Clinical Externships

Clinic Placements with chanchal cabrera

Program overview 

This 6-day (45 hour) clinical placement program is designed to help advanced students meet the in-person clinic training requirements for graduation and/or registration with a professional herbal association. 

NOTE: students are responsible for confirming with their respective college and/or professional association that these hours will be approved prior to registering for the program. 

Programs are offered every May and September provided the minimum enrolment of 8 students is met. Students are encouraged to assist recruitment within their educational cohorts.

Students must have a minimum of 1-2 years of foundational education in herbal medicine to apply for the program. Prior experience in student clinic is an asset but not a requirement. 

If students have an agreement with their educational institution, we can bill the school directly. This must be set up prior to commencement of the program. If the student’s educational institution is outside of Canada, the student may still be required to pay the Canadian GST portion of the course fees. 

Students are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation (see Travel & Accommodation section below) 

We are currently accepting applications for:

  • March 18th – 23rd: full (contact info@cabreraclinic.com to be placed on a cancellation list)
  • May 13th – 18th 2025: full (contact info@cabreraclinic.com to be placed on a cancellation list)
  • September 16th – 21st: Registration Open
  • May 2026: Dates TBD
  • September 2026: Dates TBD

Program Details

  • Student clinic  – students lead clinical consultations with real patients from Chanchal’s practice
  • Clinical Skills and Physical Examinations Training : Students learn advanced hands-on assessment and physical examinations with Katolen Yardley 
  • Clinical Intake, Assessment, and Physical Exams Practicum : Students complete a full intake including physical assessments on one another 
  • Clinic Review and Treatment Planning : Discussion of cases, formulating, dosing, safety, and clinical considerations 
  • Review of Clinic Processes & Procedures : File management, charting, blood work graphing, confidentiality and safe-guarding, adverse event reporting 
  • Dispensary Management : Quality assurance, inventory management, cost accounting, safety, policies and procedures for best practice
  • Cancer Case Reviews : Reviewing case files from Chanchal’s practice
  • Apothecary Garden Tour : Meeting some of the plants that were prescribed in the clinic. 
  • Herb Walk and Experiential class on Practitioner Self-Care

Program Fees

If your educational institution allows for clinical externships as part of your training program, please have them contact us directly to arrange direct payment. 

$624.65 CAD (+GST) – includes daily lunches. 

**For international students – if we are billing your institution directly, you will need to cover the Canadian taxes (5% of program fees)

How to apply 

  • Fill out an application form
  • We will notify you within one week if your application has been accepted. Please do not book flights yet! 
  • Once the enrollment minimum is met, you will receive an email confirming that the program is a go. At this point, your registration fees are due and you may begin booking flights and arranging accommodation. 

Cancellations & Refunds

To ensure a rich and personalized experience, we limit the program to a small group of students. As a result, we are unable to provide refunds if you cancel after your fees have been paid.

 

clinical externships with chanchal cabrera

Travel and Accommodation

Camping is available MAY – SEPTEMBER at the farm for $35/ night including breakfast, This must be prepaid before you arrive. 

How to get here:

Flying into Comox

Ferry to Vancouver Island

There are three options for ferries to Vancouver Island:

  1. Hullo Ferry (PASSENGER ONLY – no vehicles) – this foot passenger only ferry is the fastest option and easiest way to get from the YVR to Vancouver Island. https://hullo.com/schedule/
    • Hullo Ferries offers a free shuttle service from their terminal to downtown Nanaimo (Daily Hive Van) where you can transfer to the Island Link bus. 
  2. BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay – for vehicles and foot passengers. Island Link and picks up from the Departure Bay Terminal. 
    1. https://www.bcferries.com/RouteSelectionPage – *** Ferry sailings fill up quickly in the high season. You are strongly encouraged to make reservations in advance. 
  3. BC Ferries Tsawwassen to Duke Point (South Nanaimo) – Tsawwassen is the closest terminal to the U.S. border. Options for public transit from the Duke Point terminal are limited so this option is only recommended if you have your own vehicle or have arranged a pick-up from Duke point. 

Bus from Nanaimo to Courtenay

  • Use Island Link https://www.islandlinkbus.com/booking/select-trip 
  • Island link drops off at Driftwood Mall. The Number 10 goes from Driftwood Mall to Royston Roasting (intersection of Royston Road and Island Hwy). From here, walk up Royston Road for 10 minutes and take a left on Trent Road. Innisfree Farm is at the end of Trent Road on your left. 

Accommodations

There are a number of Air BnB’s and hotels in the area. Search for Royston, Cumberland, or South Courtenay. 

Camping options close to Innisfree Farm (20 minutes away)

For more information about Courtenay and accommodation options visit: