Q: intro

What’s one of the best kept secrets to excelling in the field of medicine? Hint: it’s way cooler than grabbing an espresso from your local coffee shop and running down to the university health clinic in your scrubs. Think foreign travel, humanitarian work, and helping people with a lot less, get healthy. You can do all this amazing stuff in medical gap year programs. It’s a powerful way to see the world, sharpen your medical skills, and help less fortunate communities get the medical aid they need. Alright, doc—here’s the lowdown on gap year medical programs!

Question 1

intro

Accepted Answer

What&rsquo;s one of the best kept secrets to excelling in the field of medicine? Hint: it&rsquo;s way cooler than grabbing an espresso from your local coffee shop and running down to the university health clinic in your scrubs. Think foreign travel, humanitarian work, and helping people with a lot less, get healthy. You can do all this amazing stuff in medical gap year programs. It&rsquo;s a powerful way to see the world, sharpen your medical skills, and help less fortunate communities get the medical aid they need. Alright, doc&mdash;here&rsquo;s the lowdown on gap year medical programs!

Question 2

Best places for gap year medical programs

Accepted Answer

Does assisting midwives in Senegal align with your passion for gynecology and love for Senegalese Mbalax music? Thinking about a gap year before medical school? You can find your perfect gap year medical program anywhere&mdash;there are critical needs for quality medical help all around the world. Here are some places to put your skills to work on a medical gap year.
Uganda. Passionate about health education? You&rsquo;ll find lots of opportunities for outreach work during a medical gap year in Uganda. The nation has few skilled medical professionals and many under resourced health facilities. Uganda has the world&rsquo;s highest number of malaria cases and a high rate of HIV/AIDS. So, spreading preventative health education and filling the healthcare gaps will be your priorities in Ugandan medical gap year programs. Nevertheless, Uganda is a nation brimming with rich culture and picturesque locales to explore. Try rafting down the Nile or visiting Murchison Falls National Park which has over 400 bird species!
Nepal. Beneath the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas lie Nepalese communities in desperate need of quality health care. Even before the 2015 earthquake that killed thousands of people, Nepal struggled with a strained healthcare system. Participants in Nepal&rsquo;s medical gap year programs will combat critical health issues like disease, malnutrition, and misinformation on preventative healthcare. And for a recharge, explore the backstreets of Old Kathmandu or paraglide through the mountains!
Guatemala. Guatemala is Central America&rsquo;s largest economy, but has some of the region&rsquo;s highest socioeconomic inequality. Health clinics are often too far away or unaffordable, compounding the extreme poverty many Guatemalans face. Medical gap year opportunities here offer work that improves the health care of marginalized communities like the Maya. And, you can explore traditional Mayan villages in the highlands, socialize like the locals in Antigua, and more.

Question 3

What is a gap year medical program?

Accepted Answer

Medical gap year programs, and the work they do, is serious business. After all, you&rsquo;re dealing with people&rsquo;s lives! So, the type of work you spend your medical gap year doing will depend on your qualifications.
Taking a gap year before medical school. Your days could be spent traveling to local villages and spreading awareness on anything from prenatal care to cholera prevention methods. You&rsquo;ll also probably hang around local health facilities to get a feel for day-to-day operations during your gap year program before med school.
Doing a gap year during medical school. Depending on how far along you are in med school, you might be allowed to give shots, take blood pressure, and do more hands on gap year medical work. Jobs for gap year medical students also involve time shadowing and learning the work of local health professionals.
Gap year medical programs for health professionals. You&rsquo;ll be knee-deep in the trenches diagnosing illnesses, writing prescriptions, and maybe even collaborating with local doctors to research diseases. Gap year medical programs for professionals might include days out of the office to treat sick patients in far out rural areas.

Question 4

What to know about gap year medical programs

Accepted Answer

Costs. Fees of gap year medical programs cover program operations and ensure projects are effectively managed. Expenses can include, food, housing, transportation, visas, travel insurance, airfare, and more. So, find out what will be covered under program fees and what won&rsquo;t. And, if you need to raise money, apply for scholarships or grants, or use this FundMyTravel tool to create a successful fundraiser.
Accommodations. Housing for gap year medical programs is usually close to the participant&rsquo;s placement. So, if you&rsquo;re assigned to work at a mobile clinic in a rural Zambian village, you could be sleeping under a thatch roof in the bush! Another possibility? Sharing a house with other gappers or living with a friendly local family&mdash;this encourages deeper cultural immersion and gives you helpful insight as you work with patients.
Visas. Your visa is one of the most important things you&rsquo;ll need to do a gap year medical program. It&rsquo;s a document that says you&rsquo;re legally working in the country. The kind of visa you get depends on the length of your program and the work you&rsquo;re doing. As a medical gapper, your visa application process might include submitting proof (copies of a diploma or certification) to show that you're trained to do medical work. So, whether you&rsquo;re thinking of taking a gap year before medical school or doing a gap year program during medical school, get clear on the requirements. Your program advisors will give you the 411 on how to apply for your visa. Want a head start on the process? Use the GoAbroad embassy directory&mdash;it links you with embassy contact info to inquire about their visa application processes. 
Safety. While doing gap year medical jobs abroad, you&rsquo;ll naturally be exposed to germs. So, don&rsquo;t freak out if you come down with a nasty cold&mdash;it can take time for your immune system to adjust to the new environment. And, if you happen to get really sick, your gap year staff will support you around the clock.
Here&rsquo;s a few tips on keeping the flu bugs to a minimum during gap year medical programs:
Get all recommended vaccinations.
Buy travel insurance to cover costs of any illnesses, accidents, or even lost luggage.
Find out if drinking tap water is advised and if it isn&rsquo;t drink filtered water. 
Start taking multivitamins before you travel for an immune booster.
Maintain basic hygiene rules like frequent hand washing.

Question 5

Tips for a gap year medical program

Accepted Answer

Medical gap years often involve interacting with patients who don&rsquo;t speak your language. So, you might have to shadow local healthcare professionals and work by their side, rather than independently. And, remember that countries allow medical gappers to administer treatment based on their level of experience. Whatever your project is, be a sponge and roll with it. When it comes to healthcare, there are many different ways to be effective. Plus, you&rsquo;re gaining international work experience that will seriously boost your skillset. 
Most gap year medical programs offer projects at hospitals and clinics that are understaffed and underresourced. So, chat with your gap year supervisors about any medical supplies you should pack. Some projects will tell you upfront that due to the lack of materials in-country, volunteers should bring along their own scrubs, lab coat, medical gloves, and wipes, for example.  
Your decision to do a medical gap year is a truly impressive path. What better way to travel meaningfully, than by helping others in need? Gap year medical programs are important work that create better health professionals&mdash;because working overseas and witnessing the harsh realities of healthcare access for much of the world is a truly humbling experience. And, while gap year medical jobs in underserved communities can be challenging, know that your work won&rsquo;t go unnoticed as your resume will shine. So, step into your scrubs and squeeze on those medical gloves. It&rsquo;s time to help some people! 
Wondering if you should travel with an organized gap year program or go at it solo? Check out these pros and cons!