Dominican Republic: La Romana, Clínica de Familia La Romana

Clínica de Familia La Romana's community health experience offers learning opportunities for volunteers, students, and residents. In addition to clinical and program rotations, all students and volunteers also participate in a research or public health project.

The community health experience at the Clínica de Familia evolved from a collaboration with Columbia University in New York. Clínica de Familia began receiving students from Columbia University in 2002, but since then, the program has expanded substantially and now we receive students and volunteers from different Dominican, American and foreign universities and institutions.

Clínica de Familia provides outpatient, primary and specialized HIV medical care, psychosocial, community and home-based services, and an annual summer camp for HIV-positive children. The clinical services offered include primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, cardiology, diabetes care, pulmonology, nephrology, dermatology, family and internal medicine, family planning, mental health services, and laboratory and imaging services.

In addition to its clinical services, Clínica de Familia also houses one of the largest comprehensive HIV clinics in the country, providing medical care and treatment to more than 2,500 clients. The clinic also offers specialized sexually transmitted infection consultations for sex workers and men who have sex with men. In addition, the Clinic oversees a program to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. Clínica de Familia La Romana aims to improve the quality of life of the poorest and most vulnerable populations in the eastern region of the country with a comprehensive and family-centered approach. More information about each program can be found at www.clinicadefamilia.org.do

Columbia University Faculty Liaison: Michael T. Yin, MD, MS
Site Mentors: Project Dependent

Research opportunities available at this site:
Summer Research Projects, Scholarly Projects, and Research Year

Thematic Research Areas at this site:
Access to healthcare, Social Determinants of Health, Epidemiology, Adolescent Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Gender and LGBTQ+ health, Infectious Diseases, and Migrant health

Global Pop funds students from the following CUIMC Schools at this site:
VP&S, MSPH, and CDM

Language requirement:
Spanish

Global Health Experience Overview:
The global health experience provides education and training rotations, practicums, and internships for medical, public health, nursing, psychology, social work, and other health science students, residents, and volunteers. The objective of the program is to improve the health of underserved populations through the participation of students and health professionals dedicated to research, education and service.

Potential activities that could be carried out by students at this site:
Literature Review, IRB development, Interview tool development, Interviewing/Surveying, Attend regular Team/Site meetings, Data collection, Data monitoring, Data analysis, Program monitoring and evaluation, Manuscript writing, Summarizing/Disseminating results, Formulation of recommendations/policy guidance, Development of Educational Materials, Translation, Shadowing, Community outreach

Other requirements or information:

For more information about the program and research projects, please contact the student coordinator, Jeffrey González (jeffrey@clinicadefamilia.org.do).

This site offers on-site orientation upon arrival. Although students are responsible for coordinating their own accommodations, they can contact the Student and Volunteer Coordinator for more information and accommodation options. Participants can use public transportation or walk to the Clinic, which is located in the center of the city. All students prepare a final presentation.

In order to cover the program costs, including orientation, support, mentorship, and supervision, Clínica de Familia charges US $500 for participation. As a Dominican non-profit organization, this contributes to the sustainability of the student program at Clínica de Familia.