Peru

Study Abroad in Iquitos

Iquitos is a Peruvian port city and a gateway to jungle lodges and northern Amazon villages. The Belén district is known for its huge open-air street market and the rustic stilt houses that line the Itaya River. In the historic center, there is the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by buildings with European influence that date back to the boom that the region experienced at the turn of the 20th century with the production of rubber.

Pre-clerkship Rotation for 2nd Year COM Students; Clerkship Rotation for 4th year COM Students ; International Preceptorships FCM660

OST 687: Global Health: Peru Medical Service (college of Osteopathic Medicine Service Learning in Peru)

Dates: Summer Break 2025 –TENATIVE DATES August 02- August 13, 2024

Peru Medical Service Elective (Belen, Iquitos, Peru) is a 3 credit elective program for pre-clerkship students and 6 credits for clerkship students, with an overall purpose as follows: to enhance students’ understanding host country’s healthcare system and understanding and developing cultural competency; in addition students will provide healthcare services under the supervision of licensed US physicians, develop an understanding of the regional disease etiology and control of endemic diseases, in particular, infectious/tropical diseases and those associated with the lack of potable water and sanitation.

This Elective is designed to help the student grow personally and professionally by immersing them in another culture, experience the healthcare system and delivery of medical services in a Developing Country to deepen their understanding of self and the global community. Students will gain knowledge of diseases common in South America; enhance their clinical skills and the use of medical Spanish; develop problem solving skills; broaden knowledge of public health issues and to experience the practice of medicine beyond the core curriculum.

  • Second or Fourth year medical curriculum (COM) OR MS in Global Health students at Michigan State University.
  • In good standing at the University
  • Medical Spanish FCM590 elective (preferred)
  • Must have respect for different cultures.
  • Must demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively.
  • Spanish speaking preferred but not required
  • Second year medical curriculum (COM) student at Michigan State University.
  • In good standing at the University
  • Must coordinate and receive approval from FCM staff (Please contact: Rebecca Reagan)
  • Must have respect for different cultures.
  • Must demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively.
  • Spanish speaking preferred but not required
  • Students must apply through Michigan State’s Office of Study Abroad, click here to apply online.
  • Submit copy of first page of Passport to IGH
  • Submit copy of Immunization Record to IGH
  • Only for FCM 660 applicants: Contact FCM staff (Ms. Rebecca Reagan) to coordinate international preceptorship slot
  • The Office of Study Abroad offers scholarships to students who participate in MSU’s study abroad programs. Details here

The Peru Elective offers COM students the ability to witness medicine from a different perspective. They are able to immerse themselves in a different culture and open their minds on the path to becoming more understanding and compassionate physicians.

This Study Abroad course offers research opportunities which provides education in research methods, IRB application, survey preparation, data collection, clinical hands-on experience, data analysis and poster, abstract or journal publications.  Students work closely with the PI for their project before, during and after completion of the trip.  Students will dedicate:

  • 20 hours prior to departure, attend all scheduled research meetings, complete MSUCOM IRB research training  
  • 10-12 hours during the trip
  • 10-12 hours upon return

Each project will have a limited number of available participants, and each student may participate in one project.  Students may apply for multiple projects and will be assigned pending availability.

Preference will be given to students who show interest and dedication to research, with previous research experience preferred but not mandatory; collaborative/teamwork experience preferred but not required.

  1. Antibiotic Resistance/Helicobactor pylori: Students will gain experience in survey skills, data collection and analysis, patient interviewing. This project evaluates Antibiotic Awareness in Peru, and Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance.
  2. Post Cholecystectomy Epidemiology and Treatment: Students would be involved very early in the process of IRB application, authoring and  collection of survey data in Peru of all qualifying patients.  (Epidemiology). The second study would culminate in Osteopathic Manual Medicine  treatment for these qualifying patients (OMM). Students could choose to be involved in one or both of these research opportunities.
  3. Anthropometric Pediatrics: Students will gain experience in pediatric interviewing, clinical hands-on skills, data collection and analysis, and scientific poster or publication opportunities.  This long running project will involve data collection in both Iquitos and the communities of the Amazon. The goal of this project is to assess health and nutritional status for children living in underserved communities in Dominican Republic, Peru, and Guatemala

The following projects will involve education, while working with data collected. This will not involve contact with human generational data.  This will result in knowledge and assistance in construction of abstract or poster and original scientific data dissemination: 

  1. Nanotechnology
  2. Human Papilloma Virus
  3. Coronavirus 19
  4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus
William Cunningham DO, MHA currently serves as the Associate Dean for Global Health and the Director of the Institute for Global Health (IGH) at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University. Dr. Cunningham was instrumental in the formation and approval of the Masters in Global Health and Certificate program that will matriculate students in January of 2020. In his current capacity of Associate Dean, he is responsible for advocating on the behalf of the four health care colleges at MSU for the education, research and cultural awareness of their graduate students. Additionally, IGH provides Study Abroad programs, such as the Dominican Republic, for pre-professional students interested in the delivery of health care in a global context.
Dr. Jodi Flanders, a certified Family Physician and graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine transitioned from her Family Medicine practice after 32 years, and she currently serves as Medical Director in a residential facility for survivors of human trafficking and addiction.  International medicine is her true love, especially sharing this opportunity with medical students and residents.  Hobbies include the study of the Labyrinth, mentoring young physicians and medical students, and admiring her children.

Dr. Briceno serves as a Program Assistant for the Peru Program. He resides in Trujillo Peru and is IGH local faculty in many research endeavors. He is an infectious and Tropical Diseases Attending Physician with several publications related to Tuberculosis, HPV and COVID-19. Some of Dr. Briceno’s Abstracts with participant students: https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/shermetaro-poster.pdf and https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016-biom-student-abstracts.pdf

*Meets preceptorship requirement for OMS II. Date: July 27 to August 10, 2024