IFMSA Online Services	© IFMSA 2001-2010

To learn more about Professional Exchange please visit www.ifmsa.org/scope
To download this document in PDF click here
Professional Exchange : Exchange Conditions of IFMSA-Ecuador(Ecuador)
Level of studies	Clinical and preclinical studies
Type of Clerkship	Clinical clerkships.
Languages	Spanish language knowledge is MANDATORY. Only students who speak Spanish will be admitted (students must be honest about their Spanish level!). If there are any difficulties with tutor/patients because of language issues, the clerkship might be cancelled.
Duration of Clerkship	4 weeks.
Working Conditions	4-8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Night shifts are optional but encouraged (since that’s when you learn the most). The student will be guided by a tutor. The student must bring stethoscope and white coat. For surgical specialties and OB/GYN, students must bring their own OR scrubs (green or light blue ones). They can be purchased in Ecuador for about US$18 each. LOJA: Besides of what's detailed above, students have to bring a sphygmomanometer. Diagnostic kit is optional. STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE AT LEAST 80% OF REQUESTED HOURS AND FILL THE EVALUATION FORM BEFORE THE EXCHANGE IS OVER. THOSE WHO DO NOT FULFILL THESE REQUIREMENTS WON’T GET A CERTIFICATE!
Disciplines	NO PRECLINICAL CLERKSHIPS. GUAYAQUIL – Infectious Diseases Hospital: Only final-year students (and those about to start it) are admitted Pretty much all clinical fields are available. The Application should include at least 3 different departments of choice. Efforts will be made in order to place you in your first choice.
Periods & Towns	Clerkships do not have to be full calendar months (e.g. from June 15 through July 13 is OK). QUITO (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador): Throughout the year, except for August. GUAYAQUIL (Universidad Catolica Santiago de Guayaquil): Throughout the year except for April and December. Only 3 students can be admitted in August and 2 in December. LOJA (Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja): Two periods: 1. September through early February 2. Late March through late July. Only 2 students can be admitted in December. Transportation from Quito to Guayaquil has to be paid by the student. The cost of the bus ticket to Guayaquil is approx. US$ 15 roundtrip (8-hour ride); the plane ticket is approx. US$ 100 roundtrip. It is possible to fly directly to Guayaquil since the city has an International Airport. Transportation from Quito to Loja has to be paid by the student. The cost of the bus ticket is about US$ 24 roundtrip (12-hour ride); the plane ticket is about US$ 150 roundtrip. If coming outside summer months, we suggest you to come along with a friend. We know that you would like to travel around on weekends, and it is better do it with someone else.
Application documents & deadline	We need to have the AF three months in advance. It is done through an electronic application. The student has to enclose in the AF: - One copy of the AF. PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF SPANISH (e.g. basic, fluent, etc.). - Motivation Letter is optional ONCE YOU ARE ADMITTED TO A LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD, PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING VIA E-MAIL: - CV in Spanish, including a photograph - Proof of registration from your Medical School (an official letter from your University must be sent confirming that you are currently enrolled). - Vaccination certificates (hepatitis A and B). You need a yellow fever vaccine only if you plan to travel to the Amazon jungle.
Digital documents required
Card of Acceptance deadline (weeks in advance)	5
Card of Confirmation deadline (weeks in advance)	3
Insurance	WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND STUDENTS TO PURCHASE HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCES. IFMSA-ECUADOR WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXPENDITURES NEEDED TO COVER ANY ACCIDENTS OR HEALTH ISSUES THAT MIGHT OCCUR. Nevertheless, the clerkship will NOT be cancelled if you do not have these papers.
Pocket Money	At least US$400 per month. IFMSA-Ecuador WON’T provide it.
Board & Lodging	Lodging and boarding: Will take place with host families. 3 meals per day are provided. Cost of unilateral agreement: US$ 400
Social Program	Will take place the SECOND weekend of the month. The Local Committees will not be responsible if students do not participate in social programs due to personal traveling
Substitutions	Same gender, period and department. This must be informed at least 2 weeks before the clerkship begins.
Cancellations	We prefer substitutions rather than cancellations. Anyways, if you are to cancel we need to know at least 3 weeks in advance
Visas	For travelers coming to Ecuador for less than 3 months, no visa is needed.
Special remarks	THE STUDENT WILL HAVE BOARD AND LODGING ONLY BETWEEN THE DATES SPECIFIED IN THE CARD OF ACCEPTANCE. If you want, you can make some special arrangements with your host family to stay longer, but it does not depend upon IFMSA-Ecuador. THE ONLY DOCUMENT provided by IFMSA-Ecuador as a proof of your clerkship is a CERTIFICATE which includes the period, hospital and department that you attended. If you need any additional papers for school, you will need to bring them and ask the hospital yourself. We can help, but it is NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY!
More info Link	neo.ifmsa.ec@gmail.com, www.ifmsa.ec
These Exchange Conditions are valid until:	31-07-2010
Last update of data (GMT)	01/08/2009