Elective Site - Chiapas, Mexico
Chiapas is one of the poorest regions of Mexico. While Mexico guarantees universal health care, very few primary care physicians serve this rural region. Partners In Health started to work in Chiapas in 2011, and is known locally as Compañeros En Salud. They now operate out of 10 rural public clinics in the Sierra Madre mountains of Chiapas. First-year physicians (or pasantes), doing their required year of social service staff the clinics.
Since 2012, many residents and staff physicians from Contra Costa have worked with the Partners In Health team. CCRMC continues to provide support to this network of rural primary care clinics through on-going mentorship and supervision to the pasantes, as well as partnering in teaching primary care, ultrasound and procedural skills in resource poor settings.
Elective opportunities: Residents fluent in Spanish may apply to spend a 4 week rotation at this site. Clinical work and responsibilities depend on the needs of the site at the time, but typically include:
- Daily supervision and teaching of the pasante at a rural site
- Supervision and teaching of procedural skills
- Community outreach and teaching
- Taking call for after-hours patient care
- Teaching course work alongside CES staff during monthly workshops to support pasante learning and education
Learn more about Chiapas, Mexico and CES: