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CFHI Global Health Internships in India

Ten students pose in front of a stone building with intricate patterns.
An ornate, orange-brown stone building with many arches and the Indian flag hanging at the top.
Three mountains in varying distance from the camera are covered in greenery.
Many large, silver bowls are overflowing with food of all different colors, on display with price tags.

India, Multiple

This program is offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with International Academic Programs.

Spend five weeks learning about the social determinants of health as well as innovations inpublic helath education and delivery in India, the seventh largest country in the world and one of the most populous, with over 1.4 billion people. Culturally rich India is home to over thirty languages, over 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is the birthplace of four of the world’s major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. India boasts a rich history, vibrant and colorful culture, and diverse and magnificent landscapes, including architectural wonders like the Taj Mahal and Golden Temple.  

CFHI's programs are rooted in strong ethical principles. The organization offers first and foremost, a global learning opportunity, where interns learn by shadowing and talking with local experts. As such, the internship will be learning-heavy, with the opportunity to join service-delivery and project-based work only once an intern is fully oriented to the scope of the organization's work.  In line with best practices in global health, clinical rotations, and public health activities in CFHI are strictly observational. Participants join the local team as learners and observers in India. CFHI is considered a global health ethics leader and CFHI programs uphold strict standards and comply with all local laws regarding student involvement in health settings.

Participants in this program spend the first three weeks in Delhi, focusing on public health activities which include day visits to different NGOs, organisations, the Public Health Department, and local hospitals, as well as lectures and beginner Hindi lessons. During the final two weeks, participants can choose to remain in Delhi for continued exposure to public health work or travel to Dehradun in Northern India for clinical exposure. See details about each option below.

Delhi Internship Option

New Delhi, India is the second most populous city in the world, featuring dazzling cities and stunning historical and architectural sites. 

Students who select the Delhi option will gain exposure to a variety of clinical practices, public health organizations, and social services in urban Delhi, while learning about the social determinants of health, culture, and human resources for health. Participants learn about key public health challenges such as low rates of immunization, poor sanitation and waste management, and unsafe drinking water, and understand the lingering impact of India’s caste system and challenges in implementing public health initiatives within a culturally and linguistically diverse population

Students who select the Delhi internship option will be placed in public health settings, including an array of non-governmental organizations (NGO) stepping in to address the gaps in health services in low-resource populations. This provides a unique learning opportunity and in-depth exposure to public health in India.  Possible Delhi internship placements include:

  • Environmental and Social Service NGO- Founded in 1970, this facility has developed technology for water treatment plants and facilities that eliminate human waste scavenging. Visit and learn from experts working on projects promoting human rights, environmental sanitation, alternative energy, waste management and social reforms through education, training and awareness campaigns.
  • LGBTQ Community Center- Founded in 2005, this NGO works to empower sexual minority groups on issues of discrimination, safe sex, and STD prevention. The center holds community meetings, provides free STD testing in a small clinic, and organizes activist and advocacy efforts on LGBTQ human rights issues.
  • Truck Yard HIV Counseling and Treatment Center- Join this NGO focusing on HIV prevention and treatment, which offers counseling and testing centers focusing on high-risk groups in accordance with the National AIDS Control Program.  
  • Juvenile Rehabilitation Center– The first of its kind in India, this NGO partners with the government in Delhi and offers a 50 bed inpatient rehabilitation facilities for adolescents struggling with addiction. It also provides counseling, vocational and literacy training, meditation sessions, art and theater workshops, and assists in transition and reintegration including a halfway home.
  • Homeless Services NGO- Mandated by the Delhi government, several NGOs offer services to the homeless. Join this NGO, which identifies and maps homeless populations and provides services such as food, shelter, health services referrals, HIV and AIDS treatment, and drug rehabilitation and treatment. It also empowers homeless populations through street theater, awareness campaigns, and support groups.
  • HIV & Drug Rehab NGO- Established in 1979, this NGO offers holistic programs serving injection drug users, street children, and homeless populations. It provides preventative services, treatment and counseling for HIV/AIDS and STDs, as well as rehabilitation services, needle exchange programs, and opioid substitution therapy. 
  • Street Children’s Center- This NGO works to integrate street children into mainstream society. It has a shelter, day care center, and provides vocational training. It also uses street and stage theater performances to build self-confidence in children and awareness about social issues relating to the lives and stories of street children.
  • Rural Nonprofit Hospital-
 This charitable hospital opened in 1977 with the objective of providing affordable health care to the underserved. Housing 30-beds and offering 12 specialties, the facility conducts over 80,000 outpatient consultations and 2,000 surgical interventions annually. The facility has modern infrastructure and comprehensive diagnostic facilities.
  • Government Hospital- Visit government facilities to understand how some of the largest Government hospitals in Delhi function, providing free and high quality healthcare services to the poor who come from across India to seek care.
  • CanSupport- CanSupport is working towards a caring and supportive society where people with cancer and their families live with dignity, hope and comfort. It is the mission of CanSupport to enable these people to make informed choices while receiving appropriate physical, emotional, social and spiritual support. CanSupport runs India's largest free home-based palliative care programme. At any given time, the palliative care teams are caring for 2600 cancer patients and their families. CanSupport also run out-patient clinics, day care centers and training programmes. Note: this site is a 1-2 hour visit.
  • Chest Clinic- Visit to a Chest Clinic to learn more about TB Dots (Directly Observed Treatment - Short Course) program and to the integrated Counselling and Testing Centre for HIV-AIDS located in the middle of an Inter State Bus Terminus. Note: this site is a 1-2 hour visit.

Dehradun, Northern India Internship Option

Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand state in northern India, roughly 4 hours north of New Delhi. The city of Dehradun is situated at an altitude of 1440 feet, nestled between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Sivalik Hills to the south. It offers breathtaking scenery and serves as a convenient base for visiting the area’s many tourist sites.

Participants in the Northern India option will learn from healthcare workers in urban and rural settings, gaining insight into hospital medicine, primary care, integrative medicine, public health and health realities of rural and remote communities. Participants have a unique opportunity to encounter various health challenges in clinical settings that represent the rural and urban divide in a developing country and witness improvements made in public health, through the persistence of health camps and widespread outreach efforts.

The first week of the program is spent in New Delhi, orienting participants to Indian culture, determinants of health and health systems, and innovations in public health education and delivery. Then, participants immerse in three locations: In Uttarakhand’s capital city of Dehradun, where rotations take place at hospitals and private clinics; in the unique hilltop town of Mussoorie, where rotations take place in a private hospital; and in the rural Himalayan village of Patti, where students observe the delivery of care in a one-room clinic and trek to offer health outreach to the community, while engaging in daily yoga sessions and breathing the clean mountain air.

Become immersed in Indian culture by living with a host family in Dehradun and shared accommodations in Mussoorie and Patti. Participants may organize weekend trips to nearby Rishikesh, known as a spiritual center and the Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas.CFHI Global Health Education Programs provide trainees with a unique opportunity to engage closely with local health professionals, fostering meaningful connections and gaining valuable insights into diverse healthcare systems. Trainees are placed in existing healthcare settings under the mentorship of experienced preceptors. The programs emphasize ethical global health engagement, allowing participants to develop critical global health competencies. These include a comprehensive understanding of the host country’s healthcare systems, analysis of morbidity and mortality trends, and the enhancement of intercultural humility and communication skills. Through participant-observation, trainees integrate within local teams, deepening their commitment to global health ethics and best practices.

Possible internship rotations include: 

  • Private Nursing Home in Dehradun - This clinic offers inpatient and outpatient services. Shadow the Ob/Gyn who runs this facility serving only women. Accompany her on rounds and observe during surgical procedures.
  • Private Pediatric Hospital in Dehradun - Shadow our Dehradun Medical Director, Dr. Gandhi, in the Emergency Medicine and Cardiology ward at his private hospital. Accompany him on rounds and observe minor procedures.
  • Government Hospital in Dehradun - This facility provides eye care to the local populations, including the marginalized. Shadow an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon in OPD and surgery.
  • Government Facilities in Dehradun - This tertiary hospital serves children and adolescents with all types of pathologies. A leading research center, it is a point of reference for the whole country, where the most common and most rare diseases may be observed. As a teaching hospital, it trains medical students, interns and pediatric residents. Rotate with specialists in infectious diseases, nephrology, gastroenterology, neonatology, and more, and observe nurses and residents as they care for seriously ill children.

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:

  • Through ethical engagement with patients and populations, articulate the relationship between health and the social determinants of health.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of cultural and ethical issues in working with and learning within the context of underserved populations.

  • Outline assets, health needs, health challenges and inequities among different communities.

  • Recognize the barriers to health and healthcare delivery in low-resource settings.

  • Demonstrate a commitment to professional behavior while working collaboratively with health care team members and being respectful of differences in knowledge, practices, and culture.

  • Identify the major causes of morbidity and mortality affecting the populations across the world.

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

  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • 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

Provider

Subjects

Global Health

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Apartments

Program Duration

Spring: Early February to mid-March (5 weeks)
Summer June Session: Early June to mid-July (5 weeks)
Summer July Session: Early July to mid-August (5 weeks)

Sessions always begin on the first Saturday of the month.

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 - [June, 5 weeks] 1/16/2026 Cost Details
Summer 2026 - [July, 5 weeks] 1/16/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 - [February, 5 weeks] 10/2/2026 Cost Details
Summer 2027 - [June, 5 weeks] 1/15/2027 Cost Details
Summer 2027 - [July, 5 weeks] 1/15/2027 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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The study abroad program is approved as a field experience for the Global Health Certificate.

During the program, students are enrolled in International Studies 523: Culture and the Global Workplace course, an asynchronous 3-credit course you will complete while abroad with your Badger peers who are also interning around the world. The primary goal of the course is to provide students a processing space for the personal and professional cultural experiences they are having. The course is designed to complement your internship experience while encouraging you to think more critically about culture, identity, and other global issues, as well as your own experiences abroad. The course is discussion-focused (written) and includes sharing your own personal cultural reflections and engaging with your classmates regarding their own experiences. The IAP Intern Abroad team coordinates the course.

In the spring, students have the option to add 1-3 credits of directed/independent study with a UW-Madison faculty member. Students identify and set this up on their own and it must follow campus policy for directed study.  

When adding a directed study or other coursework it is important to consider the many responsibilities you will have while abroad: a full-time internship, IS-523 online course, independent travel, etc. Intern Abroad staff strongly discourages enrolling in more than six credits.

 

Program Web Pages

Child Family Health International (CFHI) Delhi Program

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