Health Science Internships Abroad

I spent two months participating in a global internship in Bogotá organized by Intern Colombia and had a FANTASTIC experience! Intern Colombia did a tremendous job matching me to an internship that complemented my career goals and values. Not only did they help ensure that my internship experience was a positive one, but I also got to meet many different people and have a wide range of new experiences through the program activities offered that introduced me to the rich cultures in Colombia. This was surely an experience I will never forget!

I took a gap year because I didn’t want to rush into the next stage of school without being sure about what I wanted. I also didn’t want the year to become just more studying and applications. Spending part of it abroad gave me the chance to stay connected to medicine while doing something completely outside my normal routine. Some days were spent at the hospital, while others were spent exploring. I also liked being able to connect with other students who were figuring out their next steps too. Now, I feel less pressure to have everything figured out and much more certain about why I want to continue pursuing medicine.

Hi, my name is Paula, I am from Chile and I study in the US. I study Neuroscience. I chose the medical internship because I wanted to go to medical school and become a surgeon, so it was very interesting to see orthopedic surgeons at work and get a hands-on experience too. Some of the interesting things that I saw were a knee replacement and an Achilles tendon surgery. Coordination was really good, everyone was really nice and life in Athens is amazing, the food is great, and the people are really nice.

This shadow abroad program truly changed my life. It completely transformed my career path and opened so many doors that I didn’t even know existed. I had such a blast, learned sop much, I made some true core memories!

My two weeks with CFHI in Puyo, Ecuador, reshaped how I think about public health — not as an abstract concept, but as something lived daily by the communities I visited. As a physician, I came in with clinical knowledge, but I left with something harder to teach: a felt understanding of how geography, infrastructure, and culture shape access to care. Spending time in indigenous communities around Puyo, I saw firsthand the distances people travel and the barriers they navigate just to reach a health post. I learned about local approaches to disease surveillance and prevention — vector control, community-based epidemiological monitoring, education campaigns — and how much of effective public health work happens outside the clinic, in trust-building, listening, and adapting to local realities rather than imposing external models. What stayed with me most were the everyday moments: conversations with community health workers, the warmth of families who welcomed us into their routines, and the quiet realization of how much resilience it takes to sustain health and wellbeing in under-resourced settings. This experience was a turning point for me — it's part of what drew me toward epidemiology, and I'm now pursuing a Master of Science in the field, carrying the questions Puyo raised in me into my research. I'm profoundly grateful to CFHI, to my local mentors, and to the Puyo community for an experience that changed the direction of my career.

Honestly probably one of my favourite summers so far - even despite having a job! I remember reading reviews, wondering if the reviews were legit, if I'd find a company that was a good fit for me, and if it was even worth the amount of money if I wasn't going to be making any. It's true, you probably won't earn any money due to the traveler's visa, but I assure you it's 100% worth it. I think this experience is perfect for people trying to grow their CV. I didn't have much experience on mine before coming, but even despite that, I was given two companies to choose from! If you're nervous about the whole "be flexible with your choices" thing, I can understand that. I was the same. I was nervous that my choices wouldn't be interesting enough to warrant coming to Japan, but I've learnt so much through my company, and about work-life in general. I would do it all over again! Beyond Academy coordinators are super good at making sure you're settling in with your company and with the events that are set up for you. If you have any issues while you're in your chosen country, at no point are you stranded and alone. You will always have someone to talk to about changing something at work, and if it absolutely necessary, they will reach out for you. Most events are covered by BA while you're there, and the ones that aren't are usually spontaneous lunches or shopping. You get to go to all the must-go places, like in Japan we went to see Fuji, teamlabs and several other tourist places you'd have to wait ages to get a ticket for. You can even request events! Given that its within the time frame and budget, BA will try their hardest to get it done! As for other interns, I've met people i never would have met without doing this experience, and even some of my flat mates who aren't part of the program will be life-long friends when I go back. There is at minimum, one event per week and most weeks have two or more, so you can socialize as much and as little as you want! However I highly recommend going to all the events you can as they often run longer than planned as we have so much fun :D I'm honestly so sad my two months are ending, as I will miss all the people I've met here, the great food and great experiences! This program is perfect for people trying to breach the working world, make some memories and practice japanese! You get a lot of support, a lot of events set up for you and compared to other programs, it is a lot more cost-effective - especially if you opt for having accommodation included. Seriously, take the leap of faith, you won't regret it!

Hello, my name is Laura, I am from Virginia and attend the Virginia Military Institute. I wanted to come to this program because I am interested in being a surgeon and here at this hospital, I am allowed to explore all the different specialties I would want to go into. Being in Greece I got to see the beautiful city of Athens and travel around. I got to see some of the islands. So, an overall great experience, just getting to see surgeries and travel. I would like to thank Cerca for having such a wonderful program.

Hi, my name is Megan, I am from Kentucky and attend Morehead State University. I chose this program because I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field and I thought Greece is an amazing place that I’ve always wanted to see, so why not see some of it here. I’ve loved my experience at the hospital, especially in general surgery, and getting to see different surgeries that I never would have seen—especially when I shadowed a neurologist. Everyone here is so helpful and explains everything really well and works with me through the language barrier. Athens itself is a beautiful city. I enjoyed getting to see the Parthenon at the Acropolis, the museums, and all the ancient ruins. The coordinators are so helpful and they are there for you no matter what you need. It was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything else. I definitely recommend it to others.

I had such an amazing experience in Barcelona. The internship itself was wonderful, I learnt so much about the industry and working abroad with such a diverse group of people was brilliant. Isabel was an amazing rep, all of the events were so much well planned and took us all around the city. We had the chance to try food and see sights that I wouldn’t have found otherwise, and it was a great way to get to know the other interns on the programme! Barcelona is a lovely city and it felt like home in no time.

At the beginning I HATED my internship and i thought i hated the job. But I think the most important learing curve was to give yourself the grace and the patience of being uncomfortbale and to learn something new. because i only hated the fact that it was something different so i felt uncomfrotable, but once i was able to sit with that and allow myself to become familiar with it i really enjoyed it.

لقد ذهبت الي جزيرة بالي من قبل وتعرفت علي كثير من الأصدقاء وكانت تعجبني الطبيعه شعرت بطاقه وكنا نقوم بعمل جماعي أنا والأصدقاء في تقديم الطعام للأطفال انه حقا ممتع التعرف علي الثقافات المختلفه احب المشاركه احب التعليم

I spent 2 months living in Bogota, Colombia, interning with a non-profit organization that was organized through Intern Colombia. This program did not only place me in an internship but they also took us on various day trips, a weekend trip to La Guajira, tours, night excursions, and so much more. The directors of the program are amazing and super funny. I loved my time in Colombia and am so grateful to Intern Colombia for providing me with the opportunity to have had this experiences. I definitely recommend!

Hi, my name is Michael and I am a Canadian student coming from the University of British Columbia. I chose to do this internship because my goal is to become a doctor. When I first came I wanted to be a cardiologist, but after spending some time here I realized I am more interested in Neurosurgery. Athens is a beautiful place and I have had a lot of travelling and experiences and I got to do and see so many things. The food here is like none other. I got to see a lot of Greek islands and it has been absolutely beautiful. I would recommend this program to anyone. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure. The people from Cerca were awesome; they would take care of everything including the housing and transport. They were very easy to work with and made me feel safe and comfortable the whole time. I will be forever grateful.

My 10 weeks in Bangkok were an amazing experience. I met so many great people, discovered a new culture, and made memories I’ll never forget. Truly grateful for the opportunity! My 10 weeks in Bangkok were truly unforgettable. I loved the work environment, gained valuable experience and exposure, and met so many amazing people. I’m leaving with great memories and a new perspective on other cultures.

Being an Intern in Bogotá, Colombia, was truly an invaluable experience. Every aspect, from going into the office to the social life, was a great time; it was a beautiful, immersive experience. I was able to meet a lot of incredible people. I would fully recommend studying abroad!

Hi, my name is Rylee, I am from North Carolina and I came here as a rising junior. I chose to study in Athens, Greece, because it’s beautiful and I love immersing myself in new cultures. Greece has a wonderful culture and I love learning about new dental fields and the different paths around the world. During my internship here—a three-week one—I got to watch a lot of extractions, crowns, and placing crowns—I just loved it. The doctors have been very informative and I’ve learned a lot of new anatomy terms, as well as learning about the instruments. I’ve had some hands-on experience on stone teeth. I got to prep them for a root canal; I really loved watching root canals as well. It has been a really cool experience. Cerca Abroad has been really informative. Throughout the whole process we’ve had 24/7 contact with them. When we really needed them, we could text and it’s been really great. Thank you.

Hi. My name is Sophia and I am from Arizona. I chose a medical internship to explore different possibilities in the medical field and to kind of shadow and gain experience in a hospital. Something very exciting here was looking at different specialties. My favourite was Orthopedics, which was the highlight of this trip. The coordination was really good. It was very easy getting around. It was all very simple. Athens was gorgeous, it’s a very interesting place, so I would come back.

Hi, my name is Taylor, I am from Connecticut, I go to Colgate University in upstate New York. I chose to do this program to become a physician in the future. My experience with Athens so far has been wonderful. The people are incredibly friendly and even help you explore the city. My experience with Cerca has also been wonderful. They were even super helpful throughout the city, the hospital, and with the doctors here.

This program changed my life for the better! I was so sad to leave but will be eternally grateful to this program for the experiences and connections I made. Whether you are looking to build your resume, meet new people, or just explore a new country, Intern Colombia is the program to go with. The internship placement process is incredibly easy, every person I interacted with as part of the program was incredibly kind, and there are so many activities planned out for the cohorts. I got to see and experience so much of Colombia and it is all thanks to this program. I made friendships that will last a lifetime and every single moment was filled with joy. Take the leap and join!

I have been with meditrip to Tanzania now twice and both of the times have been amazing! I had a good time talking to Pearl for the preparations and expectations. Pearl also was a great help with discussing a topic I could use to write my thesis. When I arrived the second time it really felt like coming home. I love the home feeling in the hostel. I also met the most amazing people in the hostel who are now some of my closes friends. In the hospital I had great guidance in Kaloleni Hospital. Overall I had the most amazing experience and I can't wait to go back!!