What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have always wanted to travel to another country and I knew that this would be a great opportunity to not only get to travel, but also get the experience of learning from a different healthcare system. I knew that I wanted to go to Africa, not only because of the differences in culture, but also because their healthcare system is vastly different from my own in the states.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
My coworker had told me about the experience and how she absolutely loved it the summer before I went. I knew from hearing all of her stories that I had to go because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I also knew that I wanted to travel while I was young and this was the perfect opportunity for me to do both, travel and get experience in the medical field.
This was from my first hygiene clinic where we taught students in primary school how to wash their hands and brush their teeth.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
I loved every single part of my experience, but my favorite part was getting to hear all the different stories on how the doctors grew up. It's so different from the ways I am used to, so it was interesting to learn about the different cultures and how the different kids were raised. It also changed my perspective on what being a doctor looks like in another country, since they come out of medical school so much younger than I will.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Being able to work in a hospital that was resource limited, but saw a majority of the population made my trip so impactful. I was able to learn how doctors think creatively and use things that you would’ve never thought of to treat patients.
I was able to watch doctors use gloves as tourniquets and find ways to give babies and IV because their veins are so small. Learning from doctors who have had to adapt to the resources they are given has forever changed my outlook on the healthcare system in other countries.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
International Medical Aid did a great job of ensuring safety while I was there as well as doing our laundry and cooking every meal for us. They would drive us to and from the hospital and residence as well as take us to our local treks and to the supermarket on certain days. They were readily available for any concerns or questions I had about my trip throughout the whole application process as well.
One of my excursions I went on for a long weekend was a safari on the Masai Mara. We were able to see four of the big five!
Did International Medical Aid provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
Before departing for the program, International Medical Aid did a great job of keeping me updated on all policies that were changing in their country as well as all of the required vaccines I needed before coming. Not only did they send emails regarding policy changes, but they also were up to date on what the hospital was requiring so I felt prepared and knew what to expect before entering another country.
How did International Medical Aid help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
During my time at the program, my mentors did a great job of keeping the residence clean everyday as well as providing PPE any time we left the residence. Anytime we went into the community they advised us to stay a safe distance away from people who could be sick as well as required us to wear masks anytime we were at the hospital. Lastly, it was required that we changed our scrubs in between shifts at the hospital if we decided to do afternoon or night shifts
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I would’ve done differently during my time abroad was take more advantage of the experiences given to me. There were many times that I wish I had started doing afternoon and night shifts earlier to get more hours at the hospital. However, I’m also grateful for all of the times I was able to experience more of the culture outside of the hospital.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I would typically wake up around 7:30 A.M. and get ready for the day by eating breakfast and putting my scrubs on. They would take us to the hospital where we would shadow a doctor from about 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. and then come back to the residence for lunch.
After lunch we would have a debrief session where everyone would have a chance to talk about what their day at the hospital looked like. Multiple times a week we would do cultural lectures or cultural treks in the community.
On Wednesdays, we would go to local schools and do hygiene or menstrual health clinics. After our cultural activity we would have time for dinner and relaxing at the house where the other interns and I would play board games or watch movies until it was time to go to bed.
My favorite part was raising over $6,000 for this orphanage. Here you can see we supplied them with over nine months of food!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, the other interns and I would go to the beach or find other shops to venture out to. My favorite activity we did during my free time abroad was raise money for a local orphanage and then go shopping using the money we raised to buy them food and other necessities. After we went shopping, we were able to play with the kids at the orphanage and they would sing us songs and dance with us.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
International Medical Aid provided housing to the interns where typically three people would share a room and a bathroom. There were multiple common areas and a dining room for all of us to eat our meals together. Outside of the house there was a pool and areas outside where we would workout and run around the residence. My favorite part about the residence was the big common area where the interns would gather and we would spend our time talking about our lives back home and just getting to know each other.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My whole life was changed by visiting Kenya. I have a new found love for the medical field and know exactly what kind of doctor I want to be and what characteristics I want to show. I’m also very grateful for everything I have back at home after seeing how hard it is for some people to just survive in another country. The program not only changed my professional life, but my heart forever.
This was the Saturday clinic where people from anywhere in the community came to see a doctor and leave with medicine for free.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing I would say that a future intern should know about the program before they go is to bring clothes that you are willing to donate to the community. If they are like me and want to take back a lot of souvenirs, then they will have to be able to leave some stuff behind. Also make sure you bring towels and enough hygiene products to last you through the whole program because there isn’t a lot of time to go shopping if you run out of anything.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would recommend this program over and over to people forever. This program gave me a home away from home and changed my outlook on so many different things in life. It allowed me to see healthcare in a totally new perspective and showed me the kind of doctor I want to be. I think this program really brings out the best in people and will allow you to meet others who value the medical field just as much as you do.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is getting to know another culture vastly different from your own. I was able to completely immerse myself in a new language and ways of living that I would have never experienced had I not gone. It gives you a new perspective on your life because you see things that you never knew were happening in other countries and makes you grateful for what you have back home.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means going somewhere not to take advantage of someone else’s country, but to learn from experiences and other cultures how the world works together to create this balance. Many people travel and don’t think about how they can negatively affect where they are re staying, but being able to go to another country and raise money for orphanages and help out by teaching children about hand washing I think is the definition of meaningful travel.
