At a glance
- Get hands-on, practical medical experience in a new environment
- Learn from experts and help raise awareness of healthcare in the community
- Support the health of people in Mexico's disadvantaged rural communities
- Learn Spanish as you immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Mexico
Is a spring break Public Health Internship in Mexico right for me?
This is your chance to make fantastic use of your spring break. By traveling to Mexico, you’ll gain hands-on, practical medical experience in a new environment. If you’re the kind of person who is ambitious and always pushing their boundaries, then this internship was made for you.
The Public Health Internship is ideal for pre-med students, but anyone interested in a medical career can join. As long as you’re willing to learn from health professionals, make a positive difference, and adapt to a new culture, you’ll thrive on this internship.
By joining this spring break internship in Mexico, you’re building skills that will stand out on a resume. We don’t just mean medical skills, either. You’ll also build your communication skills, resilience, adaptability, and empathy. These are all critical for succeeding in a medical career.
This Public Health Internship is also right for you if you’re ready to make a positive difference. By joining this program, you’ll offer free medical checkups to those who cannot afford quality healthcare. You’ll also run educational workshops to leave a lasting impact on the community.
This project runs for a week over fixed dates in March. The dates we’ve set coincide with most North American universities’ spring breaks.
What will I do on this Public Health Internship in Mexico?
We’ll make sure you get the most out of your week on this Public Health Internship in Mexico. Your focus will be on the following tasks:
Assist with basic health checks for people in local communities
This is a hands-on, practical spring break internship. Upon completing basic training, you’ll assist doctors on medical outreaches. Visit rural communities and perform free check-ups on those who can’t afford a private doctor.
You’ll take charge of checking vitals, including blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and heart rates. The doctor will add this information to patient records, informing their diagnoses and treatments. You can also offer advice on how patients can improve their health and avoid illness.
Raise awareness of healthcare issues affecting residents of Guadalajara
Health education is crucial to the wellbeing of communities. However, schools often lack the funding and resources to teach healthcare. That’s why some of your time as a Public Health Intern in Mexico will be dedicated to raising awareness.
Working with members of the community, you’ll help run health awareness campaigns. These will focus on fundamental topics like dental and personal hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention. This is something all our Medical interns get involved in, meaning you’ll be part of a long-term process to improve health awareness in Mexico.
Attend medical workshops to learn skills
The more you learn, the greater the impact you can have on medical outreaches. That’s why you’ll attend workshops aimed at building your skills and understanding. You’ll learn about the history of Mexico’s healthcare system, discovering how it differs from your home country.
You’ll also learn which health conditions are particularly prevalent in Guadalajara. By studying the common causes of illness, you’ll be better equipped to spot them. That'll make you a better future medical worker, with a broader grasp of health among different demographics.
Take Spanish lessons
We believe in offering internships abroad that go the extra mile. Outside of your project work, you’ll benefit from being immersed in the local culture. You’ll discover what it’s like to live an authentically Mexican lifestyle in Guadalajara.
We’ll start your week with Spanish lessons, helping you optimize your spring break. These will be medical-themed, ensuring you learn practical vocabulary that you can use as you progress in your project.
By learning Spanish, you’ll form more meaningful connections with local people, healthcare workers, and patients.
Where will I work in Mexico?
Guadalajara
This project is based in and around Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most beautiful inland cities. With winding cobblestone streets, lush natural surroundings, and a dry tropical climate, it’s a wonderful place for students to explore.
This spring break Public Health Internship will take place in disadvantaged communities. Healthcare facilities in Guadalajara are generally well-equipped. However, access to quality healthcare remains inconsistent. Despite an improving healthcare system, many still cannot afford certain services.
What are the aims and impact of this Public Health Internship in Mexico?
This internship gives students the opportunity to support the health of communities.
You’ll help provide much-needed care to people in remote communities. In the rural outskirts of Guadalajara, healthcare facilities are few and far between. Your outreach work will help disadvantaged groups access basic healthcare. It also makes it easier for people to monitor their health and receive treatment.
In the process, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in healthcare. The skills gained on this internship will help you positively impact the world long into the future.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Guadalajara. They'll welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and learn about yours. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Mexico and have a unique experience.
We'll try to ensure you live with other Projects Abroad volunteers or interns at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day. This is great news because nothing beats authentic Mexican food. Get ready to sample the most delicious tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Not quite what you’re looking for?
Take a look at the following pages where you'll find collections of similar projects:
Ready to sign up for a spring break internship in Mexico?
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