Beyond120 in Oaxaca Pre-Health Excursion: Realities of Health Access & Inequities
May 3 – May 11, 2025
Watch the Information Session
Watch a video from one of last year’s students
Beyond120 is excited to announce our 2025 Pre-Health Excursion. In partnership with Child Family Health International, this non-credit program is perfect for future health professionals wanting a taste of a global health experience and an introduction to issues of healthcare disparities. The city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico is known for its cuisine, skilled artisans and traditional handicrafts. Yet, with all the richness in culture, the state of Oaxaca trails behind the rest of Mexico in its health and economic indicators. It is one the poorest regions in all of Mexico, with the average daily income less than half of the national average. Oaxaca faces challenges in literacy, sanitation, unemployment, and access to healthcare services.
Join local experts and healthcare professionals to learn about primary care and preventative medicine, as well as community health education programs, through lectures, cultural activities, and observational visits to primary clinics. Learn from experts at community level clinics serving low-income populations. See Mexico’s three-tiered insurance system, and understand how quality of care, wait times and access to medications varies between each.
Become immersed in Mexican culture and language through Spanish classes, living with a local family in Oaxaca, and cultural/historical excursions and activities. Enjoy a day trip to the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, a Unesco Heritage Site, and experience artisans who inspired the movie Coco in action in the creation of “alebrijes”.
Eligibility
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences majors and Pre-Health Scholars will receive preference.
- 2.0 UF GPA.
- Intermediate level Spanish recommended, but not required. Be aware that many physicians and some host families may not speak much English.
- Valid passport.
- COVID-19 Vaccine including booster.
Program Fee: $1675 (Accepted CLAS students will each receive a $500 scholarship) includes:
- Pre-departure training.
- Homestay with local family.
- Airport pickup.
- Onsite orientation.
- Cultural tours and lectures.
- Spanish language courses.
- Two meals per day.
- Clinical visits.
- Travel insurance.
Not Included:
- Airfare (usually $500-$800 depending on city of departure and when you purchase tickets).
- Passport fee (if applicable).
- 3rd daily meal (usually $10-12 per meal for dinner).
- Some local transportation (to/from clinics and personal trips, approximately $40).
- Incidentals.
- Lab coat, scrubs (if needed), gloves and masks.
Please note that this is non-credit program and therefore Financial Aid, Bright Futures, and Florida Pre-paid do not apply. You are welcome to apply for our Beyond120 experiential scholarship. Additional scholarship funds may become available for participants but are not guaranteed. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the first 10 CLAS students to be accepted for 2025 will each receive a $500 scholarship. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have of being accepted to the program. Questions? Contact Christine Richmond at richmoc@ufl.edu.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
A $350 deposit may be required to hold your spot in the program. The total balance of the Program fee is due by March 17, 2025. If you are accepted into the Program within 45 days before the start date, all Program fees are due within 72 hours of acceptance. If you cancel after payment of all Program fees but more than 30 days before the scheduled Program start date, you will be refunded the entire final balance amount except for a $350 non-refundable deposit. If you cancel after you have paid the full Program fees and less than 30 days (but not less than 15 days) before the scheduled Program start date, you will be charged 50% of the final balance, with the remainder refunded to you. If it is 14 days or less before the program start date, you will be charged 80% of the final balance, with the remainder refunded to you. Program fees are never transferable to other CFHI Program participants after a Program cancellation. No portion of the Program fee is refundable after the Program start date.
