Online Access: https://uottawa.scholarsportal.info/ottawa/index.php/uojm-jmuo/article/view/4156

This elective report provides an overview of a month-long Internal Medicine elective in Coronel, Chile completed by a first-year medical student from Ottawa and a second-year medical student from Western in July 2018. As a couple, we had the opportunity to apply to the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) together in order to complete our international exchange in the same city. While in Chile, we had the opportunity to shadow many subspecialties, learn how one becomes a physician in South America, and gain exposure to Chilean culture and traditions from our host family. Our experience was unique in that it allowed us not only to learn about medicine and patient populations in Chile within our assigned hospital, but also from some of our family members who work as Chilean physicians we had the opportunity to visit.