Medicine - ARGENTINA Project Information for Medicine in Argentina

Volunteer Medical Placements in Argentina

The Role of the Volunteer

Our medical projects in Argentina are only suitable for those with a good command of the Spanish language; if volunteers cannot communicate easily with patients and doctors the situation can prove very frustrating for both parties. These placements are also more suited to those with previous medical training; healthcare in Argentina is well developed and strict so those without experience will not be allowed to do much hands-on work. Instead the role of an unqualified volunteer is more an observational one. However, they are also allowed to: take life signs such as temperature and blood pressure, talk to patients and doctors, observe procedures and occasionally observe surgery. They may also be asked to carry out administrative hospital work such as filing patient records. Volunteers who already have medical training have more possibilities for hands-on work; it is helpful if they can bring official documentation to show what qualifications or experience they have e.g. proof of attendance at medical school, proof of degree, exam results etc.

Volunteers must dress smartly and should be aware that if they have piercings they will not be allowed into surgery for hygiene reasons. They may also encounter limitations in other areas for this reason. Volunteers do not need to bring a stethoscope but they do need a white coat, and if observing surgery they need their own scrubs which can be bought cheaply once in Argentina.

Our Medical Placements

Our medical placements are supervised by Doctor Nelson Falchini. At his young age he is already the Professor of Anatomy at the National University of Cordoba as well as being a qualified dentist.

Volunteers rotate between different hospitals to ensure a diverse experience. A timetable is drawn up for each volunteer and they are introduced to each site by a member of staff. As well as working with a number of different doctors and seeing different departments, volunteers must also travel fairly regularly between Cordoba and Villa Allende which is a one-hour bus journey.

Volunteers currently rotate between the following medical centres:

HOSPITAL ESCUELA "CLINICAS" (U.N.C.)
This is a public hospital in the city of Cordoba. Volunteers spend their time observing Dr Kremer - who specialises in diseases such as HIV/AIDS - as he treats his patients; this takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3pm to 9pm and on Wednesdays from 9am to 1pm.

SANATORIO "SUCRE"
In this private clinic in Cordoba volunteers work in the area of Intensive Therapy. Alongside nurses they help with the care of patients; washing them, checking their vital signs etc. Volunteers also help with patients from the paediatric unit and the trauma unit.

HOSPITAL ESCUELA "JOSEFINA PRIEUR" (U.N.C.)
This public hospital is in the beautiful city of Villa Allende. Volunteers help the doctors and nurses in health centres for poor communities. These health centres, called 'CENTROS PERIFÉRICOS', (periphery centres) are for the purpose of controlling and monitoring family health. Volunteers work in the area of dentistry where they fulfil the role of assistants to the dentists, carrying out tasks such as sterilising equipment and helping with basic procedures when necessary. A lot of the time volunteers will simply be observing procedures.

HOSPITAL ESCUELA "SAN ROQUE" (U.N.C.)
Another public hospital in the city of Cordoba, volunteers here also work in the field of dentistry alongside university students studying to be dentists. Volunteers act as assistants to qualified dentists.

Observing how the medical process works in Argentina, and more than that, being actively involved in it is an amazing opportunity, regardless of whether you are a pre-medical student, a medical student or graduate, or a medical professional.

The doctors and nurses with whom the volunteers work really appreciate the cultural exchange that is brought by the volunteers and are more than happy to answer questions and allow you to become involved in many aspects of their work.