Medicine Internships in Tanzania

My experience with Medi Trip in Arusha, Tanzania, was truly one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of my personal and professional journey. From the beginning, Pearl was incredibly welcoming and genuinely committed to making my internship experience meaningful. Her warmth, guidance, and encouragement helped me adapt to a new country, culture, and community and made my time in Arusha particularly special. During my internship, I had the opportunity to contribute to nutrition and health education and engage with the local community. The experience gave me a much deeper understanding of how culture, resources, education, and everyday circumstances influence nutrition and health. It also strengthened my interest in public health nutrition and reinforced the importance of culturally appropriate health and nutrition education in improving the well-being of children and families. What made Medi Trip particularly special was that the experience went far beyond an internship. I was able to learn from the community, build meaningful relationships, and grow both personally and professionally. The memories and lessons I gained in Tanzania have stayed with me and continue to influence my work and interests in public health and nutrition. I am especially grateful to Pearl for her kindness and encouragement. She genuinely cares about the interns and the communities Medi Trip works with, and her personal commitment makes the experience truly meaningful. I would wholeheartedly recommend Medi Trip to anyone looking for an international internship where they can contribute, learn, develop professionally, and build a genuine connection with the local community. Thank you, Pearl and Medi Trip, for giving me an experience in Arusha that I will always cherish.

Go Elective is a great program! From the beginning, I had a lot of support with my visa application, and I was especially grateful that they were able to accommodate me when I had to change my dates. The staff were always friendly, patient, and available whenever I needed help. At the hospital, I really enjoyed joining the ward rounds because you never knew what cases you were going to see that day. Some were things I had studied before, while others were completely new to me. One thing I would tell future students is to be patient, but also be proactive and show that you’re interested. The doctors are busy and obviously have patients to take care of, so you sometimes have to ask questions and take the initiative to learn. I started carrying a small notebook with me to write down interesting cases or things I didn’t understand, then I would look them up later or ask about them the next day. That really helped me get more out of my placement. Overall, I had a great experience and the time went by much faster than I expected. I would definitely recommend Go Elective!

I was a little nervous about traveling to Africa by myself, especially since I didn’t know anyone before arriving. That feeling disappeared pretty quickly. I met students from different places, and within a few days we were going to the hospital together and exploring on the weekends. One of my favorite rotations was in the labour ward. I got to see babies being born, which was something I had never experienced before. Seeing a new life come into the world right in front of me was honestly amazing, and each delivery felt just as special as the first one. I learned a lot during my time abroad, but those moments in the labour ward are something I know I’ll always remember.

I went to Kenya mainly for the clinical experience, but I ended up getting much more out of the program than I expected. I enjoyed being in the hospital every day and getting to know the doctors and other students along the way. There were definitely things that took some getting used to, but that was part of what made the experience so valuable. I also really enjoyed trying the local food. Everything was so fresh and flavorful, and I definitely ate more than I expected to while I was there.

I loved my experience in Kenya. It was both humbling and eye-opening. Seeing patients in open wards and watching doctors do everything they could with the resources available was difficult. There were moments when I felt helpless, knowing there was more I wanted to do but not having the skills or resources to change the situation. At the same time, seeing how much the doctors and nurses were able to accomplish with what they had was incredibly humbling. It pushed me to become more confident with taking histories, performing physical exams, and thinking through cases. More than anything, this experience changed the way I think about healthcare. I developed a much deeper appreciation for the resources and opportunities we have in the U.S, and a stronger understanding of why access to quality healthcare matters so much.

I was looking online last minute for an internship when I came across Go Elective. Luckily, I was able to get a spot. The staff were really helpful and guided me through the visa process. My placement was only 2 weeks, which I wished could have been longer, but I still made the most of it. I’m already planning to come back for a longer placement in the future! The doctors and staff were always willing to help and answer any questions I had. I’m really glad I found Go Elective!

What I enjoyed most was not feeling like I was just there to watch. I joined ward rounds, listened to case discussions, observed wound care and other everyday procedures, and had plenty of chances to ask questions along the way. I also learnt a lot from communicating with patients and seeing how much trust and understanding matter in healthcare. By the end of the four weeks, the hospital felt much less unfamiliar, and I felt a lot more comfortable in a clinical environment.

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.

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!!

The program was good overall. The staff, especially Jackie, were really helpful and made the experience easy to settle into. I was able to get the clinical exposure I needed and also had time to explore, which was a nice balance.

I was looking for a program that would help me complete my elective requirement while also giving me real clinical experience. During the program, I spent time in surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, emergency care, and cardiology. I saw cases involving trauma, normal deliveries, post-op care, and a variety of other conditions that I would not normally be exposed to during my training back home. That made the experience much more valuable for me. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a clinical elective with a lot of variety and opportunities to learn.

I came to Africa with a friend, and I'm so glad we got to share this experience together. From our time in the hospital to exploring and experiencing the culture, we learnt so much and made some amazing memories. The Go-Elective team was also very welcoming and made us feel comfortable throughout our stay.

My time in Kenya gave me the chance to experience healthcare in a way I had never seen before. I was able to spend time in different wards, learn from healthcare professionals, and witness moments that were both inspiring and difficult. Some of the cases I saw were heartbreaking, while others, like witnessing births, were incredibly moving. Seeing patients and families go through such different experiences gave me a much deeper appreciation for patient care and showed me how important compassion is in medicine. Outside the hospital, I really enjoyed learning more about Kenyan culture, meeting local people, and exploring Mombasa. Everyone I met was warm and welcoming, and the GoElective team made the whole experience feel organised, comfortable, and easy to enjoy. It was a trip that gave me so much to reflect on, both personally and professionally.

What an amazing internship experience! It was an unforgettable month that pushed me out of my comfort zone, gave me experiences I’d never have at home, and allowed me to learn about conservation while meeting some amazing people. I learned a great deal and the entire experience definitely exceeded my expectations! I really enjoyed game drives. It was a good way to explore the reserve, learn lots about the environment and wildlife, get to know other participants and no drive was ever the same. Seeing all the animals, sunrise and sunsets on drives and getting to know new people made the experience truly unforgettable.

The time spent doing my GIS internship at the Gondwana Game Reserve exceeded my expectations in both the knowledge I received and the amazing views I was fortunate enough to see. I learned a great deal, saw a lot of amazing animals and it was extremely rewarding to learn so much about GIS and wildlife.

I learnt a lot during my nursing elective in Kenya, especially from seeing how nurses manage busy wards and care for patients with limited resources. I was able to observe patient assessments, wound care, medication rounds and how nurses communicate with patients and their families. The experience gave me a better understanding of the responsibilities nurses take on every day and helped me feel more confident in my own clinical skills.

Meeting the people in my flat really changed my experiences. They were so kind. I was lucky with my internship with having people supporting me and also wanting to get to know me. I highly recommend this to someone.

Karen and Kristal at Intern Abroad HQ were wonderful at assisting me and my study abroad counselor throughout the whole process (esp. with the academic credits). Thank you to them! What I enjoyed most about the Public Health internship in Cape Town was being able to work closely and connect with such qualified, educated, and passionate professionals in my field. Being exposed to the work that they do gave me a clearer idea of what I want to do in my own professional career and gave me insight into what it takes to get there. Furthermore, I enjoyed being mentored by my internship supervisor and being able to take charge of my own internship project.

This program gave me the perfect balance of clinical learning and adventure, with the safari being one of the highlights of my trip. It was my first time seeing elephants, lions, giraffes, and so many other incredible animals in the wild, making it an experience that I will always cherish.

One of my favorite parts of this program was seeing how healthcare is delivered in a resource-constrained environments. The hospital rotations exposed me to conditions such as severe malaria that are uncommon in the United States, and I was inspired by how healthcare teams provided excellent patient care despite limited resources. The Global Health seminars helped me better understand how factors such as poverty, access to healthcare, and healthcare infrastructure influence patient outcomes. I also enjoyed exploring Mombasa! I left Kenya with a greater appreciation for global health, new friendships, and lessons that I know will carry with me throughout my medical career.