PROGRAM LENGTH:                                  2 weeks – 6 months

PROJECT LAUNCH DATES:                       The 1^st and 3^rd Monday of every month

ARRIVAL DATE:                                          3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)

THOSE WELCOMED:                                   Men or Women over 20 years old who are studying either pre-med, currently in medical school or who have already completed medical school.

SLEEPING:                                                     All interns in this project stay in or near the Friends For Asia intern house.  Friends For Asia operates out of a large, teak wood house, located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in the city of Chiang Mai.  The house is two stories, can accommodate up to 10 people at any one time, has air conditioning, western style toilets and hot water showers.  If room is not available in the Friends For Asia House, interns may stay in one of the neighborhood apartment buildings.  If this occurs, the project fee will cover all accommodation costs.  If an intern decides to stay in a place of their own choosing, then they will have to pay for their own accommodations.  The apartments are nice, but some rooms may not have air conditioning.  Interns will have to commute daily by public transportation or bicycle.

EATING:                                                         Breakfast is provided for all interns at the Friends For Asia House.  Interns will be on their own for lunch and dinner.  There are many Thai food restaurants near the hospital including an excellent vegetarian restaurant less than five minutes walk from the hospital.  Special diet requirements or restrictions can easily be accommodated.  Interns who decide not to stay in Friends For Asia housing will not have breakfast provided.

PICK-UP INFO:                                             A Friends For Asia representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.

TIMETABLE:                                                  Interns will work five days a week (Monday to

Friday) 8:00am to 4:00pm.  Interns must pay the project deposit fee at least three months in advance before beginning their internship.

FEES:                                                              Participation in the Medical Intern Project is $995 for two weeks and $200 for each additional week.  A $295 non-refundable project deposit fee is required to reserve a spot in the project.  The deposit fee must be made at least three months in advance to the start of the internship.  The balance of the project fee (the entire project fee minus the $295 deposit) will be due one month before the internship begins.

FEE INCLUDES:                                            Airport pick up, 2-Day Pre-Internship orientation, accommodation during orientation and entire project time, breakfast every morning, half day city tour, cultural dinner and show, onsite coordinator, 24 hour emergency assistance and official documentation of internship and work completed.

FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE:                          Plane tickets, travel insurance, cost of criminal police background check (required for this project), cost of transportation to and from work location and accommodation, ride to the airport after internship, lunches and dinners.

Interns will quickly find out why Thailand has become a medical center for much of Asia and why westerners travel half-way across the world to receive expert, inexpensive medical care. Thailand’s medical system is well known for its highly qualified doctors, staff and new medical equipment.

Interns will be paired with a full-time Thai doctor and work five days a week (Mon – Fri) 8:00am – 4:00pm. In special cases interns may work on weekends and evenings. Interns will shadow the Thai doctor in their normal, daily routines and assist with professional responsibilities.

No more than two interns at any one time will be paired with each full-time doctor. The amount of “on hands” involvement while interning will depend upon the intern’s experience, education, comfort level, the length of the internship and the consent of both the attending doctor and the hospital administration. Interns who have completed course study and received their medical degree will be able to execute a more active role during their internships.

All of the doctors participating in the internship program have a strong command of English, having not only studied it throughout their educations, but many also having attended multiple conferences and seminars in English. Numerous doctors have also had supplemental training within the United States and other western countries.

The hospital has a wide variety of departments and services. Interns may be able to pick different centers and clinical areas of the hospital to focus their work on or to spend supplemental time in.

The hospital offers the following health care departments and services:

- General Medical Consultation

- Computerized Tomography

- Diagnostic Radiology

- General Surgery

- Orthopedic Surgery

- Neurosurgery

- Internal Medicine

- Obstetrics and Gynecology

- Prenatal and Postnatal care

- Dermatology Clinic

- Eye Clinic

- Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic

- Pediatric Clinic

- Pediatric Allergy Clinic

- Health Care Check up and Promotion Center

- Emergency Center

- Dental Care Center

- Hemodialysis Center

- Intensive Care Unit

- Cardiac Care Unit

- Physical Rehabilitation Center

- Fitness Room

- Health Promotion and Alternative Medicine Center

- Foot, Body and Traditional Thai Massage

- Acupuncture

- Colon Cleaning

- Yoga

- Natural Diet counseling

- Pyramidal hydro bed

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL

Centrally located within the city of Chiang Mai, this historic hospital is only a few minutes ride from our Friends For Asia House. There are a variety of delicious Thai restaurants as well as relaxing coffee shops within easy walking distance.

The original hospital was opened in 1888 as an 8 bed clinic. It has grown considerably since then, now boasting 400 patient beds and 784 employees. A total of 41 doctors, 7 dentists, 10 pharmacists and 214 nurses currently work there full time.

The hospital’s architecture reflects both its history and its modernity, ranging from traditional colonial style to a more contemporary design. In addition, it contains a number of lush, open air courtyards filled with trees and tropical flowers. These elements give the hospital a light, airy feeling which encompasses the serenity of northern Thailand.

Interns need to be between the ages of 20 and 45, be studying pre-med, medical school or have already completed medical school. This project is designed for interns that are specifically interested in working in the medical profession.