CFHI Virtual Global Health Practicum

Program overview

Looking for a virtual capstone or practicum project?

Practicums are a structured, supervised, and evaluated professional experience for Master’s and Professional-level students to apply their relevant skills, knowledge, and values in a real-world setting. Throughout the project lifecycle, students collaborate closely with a CFHI preceptor, who acts as a mentor, upholding standards of professional and ethical conduct to ensure a meaningful and continuous learning experience.

Using an Asset-Based Community Development approach, CFHI identifies appropriate projects for applicants based on the needs and interests of CFHI’s global team. All practicum projects are locally led and build on existing strengths and resources, prioritizing sustainability and best practices for ethical engagement.

In addition to developing and sharpening global health capacities, trainees will build skills needed to effectively work across intercultural teams, as they will play a key role in keeping project timelines moving and ensuring milestones and deliverables are met.

Contact the CFHI Practicum Coordinator to get started – Juliana Araya | Send Juliana a Message

General information

Country

Virtual Practicums

Focus

Public Health

Languages

Advanced Spanish Beginner Spanish English Intermediate Spanish

Fees and Duration

4 Weeks - $975 5 Weeks - $1220 6 Weeks - $1465 7 Weeks - $1710 8 Weeks - $1950 9 Weeks - $2195 10 Weeks - $2440

Start Dates

January 6th, 2025 February 3rd, 2025 March 3rd, 2025 April 7th, 2025 May 5th, 2025 June 2nd, 2025 July 7th, 2025 August 4th, 2025 September 1st, 2025 October 6th, 2025 November 3rd, 2025

About CFHI Virtual Practicums

Program components

A personalized project outline aligned with academic partner’s requirements
Guidance and mentoring with an experienced preceptor
Access to the CFHI Global Health Professional Development Hub materials and events, including weekly seminars and roundtables
Locally run health seminars and lectures
Exclusive access to Pillars of Global Health, a comprehensive program on Building Competencies for Global Health Engagement
Training module: Self Care & Wellness for Virtual Participants
Orientation, mid-term follow up, and end-of-program meetings with the Virtual Programs Coordinator

Available sites

Based on student interest, the CFHI practicum coordinator will guide them.

Current options include:
- Bolivia
- Ghana
- India
- The Philippines
- Uganda

More can be learned about each site upon request. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Schedule overview

Trainees typically need to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week to successfully complete the virtual global health practicum, which includes approximately 5-10 hours of synchronous work.
These hours can be adjusted to align with the practicum requirements of their respective universities.
During the program, students are expected to work autonomously on various tasks and deliverables to successfully accomplish the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a practicum differ from other programs CFHI offers?
CFHI practicums are structured, supervised and evaluated professional experience during which the student is working on established deliverables that address at least three Global Health Competencies. Trainees will also develop project management tools and skills to ensure the completion of the project.

Will I know what I will be doing before I start the practicum?
Yes, you will receive a tailored practicum outline before your practicum begins. This outline is created for each student taking academic requirements, student interests and local realities into consideration.

How much in advance must I apply?
We recommend students apply 3 months before their start date at the latest. However, University time frame requirements must be taken into consideration.

Can I get credit for this program?
Yes, many participants do. To find out what is required at your school, talk to your advisor or global health faculty. CFHI assists with program enrollment, confirmation letters, evaluations, and other documentation you may need.

Are there scholarships available for virtual programs?
CFHI offers many scholarships for both place-based and virtual programs. Visit the scholarships page to find out more about requirements, deadlines, and more information on how to apply. New scholarships are posted every few months, so be sure to check the page frequently.

When is the program fee due?
The program fee is due 3 weeks before the start date of the program.

Can I get a certificate of completion once I finish the program?
Yes! All students who complete a CFHI virtual program may request a certificate of completion by emailing [email protected].

Meet CFHI's Practicum Coordinator

Juliana Araya Amador

CFHI Practicum Coordinator

Juliana Araya Amador, Practicum Coordinator

Juliana is the Practicum Coordinator at CFHI. In this role, she meets individually with practicum-seekers and connects them to projects and preceptors for a strong practicum experience. Juliana studied medicine at the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED) in Costa Rica and currently teaches physiology at this institution. She is engaged in different public health projects and educational research, and speaks of social justice and Global Health related issues to anyone that gives her an opportunity. Her interests include Human Rights, social justice, health access in indigenous communities, history of medicine and education. She enjoys time with her family and pets at the park, reading, arts and crafts, gardening and getting to know different points of views.

Scholarships

What alumni say about this program

Elizabeth M. Virtual Practicum student, India

The CFHI organization is great! I was able to work virtually with Team India. I enjoyed my experience by researching in 11 different countries about maternal and child health. The India Program Director and the team did a great job helping me throughout the ten weeks of the program. Even though it was virtual, I was able to learn about different countries public health systems. The experience was very rewarding. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with my classmates and recommending this program.