Join highly trained medical providers on the front lines of health care in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand. Bangkok, home to the iconic Grand Palace, is the most populous city of Thailand and is the most visited city in the world by international travelers. Chiang Mai is renowned for its majestic temples, bustling markets and night bazaars, amazing Thai food, natural beauty in surrounding mountains and hill tribe villages, and elephants in nearby sanctuaries and parks.
Thailand is rapidly gaining in recognition for the quality of its healthcare services, and attracts hundreds of thousands of international patients each year for state-of-the art medical treatment. You will be placed with full-time doctors or nurses and will shadow these professionals on daily rounds from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, as they consult with patients, administer treatment, and perform surgeries. All of the doctors with whom interns will work are highly qualified. Many have received their credentials overseas in the United States or United Kingdom. The professional that you shadow will have high command of the English language. Each stage of observation is carefully monitored to ensure the safety and comfort of the patients involved. This incredible experience is characterized by an unrivaled level of access that is not available in most countries. Internships take place in international-standard hospitals that are carefully vetted full-service private and public hospitals featuring state-of-the art infrastructure and in most cases include each of the following departments: general surgery; dermatology; diagnostic radiology; ear, nose, and throat; intensive care unit; neurosurgery; and orthopedic surgery.
The program is ideal for students considering or committed to career in health care. You can learn more at www.byuglobalhealth.org
DATES
This program is expected to beginning on Monday July 5 during Summer Term – but exact dates TBA. Student may need to arrive in Thailand the day before. The exact date students should arrive in Thailand will be announced in time to make travel arrangements.
HOUSING
Accommodation will be in a volunteer house that has air-conditioned bedrooms and provides free Wi-Fi. The house has a kitchen and a washing machine. In the event that the houses are full with other guests, appropriate hotels with similar facilities will be arranged. Multiple laundry services are nearby that provide washing, drying, an ironing very inexpensively.
COURSES
Students are required to complete six credits.
Required:
HLTH 402R – Health Problems Workshop: Comparative Analysis of U.S. and Thai Health Care System (3 credits)
Electives:
HLTH 492 – Directed Public Health Readings
HLTH 491R – Mentored Research
HLTH 481 – Applied International Health
LFSCI 199R
IAS 399R
HLTH 496R (HLTH 496R* is only for senior-level public health majors. It requires completion of prerequisite courses and that specific internship requirements are met. HLTH 496R is usually not suitable for Health Promotion students in this program, but may qualify for Health Science students under certain conditions).
ELECTIVE
Students may be interested in investigating the local culture by taking IAS 380 Cultural Proofs for 1–3 credit hours. This self-guided course allows students to do independent intercultural research, interview locals, and experience local culture.
COST
$2,700-3,200
Includes undergraduate tuition for six credits Summer Term, international health insurance coverage, housing, meals (breakfast every morning, lunch every work day Mondays-Friday), airport pickup on arrival, orientation, onsite coordination, 24-hour emergency assistance.
Does not include international airfare, airfare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, passport, visa(s), personal expenses, dinners and lunches on weekends, cell phones/international data, or personal excursions.
There are many restaurants in Chiang Mai where food is relatively inexpensive. Students can also use kitchen facilities for preparing their own meals. Also, not included is the cost of transportation to and from the project site and the accommodation (roughly $5/day). Airfare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is usually fairly inexpensive ($65-85 one way).
TRAVEL
Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program. Airfare reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.
BYU Travel
(801) 422-6293 | travel@byu.edu | 280 HRCB
PREPARATION
Students from many majors are encouraged to apply, particularly those with interests in health care. Accepted students are required to participate in an international preparation course (IAS 369R, 1 credit hour). This second-block evening course will be held during winter semester. Accompanying spouses need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.
All participants are required to show proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) at least two weeks prior to departure.
FUNDING SOURCES
Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs. Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants. Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
APPLICATION PROCESS
Priority Deadline: 1 December 2021. Applications will remain open until program is filled. If spots remain open, the final deadline is anticipated to be 1 February 2022. Complete the online application at kennedy.byu.edu/apply. The application requires a $35 fee. Applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete. Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. Students will also be required to complete an enrollment or application with Friends for Asia (FFA) and a police background check after acceptance in the program may be required.
FACULTY
Randy M Page, Director of the Global Health Internship Program and Professor of Public Health is the faculty director for the program.
2030 LSB | randy_page@byu.edu
Tana Page, Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Public Health, will be the Assistant Director.
2148 LSB | tana_page@byu.edu
SCHEDULE AND TIME COMMITMENT
Students will be in Thailand for approximately four weeks. Students will be required to complete academic assignments prior to this time and upon returning home from the program.
INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT
International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost. If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU financial account. ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
