Opportunities for Independent Projects

There are two opportunities available in Armenia for MPH, MD/MPH and other MPH/dual degree students:

1. American University of Armenia (AUA)
   This opportunity provides research experiences for MPH, MD/MPH or MPH/dual-degree students over a 7–8 week period in the summer. The work will primarily focus on public health research in collaboration with AUA faculty and may include opportunities for Applied Practice Experience (APE) or Integrated Learning Experience (ILE).
    
   • The Co-Principal Investigators are Dr. Shayesteh Jahanfar and Dr. Anya Agopian.
      
2. NGO-Based Placements through Birthright Armenia and Armenian Volunteer Corps AVC These are 4-week opportunities which may include opportunities for Applied Practice Experience (APE) or Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) in the summer coordinated by:
    
   • Sevan Kabakian (Country Director, Birthright Armenia) – sevan@birthrightarmenia.am
   • Arina Zohrabian (Executive Director, American Volunteer Corps) – arina@avc.am
     Students will work with local NGOs on health, education, and community development initiatives

No clinical or hospital-based experiences are planned for these placements. As such, they are not appropriate for rising 2nd- or 4th-year MD students seeking direct clinical engagement.

For more information, please contact Tufts faculty lead:

Shayesteh Jahanfar, PhD
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine

Rising second year MD students wanting to do research or MPH, MD/MPH, or other dual degree students wanting to pursue the Integrated Learning Experience have the opportunity to conduct supervised public health research related to advanced HIV care, including toxic metabolic complications of long-term infection and antiretroviral therapy. Students may also conduct research into optimal HIV service delivery models to provide optimally for aging patients with HIV and increasing comorbidities and mortality.

This opportunity will begin remotely with developing research questions and culminate with in-country immersion, data collection, analysis, and abstract/publication writing. The duration of the immersion experience can be tailored to each student’s particular health interests. Research projects are anticipated to result in scientific presentations and publications.

This research will be conducted in Gaborone, Botswana, at the Careena Center for Health under the supervision of Dr. Ava Avalos, an HIV-specialty physician, researcher, and a technical advisor to the Botswana Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Jordan, Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University. 

The Careena Center for Health, established in 2012, provides HIV specialty care, counseling, and mental health services to the general community.  Students will have the opportunity to interact with experts at the Ministry of Health and other development partners focusing on public health, as well as with graduate and professional students from around the world. In addition, depending on the chosen research project, students may have the opportunity to shadow clinic services at Princess Marina Hospital’s Infectious Disease Care Clinic. 

Botswana is a middle-income country in Southern Africa. It has the largest inland delta in the world, which contains extraordinary wildlife and natural beauty. Botswana is celebrated not only for its strong democratic values, diversity, and peaceful dialogue but also for having achieved one of the most successful HIV care and treatment programs in the world. Students with a strong interest in cross-cultural collaborations are encouraged to apply.

For more information, please contact Tufts faculty lead:

Michael R. Jordan MD, MPH, FIDSA
Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Community Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
Michael.Jordan@tufts.edu

Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala

Students are invited to do an independent placement project at Hospitalito in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala please hyperlink https://hospitalitoatitlan.org. Hospitalito is a non-profit hospital that serves the local Mayan people in this region and offers trauma care 24/7, orthopedic surgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics, family medicine, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine staffed by local physicians, as well as rotating specialty clinics run by Guatemalan and foreign volunteer groups. Opportunities are available for rising second year MD or MD/MPH students interested in doing research, Applied Practice Experience (APE) or Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) in the summer and fourth year MD or MD/MPH students interested in doing clinical electives in the Spring. The volunteer process is competitive; applications should be completed 8-12 months ahead of projected start date. There is a $50 application fee. If accepted, students pay an additional $250 clinical supervision fee for a month-long stay. There is an additional $100 per month fee for those who volunteer for a longer period. Supervisory fees are refundable up to 60 days prior to the volunteer’s scheduled arrival.

Hospitalito also offers CME/CNE medical Spanish courses and opportunities for research. More information on the application process can be found at the Hospitalito website. 

For more information, please contact Tufts faculty leads:

Aleksandra Yakhkind, MD MS
Assistant Professor
Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center
Aleksandra.Yakhkind@tuftsmedicine.org

Or 

Dara Arons, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Family Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
Dara.Arons@tufts.edu

32 Volcanoes,  Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala

Founded in 2019, 32 Volcanoes is a Guatemalan non-profit civil association located in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala.   The 32 Volcanoes Internship for Healthcare and Public Health Students and Providers welcomes pre-med students, medical students, public health students and professionals, nurses, and other healthcare providers in the Service Learning Program.  

Participants will learn about and provide public health interventions and education and/or clinical care in the clinic in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala, mobile chronic patient clinic, and mobile Nutrition Program brigades in rural communities. 

During this experience, participants will engage in cultural safety lectures and conversations as well as general 32 Volcanoes project activities, with the goal of building a solid foundation and understanding of 32 Volcanoes’ regenerative projects. During subsequent weeks, participants will focus on their specific project activities according to their interests and the projects’ needs. 

This global health experience is available to rising 2^nd year medical students and public health students doing research,  Applied Practice Experience (APE) or Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) during the Summer and to 4^th year medical students and public health students during the Spring.

Participants must have at least knowledge of intermediate Spanish to participate. 

See the 32 Volacanoes website and link to their facebook page for more information, here. 

For further information, please contact Tufts faculty leads: 

Aleksandra Yakhkind, MD MS 
Assistant Professor 
Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery 
Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center 
Aleksandra.Yakhkind@tuftsmedicine.org 

Or  

Dara Arons, MD 
Clinical Assistant Professor 
Department of Family Medicine 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Dara.Arons@tufts.edu 

Kalan Kuxtal Guatemala

Global Health Service-Learning Clinical Program in Guatemala

Step into the heart of rural primary care with Kalan Kuxtal Guatemala, a nonprofit medical project serving underserved communities just outside Antigua, Guatemala www.kalankuxtalgt.org.

What You’ll Do

Join a small team of local physicians and staff in a free clinic providing medical care to patients who might otherwise go without. You'll assist with consultations, home visits, health education, and explore the real-world challenges of global health delivery. Currently this program is available for 4^th year MD or MD, MPH students interested in clinical electives

• Why It Matters
  You’ll learn from physicians with deep community roots while gaining insight into health equity, social determinants of health, and cross-cultural care. It’s meaningful, hands-on work that supports long-term health impact—not just a shadowing experience.
• When & Where
  • Location: Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala
  • Dates: January to April (Blocks 9 to 12) Ideally apply at least 3 months in advance
  • Duration: 4 weeks
• Program Details
  • Eligibility: 4th-year TUSM MD or MD/MPH students
  • Cost: $650 USD (covers program materials, mentorship, supervision & more)
  • Apply: www.kalankuxtalgt.org.  Ideally apply at least 3 months in advance

Ready to Make an Impact?
Join us in Guatemala and grow as a compassionate, community-driven physician.

For more information, please contact: 

Mynor R. Bracamonte M., MD
Program Director, 
m.bracamonte@kalankuxtalgt.org

 and

Tufts faculty lead

Dara Arons, MD 
Clinical Assistant Professor 
Department of Family Medicine 
Tufts University School of Medicine 
Dara.Arons@tufts.edu 

The Global Health Independent Program in Malaysia offers MPH and MD/MPH students a transformative 7-8 week summer experience in Kuala Lumpur. Participants engage in hands-on research in public health and reproductive health, gaining data collection and analysis skills and fostering a deep understanding of local challenges through direct community engagement. Malaysia's diverse cultural landscape provides a unique environment for cultural immersion, promoting global perspectives and cultural sensitivity. Participants establish connections with NGOs, fulfilling Applied Learning Experience (ALE) requirements and translating theoretical knowledge into practical skills. Program highlights include understanding issues affecting communities, women, and children, designing evidence-based interventions, exploring reproductive health systems globally, and analyzing the impact of diversity on healthcare access. This program promises academic growth, cultural enrichment, and the opportunity to advocate for public health beyond the classroom, encouraging prospective participants to apply for an experience that shapes compassionate and knowledgeable advocates for global health. 

For more information, please contact: 

Shayesteh Jahanfar, PhD, Professor of Medicine
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
shayesteh.jahanfar@tufts.edu

Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto in San Luis Potosí, Mexico

4^th year TUSM MD or MD/MPH students are invited to do an independent project at the Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The Hospital Central is the main teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, which is located on the same campus. It is the state’s main tertiary care hospital and rotations and classes are available in multiple specialties, including Emergency Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, ENT and Internal Medicine and several of its subspecialties. San Luis Potosí, the capital of the central Mexican state of the same name, is a mid-sized Mexican city in the densely populated Altiplano region. It has a greater metropolitan area of approximately 1.3 million people. The Hospital Central services a large rural population, including several indigenous communities. This program promises academic growth and a unique opportunity to experience the amazingly complicated tapestry of central Mexican culture. 

Pertinent websites: 

• Medical School: medicina.uaslp.mx
• Hospital Central : ensenanza.hospitalcentral.gob.mx

For more information, please contact: 

Nicholas Handanos, MD 
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine,
Tufts University School of Medicine - Maine Track
Nicholas.Handanos@mainehealth.org