What inspired you to travel abroad?
I was ready for a challenge and a change. I had never really been out of the country before so I was looking to push myself out of my comfort zone. Going abroad was my chance to explore the world and interact with new people.
I saw it as vital to become a more well-rounded, empathetic, and intelligent person. I was also eager to increase my understanding of healthcare systems in developing countries. What better way to learn than to travel abroad and immerse yourself in it?
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
After conducting extensive research about the program and reaching out to previous interns and asking them about their experience, I ended up choosing International Medical Aid because it seemed well organized and aligned with my passion and curiosity for healthcare. I was really excited to have the opportunity to shadow and learn at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa.
I felt that IMA’s program would best care for my safety and immersive experience. The organization of this program was truly impressive and our itinerary was always filled to the brim with time spent at the hospital, lectures, city tours, education sessions, and community clinics.
Working together during another hygiene education session while at Khadija Primary School
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part about Kenya was the people! Everyone I met was so welcoming. When we went to the primary schools to lead education sessions, we were greeted with smiles and showered in hundreds of hugs by all of the kids. Even though I was a complete stranger thousands of miles from home, I felt like their best friend as I played soccer and laughed with them.
I appreciated how all of the physicians were very willing to get to know me, answer my questions, and help explain in detail some of the patient cases. Moreover, all of the tour guides who would show us around and passionately recount the rich history of Kenya were just genuinely excited to share information with us because they all took great pride in their country. I was just blown away by the hospitality and I was very appreciative of all of the people who made Kenya feel like a second home.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I think what made this experience abroad so extraordinary was that this program was well balanced between the hospital and community outreach. My favorite part of this entire experience was being able to participate in weekend community clinics and lead hygiene education sessions at local primary and secondary schools.
We would also travel to local orphanages and play with the kids and these experiences were always humbling. I think this time spent with the locals and interacting with people in the community was vital in supplementing my cultural education to support my understanding of what I saw in the hospital.
Group photo while giving a hygiene education session at Kongowea Primary School
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were absolutely amazing and so supportive throughout the entirety of my time in Kenya. From presenting lectures on the current state of healthcare or the history of Kenya to checking in on us by leading group debriefings at the end of each day, it was evident that they were always looking out for us and wanted us to thrive.
There are so many moving parts when it comes to running a program like this and everyone from the drivers, to the chefs, to the program mentors were so welcoming and friendly. I always felt comfortable coming to them with any questions I had and I am truly so grateful for everything they did.
They often were my primary source of information and would help me gain a better understanding of various aspects of Kenyan culture. I would often have conversations with the staff who would help settle my curiosity about the governmental and political systems of Kenya since my time abroad was in the midst of a presidential election.
One time, the staff even went out of their way to give me a ride to church one Sunday morning and simply asked me to pray for them in return. I was so touched by this and can without a doubt say that these people are so selfless and hardworking.
Did International Medical Aid (IMA) provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, tell us what kind of support you received.
Yes, the staff were very helpful in providing important pre-departure information. My program mentor informed me and kept me updated on the current CDC guidelines that were in place, on the vaccination requirements, and on important airline protocol information when it came to COVID. I was lucky enough to go when COVID restrictions were easing up but the staff were always just an email away to answer any of my pre-departure questions.
How did International Medical Aid (IMA) help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
I never felt unsafe during my time in Kenya. All of the interns wore masks in the hospital as a precaution and we would wear proper PPE including hair nets and shoe booties whenever we observed surgery or went into parts of the maternity ward. My time in Kenya was two years into the pandemic so fortunately, the number of COVID cases was pretty low in comparison to just one or two years prior.
Just another day abroad with my camel friend Jamal giving us a ride on the beach!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish that I had spent some time familiarizing myself with some basic Swahili before traveling to Kenya. Although the program provided some Swahili lessons, I think that being better able to speak the language would have allowed me to have greater and more meaningful interactions with the locals. Some of the younger kids didn’t speak English so it was hard to communicate with them and although we were able to play and communicate nonverbally, it would have been really incredible to be able to converse with them.
I also wish I would have stayed longer! My four weeks in Kenya absolutely flew by and I would have loved to continue shadowing in different departments at Coast General because there was still so much to learn and see.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Every day, there was a staggered start time in which interns would either need to leave the residence at 7:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. depending on which department they were in that week. I would wake up, enjoy some breakfast, and then pile in the bus with the rest of the interns and head to the hospital.
During my time in Kenya, I shadowed in the pediatrics, emergency, surgery, and cardiology departments at Coast General. Upon arriving at the hospital, we would all go our separate ways and get to shadow physicians in our respective departments.
We would be picked up and have lunch at the residence and then break into groups to debrief. I really valued these debriefings because I enjoyed hearing about other intern’s days and learning about what they saw. It was also just a good chance for me to process and reflect on what I had seen and experienced at the hospital that day.
The afternoons were then packed with lectures, community education sessions, city tours, or optional afternoon shifts at the hospital depending on the day. Dinner at the residence was always delicious and afterwards, we typically had free time in the evenings. The days were long and sometimes challenging but I always went to bed with a sense of appreciation for what I had learned and accomplished.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I really enjoyed getting to explore the city of Mombasa during my free time. Other interns and I would go to the local markets, explore the beaches, go on runs around the city, and just talk to the locals. Oftentimes, some interns and I would go to the local coffee shop Java House and fuel up on caffeine before our night shifts at the hospital.
I also had the chance to go on some weekend cultural treks in which I was able to snorkel in the Indian Ocean, hike Hell’s Kitchen at sunrise, and cruise past lions on the Masai Mara reserve. I am so grateful for these opportunities because they granted me the chance to explore outside of Mombasa and I was absolutely blown away and awestruck by the natural beauty and landscape of Kenya.
This is me helping out at a weekend community clinic at Kwa Bullo Primary School.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
All of the interns stayed in a really nice, gated residence with 24/7 security so I never at any point felt unsafe. The food that was prepared for us everyday was amazing and the staff would even do our laundry to make sure we always had fresh, clean scrubs each day for the hospital. Needless to say, I was well taken care of.
However, my favorite part of the residence was the large, main central space that allowed all of the interns to hang out and get to know each other. I got to meet other interns who were from all over the world and I loved learning about their home countries and discussing differences in food, education, and culture. I really think that the residence helped foster friendships between all of the interns because it was always a place I could go to find good conversation and decompress after a long day.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I think that every intern should recognize that this program is what you make of it. This program has so many amazing opportunities but it is up to you to take advantage of them and make the most of it.
I would encourage future participants to go all-in. Sign-up for extra afternoon and night shifts, ask the doctors questions, take detailed notes, put effort and spirit into leading the hygiene and women’s health clinics, and just be present in the moment. This experience is truly life-changing if you decide to fully and whole-heartedly participate.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) to others? Why?
Absolutely, this program and its staff look out for you every step of the way. They also really made an effort to help create a sense of community between the interns. I came to appreciate the early morning sunrise team beach bonding activities and the intern family style dinners.
I don’t think many other programs have this comprehensive of an experience that provides an education in a clinical setting, community volunteering, and intensive cultural immersion. I have already recommended this program to others and two friends are planning on going summer of 2023!
Along with general life and career skills, this program gave me lifelong friends!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is gaining perspective while becoming an overall more culturally competent individual. I think it is easy to get stuck in our own bubble and forget that there’s a whole world out there! There is value in putting yourself out there, trying something new, and meeting new people because it helps you grow as a person.
It allows you to become more self-aware. I believe that traveling abroad increases intercultural competency because it helps us to understand and respect fundamental differences and recognize that we all have so much to learn from each other.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
This time abroad has without a doubt changed my life. It has altered my entire perspective on the healthcare system and has sparked an interest in global health and a strong desire to serve underserved populations in the future. It has taught me the importance and power in being a resourceful, hardworking, compassionate physician no matter the environment or circumstance.
This program has just reaffirmed and refocused my passion for healthcare and has become my foundation in my path to becoming a physician in the future. Even though I am home, I often find myself reflecting on my time in Kenya but I try not to bring it up too much anymore because I’m sure all of my friends and family are tired of hearing me gush about it.
My time abroad has also gifted me with some pretty wonderful lifelong friendships and I have so much respect and appreciation for all of my fellow interns. I am so incredibly grateful for my time in Kenya and am looking forward to the day that I get to go back.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is intentional and purposeful. If I am traveling across the world, it is imperative that I’m open minded to new cultures, new people, and new experiences. When you are able to return home with a new perspective, new appreciation, or new worldview and when you have gained a fundamental understanding of another country’s culture, that is meaningful travel. I believe that it will foster intellectual growth and introspection and leave you a better person because of it.
