title: Medical education in Ecuador.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ecuador, the smallest of the Andean countries, is located in the northwest portion of South America. The nation's 14.5 million people have a tremendous need for high quality primary care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the profound advances as well as the persistent needs in medical education in Ecuador that have occurred with globalization and with the modernization of the country.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through an extensive search of the literature; medical school data; reports from the Ecuador Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Education; and information from the National Secretary of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation (SENESCYT), the medical education system in Ecuador has been thoroughly examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The National System of Higher Education in Ecuador has experienced significant growth over the last 20 years. As of 2009 the system boasts 19 medical schools, all of which offer the required education needed to obtain the title of Physician, but only 12 of which offer postgraduate clinical training. Of these 19 universities, nine are public, five are private and self-financed, and five are private and co-financed. Post-graduate options for medical students include: (1) Clinical specialization, (2) Higher diploma, (3) Course specialization, (4) Master's degree, and (5) PhD degree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid growth of Ecuador's system of medical education has led to inevitable gaps that threaten its ability to sustain itself. Chief among these is the lack of well-trained faculty to supply its medical schools. To ensure an adequate supply of faculty exists, the creation of sufficient postgraduate, sub-specialization, and PhD training positions must be created and maintained.
authors.affiliation: National Yang-Ming University , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Carrillo P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Joffre
authors.forename: Belgica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Russell Olive
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Kosik
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tung-Ping
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shuu-Jiun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Angela Pei-Chen
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D004484:Ecuador; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D020380:Needs Assessment