What inspired you to travel abroad?
As I searched for an internship, I was focused on finding an experience that would allow me to better understand the roles of individuals in healthcare, receive guidance and mentorship in the medical field, as well as increase upon my foundational skills in patient care and communication.
Immersing myself in an unfamiliar setting and culture and the opportunity to explore personal growth in unexpected ways was what inspired me to travel abroad. The discomfort of traveling on my own to a new continent and witnessing new culture while increasing my medical knowledge was incredibly exciting to me. I desired an internship that would challenge my perspective on health care and be a transformative experience for me on my pathway to pursue the medical field.
Orientation Day touring Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital with peer intern Aaron.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
International Medical Aid (IMA) offers unique opportunities for pre-physician assistant students that I could not find elsewhere. The program allowed me to intern abroad and obtain clinical experience and mentorship while ensuring my safety and overall health. The program's emphasis on my well-being during my internship gave me peace of mind that I would be able to fully immerse myself in my internship. In addition, the abundance of specialties within the internship offered by IMA provided me the opportunity to evaluate which specialties in medicine align most with my passions.
Furthermore, a great factor to my decision to intern for IMA was the ability to understand the cultural impact on healthcare and global health through hands-on experience at the public hospital and within the local community. Before my internship I had minimal experience providing patient care outside of the clinical setting and was incredibly appreciative to participate in community outreach in various settings.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My host country during my internship was Mombasa, Kenya. The people I created relationships with was my favorite part about my host country. My mentors, peer interns, patients, and the staff were central to my experience in Kenya. Each one of them provided a unique aspect to my experience, and all of them were excited to share and educate me on the lifestyle, beliefs, values, and realities of a Kenyan.
They supported me during each day of my internship and allowed me to discuss my ups and downs as I grasped new concepts and debriefed upon experiences. My very last day I remember being so excited to return to my family, but my heart was torn by the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to the people who shaped my first global health experience and internship abroad.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My experience abroad was overall extraordinary, however, if I had to recall one moment that truly cemented my passion for medicine and patient care I would choose my night shift in the OB GYN ward. After several hours into my night shift at Coast General Hospital a patient entered the labor and delivery unit and began to push. Moments later the mother went into active labor and suddenly confused all nurses and midwives once giving birth; quickly everyone went to call for a doctor, also known as daktari.
Upon the arrival of the physician, she diagnosed the patient with vanishing twin syndrome, a syndrome that can be diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy with ultrasound during regular prenatal care. Although, the mother had not accessed any prenatal care and her other fetus still in womb had been without oxygen for almost 8 minutes. Soon after the second birth nurses and midwives anxiously attempted to resuscitate the second child by hanging him upside down to stimulate his nervous system, a method that is no longer used in America due not being evidence based. Once the baby let out a cry everyone was filled with joy.
After my night shift ended, I discussed my experience with Dr. Shazim, and he explained the high likelihood of the infant to suffer from cerebral palsy for the rest of his life. Although the child’s outcome could have been different with prenatal care and increased resources, the providers worked quickly and efficiently to give the child the best life possible. The display of creativity in use of resources and teamwork amongst the providers will stick with me in my path to my career in medicine.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Local staff were incredibly supportive during my time with IMA. Their efforts to ensure my safety, comfortability, and wellbeing were beyond my expectations. The cooking staff was amazing and would put together meals for us that were familiar to what we would have in our home countries and let us try local dishes each week while adhering to each intern's dietary restrictions.
My mentor, Margaret, was also available to me when I needed assistance at the residence or at the hospital, and ensured I was prepared for each new rotation at Coast General. I was especially appreciative of the drivers, and their patience with interns; any worries I had about my safety while at the hospital were mediated knowing that they were on the premises if I needed anything. In essence the local staff at IMA were accommodating, kind, and a huge support to me during my experience interning abroad.
Clinic day at the Al Walidayn Centre for Boys and Girls participating in the Nutrition Clinic alongside peer interns Elsa, Lindsey, and Aaron.
Did International Medical Aid (IMA) provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
Absolutely, my mentor, Margaret, prepared a checklist of all pre-departure items I would need to allow easy travel including all requirements and protocols set forth by the Government of Kenya in response to the pandemic. In addition, she provided online resources for me to access all COVID-19 updates from the Government of Kenya and IMA.
Within the resources provided I was able to prepare for vaccination and testing requirements upon my entry and departure from Mombasa, as well as insure I had all personal protective equipment expected of me during my stay. Margaret also was incredibly helpful to me as I prepared all my documentation including my visa and medical insurance before traveling abroad. All pre-departure support provided to me made a positive impact on my overall stress and worries before and during my internship amid a pandemic.
How did International Medical Aid (IMA) help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
The program did an excellent job of ensuring my safety in the midst of the global pandemic. Before departing abroad, my mentor prepared a detailed list of all items needed for my personal protection that was immensely helpful to me. She also assisted in navigating me through COVID-19 protocols during my travel and answered any questions I had concerning safety measures during my internship.
Furthermore, the residence was equipped with an outdoor sink for us to use before returning to our rooms which gave all interns peace of mind after returning from a long day, or night, at the hospital. In addition, all drivers provided masks and hand sanitizer for us to use each time we left the residence, and all meals taken to the hospital were thoroughly packaged by the chefs. Overall, the local staff were diligent in providing us anything we may have needed to always assure our safety.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
While I had nothing less than an extraordinary time during my internship; I wish I would have stayed longer. There were so many opportunities offered to me while I was in Kenya, and I wish I would’ve extended my internship a few weeks to enjoy more of them. More specifically, I would have rotated to all the departments, experienced each of the cultural treks, attended a few more weekend activities, as well as furthered my participation in afternoon and night shifts. However, I do feel that my internship was very well organized, and I was able to be a part of many of IMA’s events in just three weeks.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
While abroad, each day was full of activities and adventures. During the week we would spend our first half of the day at the public hospital before heading back for afternoon activities. During the afternoon we ventured to cultural treks or had a class; we were provided with classes to learn Swahili, as well as Kenya focused lectures on the culture, health care system, disease burden, and historical landmarks of Kenya.
In addition, each week we had a day for community outreach activities for local schools and orphanages where we would provide information and resources about oral hygiene, the female reproductive system, and more. I spent many of the nights during my internship attending night shifts to get experience in the NICU and emergency medicine; two departments I was not participating in during rotations. On the weekends we had a much more relaxing itinerary and would have one clinic day in the community and team building exercise class. Each week as an intern was packed with events and opportunities to learn and engage with the local community.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Outside of my responsibilities as an intern, I spent much of my free time abroad exploring Mombasa with my peer interns. We enjoyed sitting together at night in the pool or living room, trying local cuisine at nearby restaurants, and venturing together to Masai Mara Game Reserve and Nairobi Overnight Trek. At the residence we often would have movie nights or pool nights and come together with some snacks, which provided great relief after long days. When trying local cuisine, the drivers would often take us to places the mentors deemed safe and we could walk around the town centers, get coffee at the Java House, and shop.
I had an incredible experience at the Masai Mara Safari where I was able to see more wildlife than I ever have before. During the trek we had our own IMA tour guide take us through Nairobi to visit the National Museum, as well as two days in Masai Mara where we went on an all-day safari and visited the Masai Village. Overall, I spent most of my free time with my peers. All the time together brought us very close, and we still communicate ever so often.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
During my time in Mombasa, my place of stay consisted of a bunk bed as well as a large closet and bathroom. I shared the room with another female and felt quite comfortable sharing the space and becoming good friends with her. We also had access to a large living room with a TV and dining room where all meals were hosted. I thoroughly enjoyed the dining room, as a group of interns we all heavily enjoyed sitting together talking about our day while sharing a meal.
At the residence I was also provided with laundry service, chef prepared meals, and an outside area with a pool and garden. The outside space was helpful to me for getting alone time to call back home and catch up with family and friends I was missing during my time abroad. Overall, the accommodations provided made me feel comfortable and safe during my time and allowed me to truly focus on my roles and responsibilities as an intern.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Upon my return from being abroad, I began to have consistent thoughts and discussions with my family about how the healthcare system in Kenya differs from America's. After leaving Kenya I often thought about the many deaths I had witnessed, however two pediatric patients really stuck with me. They passed while I was attending my pediatric rotation at Coast General Hospital.
After returning home I found myself constantly brainstorming how their outcomes could have been different in a different country or setting. The connections I had made with the two patients and their families stuck with me, and in a way frustrated me, because their deaths could have been avoided with preventative care and increased resources.
Over the last couple of months, I have continued being an active learner in the study of global health and have found a new passion for healthcare that I did not anticipate. I feel my time abroad has impacted me in numerous ways but heavily in my interests in pursuing global health as a physician assistant. I am excited to begin working with International Medical Aid (IMA) as an ambassador and am hopeful that I have many more internships with them while I continue my journey to becoming a provider in the field of medicine.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
The main piece of knowledge I would want to give anyone about to embark on their journey abroad as an intern is how accommodating International Medical Aid (IMA) is. All of my peers and I shared our worries before traveling abroad and how we were fearful for our safety and wellbeing.
However, once I arrived at the beautiful residence and met the mentors and local staff, all my worries were swept away. The staff is incredibly welcoming and all events during the internship have safety as the priority. While at the residence, hospital, and local events staff is consistently present to ensure each intern feels safe, healthy, and happy. I really appreciate how thorough safety is integrated into International Medical Aid’s programming and feel it is often questioned by students for all types of travel abroad.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) to others? Why?
Without a doubt I would recommend the International Medical Aid internship abroad program to others, and I already have. After returning to America, I received many messages on LinkedIn from pre-health students either preparing for their internship or debating the program and wanting to get more information. I was very appreciative of the opportunity to meet other pre-health and likeminded students like me simply due to being a part of the IMA organization.
I recommend the program International Medical Aid provides because it provides a unique opportunity for personal and academic growth for so many pre-health individuals. Often it is difficult to find a well-rounded internship for careers like physician assistant, dental, etc. However, International Medical Aid offers not only a comprehensive program for many specialties in medicine, but also for an understanding of how culture and policy can have immense impact on how healthcare is delivered as well as health outcomes.
Graduation Day Photo with Dr. Shazim and Miguel, and final day in Mombasa, Kenya.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
An opportunity to explore one's personal growth in an unfamiliar, and perhaps uncomfortable setting, is what I believe to be the biggest benefit of traveling abroad. There is something magnificent in traveling to a new place with so many unknowns.
What will the culture be like? How will the food taste? What will the streets and shops look like? How will medical settings operate? What are the social norms and beliefs?
There are so many possibilities when traveling somewhere new, and so much one cannot have control of, nor set an expectation for. I believe the beauty and the effects of the unknown are the greatest benefit of traveling abroad.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me is something that deeply enriches some aspect of my life. I believe that experiencing meaningful travel means challenging your perspective on the meaning of life itself and appreciating the variety of ways of life in the world. During my internship abroad in Kenya, I was able to embark on many adventures that allowed me to immerse myself in Kenyan culture and Swahili language.
In addition, I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone, give back to the local community through community service, and receive human connection and knowledge from those around me. I gained tremendous knowledge within the walls of Coast General Hospital, as well as outside in the local community, amongst my peer interns, and my mentors. Each of them provided unique perspectives and worldviews.
Beyond the rich culture I was able to witness in Kenya, I was also completely immersed in culture from all over the world through my peer interns who came from over five different countries. Each aspect of my internship and time abroad contributed to my definition of meaningful travel. I am hopeful that in the near future I am able to participate in further meaningful travel and opportunities to enrich my perspective of life and understanding of global health.
