- Home
- All programs
- Global Health in Argentina (Córdoba)
Global Health in Argentina (Córdoba)
Program overview
Located in the center of the country, Córdoba is the second most populous city in Argentina and is known for its colonial architecture and exceptionally rich landscapes. Argentina has led a significant effort to provide universal health coverage through a decentralized network of primary, secondary, and tertiary clinics and hospitals. However, economic and social inequalities challenge the achievement of health for all. During this program, learn from local experts about accessible healthcare through rotations at some of the oldest and most renowned teaching hospitals in Latin America. The program will begin with an intensive orientation week focused on culture, hospital rotations, and navigating a new environment. During rotations, participants will have the opportunity to witness government efforts to provide care to a large percentage of the population without health insurance and shadow healthcare professionals in various rotation sites such as surgical care, outpatient, inpatient, and the emergency department. Participants can also rotate in different specialties of their interests, including, but not limited to dermatology, neurology, cardiology, traumatology, and more. After program acceptance, participants can indicate their areas of interest and placement preferences to CFHI during the enrollment phase.
Join lectures and discussions on case studies with local residents and medical students. Become immersed in Argentinian culture and language through conversational and medical Spanish classes while living with local college students, young working people, or host families in Córdoba.
General information
Argentina
End of Life & Palliative Care
Global Health Nursing
Hospital & Inpatient Medicine
Non-comunicable diseaases
Pediatrics & Child Health
Advanced Spanish
Beginner Spanish
Intermediate Spanish
4 Weeks - $3135
5 Weeks - $3825
6 Weeks - $4485
7 Weeks - $5130
8 Weeks - $5795
9 Weeks - $6455
10 Weeks - $7045
March 1st, 2025
April 5th, 2025
May 3rd, 2025
June 7th, 2025
July 5th, 2025
August 2nd, 2025
September 6th, 2025
About this program
- Location
- Accommodations
- Arrival Information
- What's Included
- Things to Do
- A Day in the Life
- Alumni Advisors
Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina, a country located at the southern tip of South America, renowned for its educational and cultural accomplishments. Córdoba is located about 800 miles from the capital of Buenos Aires. Boasting a population of over 1 million, Córdoba is located in the foothills of the Sierras de Córdoba, or Córdoba Mountains. The weather is typically mild, ranging in the 70-80’s in the summer (December – February) and 50-60’s the rest of the year.
Córdoba has more universities than any other city in Argentina, with over 20% of the population attending nine local universities. Its architecture, food and inhabitants reflect a strong European influence. Pizza, gelato and all types of pasta, with a South American twist, are common. Cordobeses, inhabitants from Córdoba, are known throughout Argentina for their hospitality, warmth, and sense of humor.
Program participants will find their home away from home in carefully selected homestays, screened by CFHI Local Coordinators in Córdoba and following CFHI’s health and safety guidelines. Nestled within the heart of the city, these homestays offer the perfect blend of comfort and authenticity, situated in middle-class neighborhoods with excellent access to public transportation, shopping havens, and entertainment districts. Most homestays are in high-rise apartments, a common feature of urban living in Cordoba. In some cases, CFHI scholars share a house or a room in the same homestay with fellow program participants.
Going beyond mere lodging, these homestays provide a unique opportunity to learn about the local culture and practice Spanish skills on a daily basis in an informal setting. Accommodations include two meals per day. At the welcome orientation, participants will be instructed on culture and work etiquette to have the best experience in both homestay and the health setting.
Participants should arrive to the city of Córdoba on the program start date, where they will be picked up from the airport by a CFHI representative and taken to their homestay. A welcome orientation will take place the Sunday after arrival.
Please note that you will have your airport or bus station pick up between 7am – 11pm, regardless your arrival time at Cordoba’s International Airport (COR) or Cordoba Bus Station on the program start date (or alternative day upon request). There are many options for flights arriving to Córdoba, and participants generally find it very manageable to schedule a flight to arrive within this time frame. We are happy to be flexible where needed (i.e. arriving a day early or late, when communicated ahead of time in writing to the CFHI team), however observing the arrival window is essential. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you will have the contact information of the local team so that you can let them know right away.
Visas and reciprocity fees are not currently required for U.S. citizens staying less than 3 months in Argentina. More information on travel and logistics will be provided by CFHI after acceptance into the program via your Pre-Departure Training.
What’s Included
CFHI Program fees include the majority of your on the ground costs. As a nonprofit, CFHI strives to keep fees low and offers fundraising opportunities, scholarships and discounts.
Pre-Departure Support
- Program advising and support via email, phone, and web meeting from CFHI’s Central Leadership team
- Detailed online Pre-Departure Training that includes modules on program logistics (flights, visas, immunizations, and more), intercultural learning, introduction to health realities at your program site, and much more.
On-Site Services
- Airport pick-up upon arrival and transportation with a local CFHI representative to your program lodging
- Orientation week covering safety, transportation, culture, and other logistics
- Spanish Classes: 30 hours/month of Spanish classes, including medical Spanish instruction and cultural activities
- CFHI Local Team that provides instruction, logistical support, and 24/7 emergency response
- Meetings and lectures on local healthcare system, socio-economic determinants of health and current cultural/historical topics.
- Placement and coordination of clinical and any public health activities (if relevant)
- Accommodation and two meals per day
- Local cell phone or support obtaining a local SIM card
- International emergency medical and evacuation insurance (unless waived by your university or institution)
Post-Return Resources
- Opportunities to engage as a CFHI Alumni Ambassador, reviewing scholarship applications, speaking on CFHI panels, and more
- Access to CFHI alumni-only social media group/s featuring news and career opportunities related to Global Health
- CFHI alumni newsletter highlighting events, professional development opportunities, resources, and ways to stay involved
Uniquely, 60% or more of CFHI student program fees go directly to the communities they will be visiting, benefiting the local economy at large.
Córdoba is teeming with cultural and recreational activities, such as live theater, musicals, concerts, The Medical and Anatomical Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum, and a museum dedicated to the victims of Argentina’s infamous military dictatorship. Outside of the city, Córdoba offers many options for nature lovers, such as hiking the various mountain ranges, as well as enjoying lakes, waterfalls, and small farming villages that dot the countryside.
The first week of the program is dedicated to orientation, including cultural competency training, an introduction to Argentina’s geography and culture, local cuisine and a museum visit, workshops, guidance on public transportation, and a hospital orientation.
A typical day in a CFHI program is a blend of immersive learning, cultural exploration, and personal reflection. Participants begin their mornings with breakfast at their homestay, followed by 4-6 hours of clinical rotations. The clinical site assignments and schedule are shared by the local team upon arrival. In the afternoon, participants attend Spanish classes at the language school, with the hours and regularity varying based on the program. Weekends are free of program-planned activities.
Our local team offers a sneak peek presentation for prospective students to have an idea of what a day, week, and month is going to be like during their time in Córdoba. Presentations are held on Zoom on Saturdays and attendees will be able to meet the local team, learn about Argentina and ask all the questions that they may have. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Aliana Castro
Hello! My name is Aliana, and I am a college senior majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Global Public Health. Through these studies, I had the opportunity to spend four weeks in Córdoba, Argentina through CFHI in July of 2023. While there, I really enjoyed learning Spanish, diving into the culture, and forming relationships with those I met! This upcoming May, I will begin graduate school where I will be studying to become a physician assistant (PA). Outside of academia, I enjoy traveling, learning new languages, running, and baking. I look forward to meeting you! Welcome!
Maris Scanlon
I am a Kiwi-American studying medicine in Ireland. My background is in political science and philosophy, and these are interests I have carried forward into the medical sphere. I am a certified PADI rescue diver, a Ghosh yoga teacher, a mediocre banjo player – and a big fan of collecting hobbies.
Clinical Rotations & Public Health Placements
Meet the Local Team
Carlos Giavay Waiss, JD
CFHI Córdoba Program Director
Carlos Giavay Waiss, JD - CFHI Córdoba Program Director
Carlos oversees the logistical as well as clinical and public health aspects of the program. Carlos and his team arrange clinical rotations, supervise the participant experience at these sites and provide instruction on public health topics during weekly meetings. Carlos coordinates with local physicians and healthcare personnel at each rotation site to oversee each participant’s experience.
Carlos has worked for CFHI since 2012 and is the founder and president of a local non-profit organization working with foreign exchange students. He graduated with a law degree from Córdoba University and has taken graduate courses in business management and economics in Italy and the U.S. He was Dean of Student Affairs at a national law school and municipal attorney for the city of Córdoba. As a teenager, Carlos lived in Alaska for a year as a foreign exchange student, an experience that sparked his passion for intercultural exchange and international travel. He enjoys working with CFHI students who have an interest in the social and cultural aspects of health. In his free time, Carlos enjoys working on his garden, going on hikes and local gastronomy.
Andres ‘Charly’ Alegre
Local Coordinator
Andres ‘Charly’ Alegre - Local Coordinator
The CFHI Local Coordinators manage the logistics of housing, transportation, and cultural immersion throughout the program. They are a valuable resource for any questions related to navigating the program locale, cultural norms, and tips on planning weekend travel.
Charly was born in northern Argentina and moved to Córdoba to attend University. He participated in a cultural exchange program in Montreal in 2012, sparking his love for travel and culture. He loves working with CFHI students and sharing his country and culture with students from abroad. During his free time, he enjoys watching movies in English, trekking and learning other languages.
Antje Koenig
Local Coordinator
Antje Koenig - Local Coordinator
Antje assists Carlos with organizing housing, airport pick up, orientation, weekly meetings and other logistics for all participants.
Antje is a native of Germany and moved to Bolivia in the late 80’s. She met her husband and had her 4 children in Bolivia, later moving to Argentina where she finished her degree in Psychology and Foreign languages. She has also taught courses at local University in Psychopedagogy and German. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, taking long walks in the hilly countryside around Córdoba and spending time with her family.
This Program Requires Intermediate Spanish or Higher
Leading this program are our CFHI on-site Global Team members, all of whom speak Spanish, and some English. Translators are not provided during this program. You will take Spanish language classes throughout your program, and all daily interactions will be in Spanish. CFHI’s local team will support and help you through your experience. This program requires beginner 2 Spanish or higher.
Eligibility
This CFHI program is ideal for participants who are 21 years of age or older with an Intermediate Spanish level or above, who have an interest in fields related to hospital & inpatient medicine, primary health care, pediatric & child health, global health nursing, and/or public health. This program also requires individuals to have some shadowing experience in health settings. Global Health in Argentina will provide an in-depth overview of hospital & inpatient medicine, primary health care, pediatric & child health, global health nursing, and/or public health in Latin America through visits and experiences within hospitals in the city of Córdoba. To confirm your eligibility, please read CFHI’s general eligibility requirements.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global roadmap set forth by the United Nations General Assembly to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure the well-being of all individuals by the year 2030. This program highlights the following SDGs:
What alumni say about this program
How to Apply
Create profile
Submit application
Hear back from CFHI team
Complete pre-departure training and requirements
Let The World Change You
