What inspired you to travel abroad?
The story of my inspiration to intern abroad in Kenya begins back in 2016. I was a freshman in college and knew I was interested in international medicine and healthcare but was not sure exactly what a career in international healthcare looked like. At the time, I was designing a class project that was meant to bring attention to the health disparities that exist in Cameroon, Africa. Following this project, I had the honor of being invited to spend the summer in a small town in Banyo, Cameroon.
I stayed with a family friend who lived there and shadowed at a very small hospital. That summer showed me what a career in international health could look like for me and confirmed this was something I was truly interested in. When I returned to the United States in 2017, I immediately sought out more opportunities to intern abroad. I wanted to explore aspects of health in a new country beyond Cameroon to compare how the hospitals varied in size, scope, cultural differences, expectations, and retention across borders.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I sought to find a program that was focused more so on the clinic, shadowing, and service-learning over the “tourism” part of the internship. International Medical Aid presented a strong structured schedule of hospital rounds, primary school outreach, and weekly clinical work.
They have a very clear dedication towards giving back to the community through their Saturday pro bono clinics and by supporting the hospital we shadow in. I was drawn to this program because although they still had safari treks for interns, it was not the main emphasis in their program. This strong focus on the hospital and the weekly clinics makes this program very unique and is why I chose it.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part about Mombasa was the richness and authenticity of its culture. Everyone I talked to, both in the streets and in the hospital, welcomed me into Kenya with open arms. One area that highlighted this authenticity was the Marikiti market. I tried to learn some Swahili before coming to Kenya and was able to practice by having conversations in this market in Swahili.
There was an elderly woman who worked in one of these shops and did not speak any English. Although it was not a long conversation, I was able to talk to her completely in Swahili and we bonded over sharing a banana together. It was little moments like this I cherished because they were authentic, genuine, and humbling. Marikiti market showed me a beauty to Mombasa I did not know existed.
Taken at the bi-weekly free clinic
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Getting to know the staff on a more personal basis made my internship as great as it was. Each staff member taught me something in their unique ways and I am forever grateful for that. To give only a few examples, Vivianne and I bonded in Watamu over her drive and passion to finish her schooling. Javan and Teddy confided in me about their lives beyond work and we have become genuine friends.
Phares opened me up to new perspectives that I am still trying to practice in my life back in the United States. He taught me things I hope to carry into my future career. Benson came to play soccer with me and was constantly teaching me new words in Swahili. The staff was nice enough to open up their beautiful city, and this openness is what made my experience abroad that much better. I still keep in contact with some of them to this day.
How did the local program staff support you throughout the physician assistant internship?
The staff on-site was incredible. During the first week there, I stepped on a sea urchin and had to be seen at Premier Hospital to see if the spokes needed to be removed. Margaret stayed with me during my entire visit and made sure I was properly taken care of. In the following few days after the incident, I had a few staff members checking in on me throughout the day to ensure I was not having any lingering complications.
This attentiveness was not given only to me but the other interns as well. Any issue that arose with an intern was addressed thoroughly and promptly. They answered all questions we had about the hospital, the clinic demonstrations, or about things to see in our free time.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
There are not many things that I would change about my time in Mombasa. That being said, I wish I was more proactive in my learning during my first few days at the hospital. When I first arrived there, I spent two weeks in the surgical unit rotating between the operating room and the surgical wards. I think initially I was cautious about overstepping my place and had a fear of asking about the wrong thing.
While I eventually gained confidence in asking thoughtful questions later in my internship, I initially was not learning at my full potential. I wish I had gotten over that sooner and was able to dive right into my surgical rotation. I later signed up for afternoon shifts in the operating room and was able to make up some of this time, however, there was still time lost.
One entrance to the hospital
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Monday through Friday I typically left the residence for the hospital around 8:30 am and spent the day shadowing. Almost every week I chose to stay and complete either afternoon or night shifts there. After returning from the hospital, I sat in on the debriefings at the residence where all the interns had a chance to talk about their day and what they learned in their respective departments.
When not doing an afternoon shift at the hospital, I participated in IMA-sponsored excursions of local areas such as Haller Park and Fort Jesus. Every night for dinner there was a fresh meal made by the chefs at the residence. As there was more flexibility on the weekends because we did not go to the hospital, I utilized this time to explore. During this time I went to the beach, Marikiti, Watamu, played soccer, etc.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
While not at the hospital, I made a goal for myself to try new things each week I was there. I enjoyed cooking ugali with Catherine and Joshua, cycling with Phares, walking to the market, playing soccer, and exploring Watamu. That being said, I have one distinct memory of these that was one of my favorite things to do during my free time.
I played soccer multiple times with the neighbor kids in their backyard. We became good friends and they even invited me to their birthday party. We spent the day playing more soccer, eating birthday cake, and trying new foods they cooked such as goat intestine. In spending time with these kids, I was able to gain insight into culture and family dynamics that I would not have otherwise seen at our residence.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The IMA staff did a wonderful job of accommodating every intern’s needs. The residence was well kept up with 24/7 security inside the gated door. Not once did I feel unsafe when at the residence. Joshua and Catherine prepared three homemade meals every day and even made to-go lunches for the hospital upon request.
They were enthusiastic to teach me how to make ugali when I asked to learn. I am not vegetarian nor needed any diet restrictions, but other interns did and they were very consistent with making these changes for the other interns. Within reason, the drivers were willing to take us wherever we asked to go.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Every future participant should have a better idea of what to expect for the biweekly Wednesday clinics. These clinics consist of alternating teaching primary school students about proper hygiene and young women about proper feminine care. Because the incoming interns are the ones teaching, I think they should go into it knowing beforehand what they will be speaking about, specifically the topic of menstrual health. This will not only allow the future interns to be more comfortable when lecturing but will also ensure they are teaching the right information.
While there, I noticed many interns felt too shy to teach or did not feel they knew enough about the material to lead the discussion. Leading these lectures is very rewarding and by making it clear what topics they need to know, they can get the most out of the clinics. From my experience, the young teens were significantly more responsive and open to asking me questions when I was comfortable talking about these topics.
Taken at an IMA sponsored trek - Haller Park
Would you recommend the Physician Assistant/Pre-PA Internships Abroad to others? Why?
I recommend this program to anyone that has an interest in learning about medicine outside of their comfort zone. This internship allows you to explore healthcare in ways you may never otherwise see in your lifetime and will give you insight into the kind of provider you want to be someday.
It will challenge you to grow mentally and emotionally and give you a greater appreciation for healthcare. This program goes so far beyond just shadowing at the hospital and the things you learn both in and out of the hospital will have a lasting impact on you.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Going abroad pushes you outside of your comfort bubble and allows you to try new experiences you would not have otherwise gotten in your home city. It forces you to become more cognizant of the disparities that exist across borders.
Traveling abroad allows you to increase your cultural competency and identify your own biases you may not have even known existed. For me, this is the biggest benefit as it has a long-lasting impact on my everyday life that continues whenever I return from traveling.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad has impacted my life in more ways than I could have imagined. It opened my eyes to the bigger picture of medicine and the impact I can make in healthcare beyond a single patient interaction.
I was able to be more cognizant of my own biases while in Kenya and this has translated into my life back home. I try to see situations now with a more open mind and try to be more aware of my surroundings. It made me more appreciative of what I already have and showed me I don’t need fancy things to live a full and happy life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I believe meaningful travel to be synonymous with intentional travel. To me, this means being intentional while you are there and being open to experiencing new things. For example, trying food at a locally owned restaurant instead of the food you can get back at home or exploring areas that might be out of your comfort zone.
Rather than trying to impose your way of life into where you visit, you seek to understand and experience other cultures. I think meaningful travel is more about what you can learn from those you visit and how you can incorporate what you learned back into your life at home. Meaningful travel is not about short-term pleasure but long-term growth and personal development.
