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UW Global Health Field School in Ecuador

View of a mountain range from above the clouds.
Students are gathered together in front of the mountains. They are in outdoor gear and smiling at the camera.
A waterfall is rushing between crowded trees and other plants.

Ecuador, Multiple

The Global Health Field Course in Ecuador provides a powerful opportunity to look at health, wellness and healthcare through multiple lens and across multiple ethnic populations in a uniquely beautiful country.  It deeply examines the relationships between cultural beliefs/practices and people’s understanding of health and disease, choices for care (including alternative therapies such as medicinal plants), and access to care, as well as how interactions with animals impact human health, well-being and disease.  The latter incorporates the “One Health” concept that the health of humans, animals, and their shared ecosystems are interdependent on one another.  Students will be immersed in these issues across both indigenous and mestizo populations through nearly daily field trips, visits to healthcare facilities of different kinds and deep discussions.  Students will be expected to use these experiences to further build their own views on the meanings of health and the pros and cons of global healthcare systems.

Dr. Frank Hutchins, Professor at Bellarmine University and a renowned medical anthropologist with extensive experience in Ecuador will lead the program.  Healthcare faculty from UW-Madison will serve as additional program leaders in Ecuador.

 

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  1. Exhibit integration of contextually-grounded information about how Ecuador's history, politics, culture, race, economics, environment and indigenous knowledge inform your understanding of health

  2. Exhibit recognition of the importance of cultural norms in understanding health and wellness issues in this international health setting, and develop an understanding of "intercultural health"

  3. Demonstrate understanding of the connections between human/animal/ecosystem health and disease

  4. Compare and contrast how healthcare is provided in different settings in Ecuador to healthcare delivery in another country for which you have knowledge/experience

  5. Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration across the different health education disciplines represented to achieve shared goals for the group

  6. Model ethical behavior in community-based engagement, including appreciation of the bidirectional nature of learning and mutual benefits between community members and students, cultural humility and flexibility, and openness to new information/ideas

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Open to Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Graduate, Capstone students, and Junior and Senior Undergraduates on a space available basis. Preference is given to students in Health Sciences and to Graduate students.

  • Graduate students/ Dissertators need to be in good academic standing. Undergraduate students require a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students and all degree-seeking students at a US college or university. Preference is given to UW-Madison students.

  • Participants are required to take Publ Hlth 714 (2 cr) during the Spring semester prior to the program. Once admitted to the program, participants will get permission to register for the prep course.
  • Junior, Senior, Graduate Student, Dissertator, VMED, MEDS, PHAR
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Public Health, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Anthropology

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Guesthouse

Program Duration

Summer: Mid-May - Early June


Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 12/5/2025 Cost Details
Extended Deadline: 12/15/2025
Summer 2027 12/4/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

In this truly interdisciplinary setting, you will think critically about connections between cultural variables and human and animal health and disease, gain firsthand experience with cultural and medical issues in a developing country, and will develop an understanding of the theoretical and empirical foundations of medical anthropology. The course is designed so you will develop cross-cultural skills that will ideally grow into personal and professional assets for future healthcare practice. Throughout the course, the class will consider how biological/scientific approaches to health can intersect or conflict with more culturally-based approaches and will engage in such questions as: how can a cultural understanding of the body and its various conditions improve the understanding and delivery of healthcare?

The program also includes an excursion to the Upper Amazon and homestays in a rural community.

During the spring semester preceding the field program, you are required to take Publ Hlth 714 (2 cr). Once accepted to the program, you will receive notification that you have been granted permission to enroll in the relevant section of the prep course. The preparatory course addresses such topics as the health care system in Ecuador, public health management in Ecuador, rural health training and research, rural health development, and health system management issues.

You will earn 2 UW-Madison credits upon successful completion of the in-country program.

These students will earn credit for Public Health 716, a course that uses Sat/Unsat grading:
•  Graduate/professional and capstone certificates students who are using the credit to fulfill certificate requirements
•  MEDS who are not using the credit to fulfill certificate requirements
 
All other students will earn credit for Study Abroad 545: Topics in Social and Natural Science, which uses A-F grading.

A full course syllabus and schedule will be provided by your Program Leaders.

Affiliate Institution(s)

UW-Madison Office of Global Health

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Frank Hutchins, PhD

David Kiefer, MD 

Chris Olsen, DVM PhD