EWH Summer Institute

Since 2004, the EWH Summer Institute has provided young engineers with the chance to live in a developing country with a local family, learn a new language and use newly acquired technical skills to improve health care in the community. One month of training is followed by a month of service in a local hospital during which participants install and repair medical equipment, train the staff, take inventory, solve problems and perform other engineering duties.

The program is open to qualified people from all countries. Although a majority of participants are undergraduate and graduate students, the program often includes postgraduates and some young professional engineers. In addition to improving the quality of health care, the program offers participants a life-changing experience and the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to international development. For many it is the beginning of a long-term commitment to helping poor and vulnerable people.

The EWH Summer Institute has been run in partnership with Duke University since 2004 and now enables about 50 participants to go to either Central America or Tanzania for 2 months each summer.

Click through to find out more about the program and the application process!

How can I apply?

The EWH Summer Institute has been run in partnership with Duke University since 2004 and now enables about 50 participants to go to either Central America or Tanzania for 2 months each summer. Come find out more about the program and the application process here.

 

Summer Institute experiences

Please visit photo galleries from some of our past summers:

Or watch student-made videos from some of our past summers:

You can also read about past students' experiences on our Student Blogs section.

 

Summer Institute successes

The Summer Institute program draws outstanding undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the US and other countries. Since its inception, hundreds of students in EWH summer programs have worked on thousands of pieces of equipment, placing nearly 70% of that equipment back into service.  Over 500 pieces were placed back into service in 2010 alone. That represents nearly $1,086,000 worth of medical equipment, enabling diagnostic and treatment procedures that will benefit thousands of patients of all ages. The students themselves have described their experience as life-changing and many are inspired to volunteer additional time to EWH programs or to commit to a career in international development.