IMSS Nogales Hospital, Sonora, México

Saturday Spanish Rotations offer medical students the opportunity to practice their Spanish while “shadowing” attending physicians in the Emergency Department of the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS) Hospital in Nogales, Sonora. Participating students accompany and observe attending physicians on duty; talk to patients and their families; meet colleagues from across the border; and become familiar with the Mexican health care system.

Two medical students from the UA College of Medicine (Tucson and Phoenix) can attend the rotation each Saturday.

Who Can Attend?

Medical Spanish Rotation participants must:

• Be medical students from the UA College of Medicine (Tucson or Phoenix);
• Demonstrate an intermediate to advanced proficiency level in Spanish conversation;
• Have a valid U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card or other approved form of ID (for information on other approved IDs Click Here!);
• Wear professional attire while participating in this rotation (white coat, etc.);
• Register to participate and select an available date/time (more information below); and
• Have a vehicle or other form of transportation to travel to Nogales.

Dates and Times:

Medical Spanish Rotations are held every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For information on dates and times still available to register visit the

How do I register to attend?

Interested students must click on the link below, and:

• Select a rotation date from those available in the rotations calendar;
• Enter their name, email address, and phone number; and
• Confirm that they have one of the approved IDs needed to re-enter into the U.S. (for information on approved IDs Click Here!).

Register Here!

Staff members from the Office of Outreach and Multicultural Affairs (OMA) will contact each student registered a few days before the Saturday rotation. OMA and/or Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) representatives will meet with each participant in Nogales and accompany him/her to the IMSS Nogales Hospital.

For additional questions or information, please contact Dr. Oscar Beita at the Office of Outreach and Multicultural Affairs (office: 520-626-4149, cell: 520-247-5450, email: obeita@email.arizona.edu).