What inspired you to travel abroad?
I knew I wanted to go abroad during some point in my college career, but being a pre-medical student made it hard to study abroad for a whole semester. There were too many classes that I had to take in a certain order that did not make it very feasible for me. I transitioned into looking for an abroad experience I could do for the summer, since it would not impact my class schedule. I was specifically looking for some sort of medical experience abroad since it would give me more patient hours as well as satisfy my desire to go abroad.
What really inspired me to go abroad was the ability to learn more about a different culture while fully immersing myself in it. I think that the best way to better yourself as an individual is to push yourself out of your comfort zone and explore various cultures, beliefs, and opinions. I believe that this makes a person much more open to and appreciative of people who are different from them, which is a quality that doctors must possess.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
I chose International Medical Aid (IMA) because I saw a previous fellow classmate of mine who completed an internship with them and loved it. She went into detail about all of the amazing learning opportunities she had while in Kenya, and the amazing places she was able to visit to learn more about the culture. After learning about the program from her, I did some of my own research and thought that it would be the perfect opportunity for me to combine my desire to go abroad and my interest in a medical internship.
During my OB/GYN rotation, I had the opportunity to watch a c-section and observe in the operating room.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part about my host country/city was how unbelievably kind and approachable everyone was. In western culture people are much more reserved and tend to be very individualistic in their thinking. Kenyan culture is the exact opposite and everyone was very friendly and outgoing.
There is a sense of community in their culture that I wish was more apparent in western culture. I felt as though I was invited into their community with welcome arms, which made the transition much easier.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The doctors I was able to connect with across various departments made my experience abroad more than I could have ever dreamed of. One of my favorite physicians I shadowed specializes in internal medicine. He taught me so much during my rotation in internal medicine and never dismissed any of my questions, no matter how “simple” they were to him.
On my last day in that department he said something that I never want to forget: “It’s okay to work in a resource limited setting, if the resource limited is not your brain.” This quote really resonated with me as it truly describes how brilliant the doctors at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital are and how I want to be as a physician someday.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The program staff worked day and night to make sure us interns were getting what we wanted out of our experience, all while keeping us feeling safe and at home. The chefs at the residence were so accommodating with dietary restrictions and always had a smile on their faces. They were more than willing to go the extra mile to prepare something for you that was outside of the planned meal.
The housekeeping staff did an excellent job keeping our residence clean and were some of the sweetest people I met in Kenya. One of the lovely staff members, Phoebe, was such a maternal figure for me. She always checked in on how my day was at the hospital and was there for me when I was feeling ill.
Did International Medical Aid (IMA) provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
The COVID-19 pandemic was much more under control when I went abroad during the summer of 2022 than it was prior. International Medical Aid did provide lots of information on the state of COVID-19 in Kenya including where to submit vaccination information to be able to enter the country.
At the time of my experience there was no longer a requirement for a PCR test to enter the country of Kenya. Not even the United States needed the PCR test results for people who were fully vaccinated and boosted, which International Medical Aid explained in emails.
One of the hygiene clinics where we taught elementary aged children how to properly wash their hands and brush their teeth.
How did International Medical Aid (IMA) help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
International Medical Aid consistently informed us on the state of COVID-19 in Mombasa and Kenya. We wore masks at the hospital to prevent any possible spread while working, which made me feel safe while abroad during the pandemic. They would also help you locate and purchase a COVID test if you were a close contact or if you were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I would have inserted myself more while shadowing at the hospital, especially during my first week. One of my favorite rotations was in the OB/GYN department. Because I was in that department for my first week, I was still a little shy when it came to interacting with the doctors, nurses, and other staff.
In general, I tried to learn as much as I could while distancing myself enough to not hinder any patient-provider interaction. If I could go back I would ask many more questions to the healthcare professionals and not feel as nervous about it as I did.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
During a typical day I would get up fairly early in the morning and get dressed in the hospital scrubs and head down for breakfast. The bus would take all of the interns to the hospital and we would be there for about five hours. Each week was a different department rotation. After the five hours we would be picked up and brought back to the program residence for lunch. We would change out of our scrubs and wear comfortable loungewear for the rest of the day.
After lunch there was either a debriefing session about what we learned or saw at the hospital that day, an informational meeting, a community outreach event, or an activity. Then we would eat dinner at the residence and hang out with the fellow interns for the rest of the night. Usually this is when people choose to go out, play card games, or watch a movie.
During a free community clinic I was tasked with recording blood pressure and the pulse of hundreds of patients.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During our free time we would go to the nearby shopping center/mall and our favorite restaurants. The residence set up a time each week that they would provide transportation to and from the shopping center, which made travel very easy.
If we were not going out during free time, we would lounge around the pool or in the common space and play cards or watch TV shows. It was fun to be able to spend time getting to know my fellow interns and learn more about their career goals, college experiences, and personal life.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
International Medical Aid provides its interns with a program residence where they provide meals, housing, transportation, and security. The housing was very nice and spacious and had a great little pool and deck space for lounging. The main area of the program residence held the common living space and kitchen/dining room. This was a great space for us interns to hang around and enjoy meals together.
The best part of the accommodations was the meals. The chefs worked very hard to provide us with a diversity of nutritious meals. They were also very accommodating with any dietary restrictions, which can be nerve racking in a new place.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
This shadowing experience has greatly reinforced my desire to go into the medical field. I am so glad I was able to get direct contact with professionals in the specialty I am interested in working in, as well as other specialties I would have never thought of trying. This gave me a sense of what I would be interested in pursuing in the future and what specialties were not for me.
I am also more aware of the privilege I have because of where I live. This experience has opened my eyes to other ways of living and healthcare practices, which has made me both more appreciative and critical of what I have.
I successfully completed six weeks as an intern for International Medical Aid and loved every second of it!
What is one thing every future participant should know about International Medical Aid before their program begins?
I believe that every future participant should know that you have to have an open mind when it comes to the healthcare system in Kenya. It is very different from western medical facilities and different does not equal bad! This is such a great opportunity to learn about different models of healthcare and wasting it on biases based on what you are used to will ruin the experience. Keeping an open mind will allow you to learn more and get way more out of the experience than consistently comparing it to your home healthcare model.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) to others? Why?
I would highly recommend this program to others because it is a great way to get patient interaction hours while being able to dive into a whole new culture and healthcare system. Especially as a future healthcare provider, it is important to experience other models of medicine to make yourself the best physician possible.
I really liked how there was more than just a focus on biomedical models at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital; there was a focus on spiritual healing and alternative forms of medicine as well. This was something that pre-medical students in the United States do not get to see much of, so it was an honor to experience it.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the ability to learn more about a different culture while fully immersing yourself in it. You have the opportunity to better yourself as an individual, opening your mind to various cultures, beliefs, and opinions, which could have a large impact on how you view the world and yourself.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me meaningful travel means you are there for more than just a photo opportunity or a vacation. You traveled because you wanted to learn more about the culture and environment of that location. You wanted to educate yourself while enjoying your time in a new area.To travel meaningfully is to approach every new place with an open heart and have a willingness to learn about the culture and appreciate their differences.
