San Jose, Costa Rica OLD

Course Objectives

1. To improve conversational and medical Spanish speaking skills

2. To experience the social and cultural characteristics of the Costa Rica

3. To learn about Costa Rica's health system

Course Overview

Residents have the opportunity to enhance Spanish language skills and experience the Costa Rican socialized health care system. The clinical portion is organized through Universidad de Ciencias Medicas (UCIMED). Dr. María del Carmen García is the local coordinator. Her office is located at Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Médicas (ICIMED). Please request to be assigned to Dr. Arturo Abdelnour who works both inpatient and outpatient as a general pediatrician. Please contact our Global Health coordinators for contact information for both Dr. García and Dr. Abdelnour and email them to start the application and planning process as soon as you have committed to Costa Rica. Residents should be in communication with Dr. Abdelnour (or another pediatrician in Costa Rica) about their academic project prior to departure. 

The two main sites include:

1. Inpatient at Hospital Nacional de Niños - Paseo Colón, San Jose, Costa Rica

This is the only pediatric hospital in the country and has a catchment area from Nicaragua to Panama. Hospital Nacional de Niños has a large emergency department, multiple pediatric floors, multiple OR suites with high-quality care and access to extensive imaging, laboratory testing, and procedures. Costa Rican medical students and residents usually arrive around 7 AM to pre-round. Rounds on the ward usually start at 8:30 AM, lasting until 10:00 or 11:00 AM depending on the patient census.

There are also morning Grand Rounds on Tuesdays at 7:00 AM and M&M on Fridays at 7:00 AM.

2. Outpatient at Hospital CIMA - Autopista Próspero Fernández, San José, Costa Rica

Dr. Abdelnour also serves in the pediatric clinic at this private hospital which is accredited by Joint Commission-International. CIMA has an excellent standard of care similar to US hospitals. Dr. Abdelnour typically works in the clinic from 2:00 - 6:00 PM during the week.

Spanish class/Homestay/Food

Universal de Idiomas is an excellent language school where residents can structure their class load based on their 

needs and budget. Two locations exist including downtown at Avenida 2 y Calle 9, San José, Costa Rica. Intense 1-4 week courses with 4-6 hours of classes per weekday are available or residents can take 1-3 hours daily of private tutoring. Typically classes are in the morning, however, it is recommended to request afternoon classes if participating in rounds at the Hospital Nacional De Niños. Please fill out Enrollment Form after purchasing your flight. Discounted price (around 5-15%) is available through our relationship with UCIMED which you should mention while enrolling. Cost varies, but around $230/week for 4 hour classes Monday through Friday. See website for more pricing information. The school also has cultural trips to show you the city with other students.

Universal homestay is a recommended site and costs $170/week which includes breakfast, dinner, laundry, and house cleaning. Please fill out Enrollment Form after purchasing your flight. Lunch is available at school for ~4 dollars. There are also many restaurants around the city with lunch prices between $5-10. The hospital might also provide lunch for you if you are present during lunch hour. Dr. Garcia may refer you to Doña Elizabeth Leiton who charges 200 dollars/week and includes similar accommodations usually with more foreign students and guests also staying there.  

Airfare

Around $600 for round trip flight from Minneapolis to San Jose, Costa Rica. The global health program will provide 500 dollars reimbursement for your flight after your final debrief with a global health program advisor after the trip.

Local transportation

A Universal representative can pick you up from the airport and bring you directly to your host family's home on your day of arrival which costs around 35 dollars. Official city taxis are red and have a yellow triangle on the side of the car. They are metered taxis to avoid price negotiations. Uber is not legal in Costa Rica but very popular as a mode of transportation. Rental cars are available for longer trips. Price ranges upward of 45 dollars/day including required rental insurance, but make sure to make a reservation at least 1-2 days prior to travel plans. 

Phone/Internet access

To avoid roaming charges, bring a "jailbroken/unlocked" phone with you and purchase a SIM card. All Verizon phones are all already unlocked. SIM cards are available for purchase for around 2 dollars at the ICE building such as the location by Parque Sabana. You can place money on your card as you need it for data and minutes at the ICE building or many shops around the city wherever you see a Kölbi sign. Minutes and data are very inexpensive. If you don't have unlocked phone, you can purchase a cheap cell phone there to use as well. The area code is +506 in Costa Rica. Wifi Internet is available at homestays, hospitals, and restaurants.

Ideal Travel Months

December-May is the dry season.

Currency

Currency is the colón (plural colónes). The typical exchange rate for 1 US dollar is around 540-560 colónes. Many places also accept US dollars (e.g. restaurants, grocery stores, tourist places) and Visa credit cards.