What inspired you to travel abroad?
Growing up in a small town in the rural southeast United States, everyone looked like me, talked like me and believed what I believed. My views were rarely challenged and the only culture I knew was the one I grew up in. Until I was 18 years old, I’d never had a friend who wasn’t Christian or who voted differently than I did. I’d never been exposed to someone who’s views contradicted my own, or whose parents weren't born in the country they call home.
My life quickly began to change when I started making these friends who were so different from me, and I realized that the key to human connection is the vulnerability in sharing those very differences which make us unique. It’s become a goal of mine to make friends with as many people different than me as possible, to experience new cultures and places that I’ve never been to before. I’ve spent the last four years (and intend to spend as many as I have left) searching for a greater perspective in the new places and people I’ve met, and immersing myself in new cultures and experiences has been life-altering.
Because of the global pandemic, I was not able to study abroad, and always felt like I was missing an essential part of my college experience. This was a large part of the reason I wanted to do an internship with IMA and to immerse myself into a culture so vastly different from mine. I wanted an experience that would grow my cross cultural perspectives and allow me to appreciate a new place with new people in an environment that fostered my curiosity and desire to learn. I am thrilled that I can say my experience with IMA in Mombasa fulfilled all of these desires and more!
This is our entire group outside of a lower school after we conducted a hand and oral hygiene education session with the students.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
I chose International Medical Aid’s Medical Internship program in Kenya because I wanted an experience that would give me opportunities to gain crucial clinical experience while also stepping out of my comfort zone in a culture I’ve never before experienced. Because I was applying to medical school, the ability to gain shadowing hours and clinical experience was very important to me, and the Medical Internship program allowed me to do that. Finally, I chose the program in Mombasa, Kenya because I wanted to gain a greater cross-cultural perspective, and what better way to do that than immerse myself in a culture so different from my own?
I learned about International Medical Aid through a close friend that had completed the same program the year prior. Hearing about his life-changing experience and the mass amounts he learned about medicine and himself was a testament to the nature of the program, and reaffirmed that it was perfect for me!
On top of my friend’s personal experience, I did my own research on the organization to be sure that other people felt the same way about their experience. I read about the organization's founding as a nonprofit, learned from multiple perspectives through alumni interviews, and used other sources to verify the legitimacy of the organization.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part about Mombasa was the pride that people take in their rich culture, and how willing they are to share it with visitors like myself! Mombasa is a coastal city and is the chief port city of Kenya, making it a hub for commerce and the combination of cultures from around the world. Its rich history has led to its modern-day Swahili culture, which I learned was a mix of cultures, languages and ideas from its colonizing nations. The locals in Mombasa are so proud to be Mombasan, and they have such a strong desire to welcome visitors and share their lives and home with us.
With its location on the Indian Ocean, spending time on beaches and appreciating the sea as a source of sustenance was a huge part of Mombasa. Everyone was so welcoming and gentle, it made Mombasa feel like home so quickly. Not only were the locals so proud of their own culture, they were so accepting of those of us who were different from them, and they’d often want to learn more about us in return! The primary religion in Mombasa is Islam, and I had so many fascinating conversations with women about the similarities and differences between their religion and my own.
Simply spending time around Mombasa and trying to explore as much of the diverse culture as I could was my favorite part about this experience. From the touring the local spice and street markets to visiting the Akamba Handicraft market to learn about the Akamba tribe to trying the recommended local restaurants on the weekends, there was so much to do and see and learn about in Mombasa, and the native Mombasans were so excited to share their city with us!
We booked a ride on a Mombasan Dow where we got to enjoy sailing the Indian Ocean with local guides.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The experience at International Medical Aid would not be possible without the amazing IMA staff who worked tirelessly before, during and after our individual internships to make sure we had the most encompassing experience possible. Before the program began, we were in consistent contact with our Program Mentors, who helped us choose additional cultural treks, made sure we had our pre-departure checklist complete, were well-informed of our schedule and expectations, and answered the millions of questions we threw at them.
Once the program began, the staff at IMA worked day-in and day-out to ensure we were safe, taking advantage of every opportunity and making connections with one another throughout our program. They were always so patient and kind, and equipped us with all of the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully complete our duties in the program. The staff were also constantly giving us opportunities to deeper immerse in the Mombasa culture by taking us on local cultural treks, visiting local schools, facilitating Swahili lessons, conducting Global Health Lecture Series and recommending local places to visit during our break periods.
Immersing myself in a new and fascinating culture with like-minded individuals from across the globe, facilitated by the most patient and thorough staff made my experience abroad nothing short of extraordinary.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The International Medical Aid staff were the foundation of this incredible experience. The residence chefs and laundry staff were always so kind and accommodating, working so hard to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed to be successful in our program. The IMA drivers got us to every hospital rotation, airport, local school, and new restaurant we wanted to go to on time and safely.
The doctors that partnered with IMA were so knowledgeable and excited to share with us everything they’ve worked so hard to learn. They also made sure we were accounted for during every hospital shift, and were amazing resources during our clinical rotations. The program mentors facilitated the logistics of our program, giving us weekly schedules catered to our individual requests, and always provided daily opportunities for cultural immersion. Not only did they work so hard to ensure every intern at IMA was given the proper tasks, they served in a greater capacity as teachers and mentors.
The staff at IMA shared with us about the Kenyan and Mombasan cultures, shared with us the complexities of a third-world healthcare system, and allowed us to ask questions without judgment. They held us accountable for our actions and allowed us a safe space to debrief after every hospital shift. The support that the entire staff at IMA offered made the experience all the more welcoming and exciting, and allowed us as individuals to grow in our knowledge of healthcare and interacting with new cultures.
Even after the program, the IMA staff have continued to support us, keeping in contact through email and social media. This experience wouldn’t have been the same without such an amazing and supportive staff, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone while still being so comfortable thanks to the local staff.
Did International Medical Aid provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
My program resumed normal operations in the summer of 2020 after the pandemic began. Once I was accepted into the program, the program mentors shared that since then, they hadn’t had any interns placed under quarantine and had several cohorts complete the internship successfully despite the global pandemic. Since I went in summer 2022, this situation remained the same and I did not need or receive any pre-departure COVID support other than the recommended testing before any travel.
How did International Medical Aid help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
I was very reassured to hear that since summer 2020, amidst a global pandemic, International Medical Aid had not needed to place any staff or interns under quarantine due to COVID. I believe this is due to the safe practices encouraged by the staff beforehand, as well as consistent self-monitoring of symptoms throughout the program. The program relayed to us any necessary vaccination or testing requirements for entry into Kenya, which allowed us to plan ahead and stay safe from the pandemic while traveling.
Once in the program, the staff encouraged us to self-monitor and report any symptoms of illness, and if necessary, they would take us to the local private hospital for further evaluation. During the program, we were encouraged to wear masks and gloves in clinical settings and in any densely-populated areas to avoid communicable disease spread. Lastly, we were encouraged to spend most of our free time outside, which I think definitely kept us safe and healthy throughout the program!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I’ve told plenty of people that the only change I would make to my experience would be staying for longer! The staff at IMA worked tirelessly to ensure that we made every second count and were given an experience of a lifetime. I am so grateful for the three weeks I spent with IMA, but I am envious of the people who were able to gain more experience in the hospital, complete more cultural treks, and just live in Mombasa for a little bit longer. There is so much that IMA offers that I just didn’t have enough time to do, and if I could go again for longer, I would love to.
I also wish that I’d done a little more research beforehand into IMA’s cultural trek opportunities, because if I had known beforehand all there was to do through IMA, I probably would've chosen a program longer than three weeks! Mombasa and Kenya are so rich and have so much to offer, and IMA makes sure to provide ample opportunity for interns to do as much as possible in their time there. Go for as long as you possibly can, you won’t regret it!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I spent three weeks in Mombasa, Kenya in the Medical Internship program. This program was centered around week-long rotations in the hospital that allowed us to shadow doctors in different areas of medicine. During the week, a typical day would start with a delicious breakfast made by the in-house chefs with fresh local fruit and some strong Kenyan coffee. Then, we’d be driven by the IMA staff to our respective hospitals.
Since I was in the Medical Internship program, all of my rotations were completed at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, the city’s largest public hospital. On any given day, we’d spend the first half of our day in the hospital shadowing various doctors. This provided a wide range of experiences from examining scans in the radiology department to patient intake in the emergency ward to watching brain surgeries in the surgical theater.
After our daily rotations, we had the option to stay at the hospital for the second half of the day to continue our shadowing or to return to the IMA facility for the afternoon. After another delicious meal prepared by our chefs, we completed various afternoon activities planned by the IMA staff, including weekly Swahili lessons, cultural treks to local attractions, and Global Health Education lectures given by our program mentors and the doctors who partner with IMA.
We’d usually end our weekdays with a dinner made by the IMA staff and relax at the residence or explore the local area with our new friends! Throughout the week and weekend, we’d have the opportunity to conduct health education sessions at the local schools, where we taught a variety of topics from proper handwashing to feminine hygiene.
I also really enjoyed the flexibility of the daily schedule to allow time for rest, relaxation and exploring the beautiful city of Mombasa! The weekends were also structured with optional activities planned by the IMA staff. My personal favorite was riding into the city with an IMA tour guide and going through the local spice market and street markets!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I often continued to enjoy optional experiences planned by the IMA staff. During the week, I took weekly Swahili lessons at the IMA residence, and really enjoyed putting my new knowledge to practice at the local schools or the hospital. The staff also loved to take us to the city center of Mombasa to give us chances to further immerse in the rich culture! I loved walking through the spice market and street markets on the weekends, taking a tour of Fort Jesus, and visiting the city center mall with its surrounding local vendors was usually a nighttime routine of mine.
The staff were also so gracious in sharing with us some of their local favorite places to visit, and my fellow interns and I tried to go somewhere new several times a week! We visited the beaches, tried authentic Kenyan and Somali food at local restaurants, and even attended some weekend church services conducted in Swahili.
Aside from traveling around the city of Mombasa, I also took advantage of the amazing IMA residence to relax during my free time. Some of my favorite memories from the program are watching a movie in the main house with the other interns or laughing under the stars by the pool after a long day. The residence was designed to be just as much a space for living as a space for relaxing and spending time with our new friends!
One of the most enriching experiences of my trip would have to be the Masai Mara Safari trek. I never thought I’d get the chance to see world wonders like the Great Rift Valley or the dangerous “big 5” wild animals. This might not have been a way that I typically spent my free time, but it was the best weekend of my entire program and gave me memories of a lifetime!
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
At the IMA residence in Mombasa, I stayed in a room with three other girls my age in one of the large houses on the site. We slept in bunk beds, had our own kitchen and shared two bathrooms. I honestly felt like we had our own little apartment! All of the facilities were so nice and catered to our needs perfectly.
We were given the opportunity to connect to wifi and use the internet, watch television from our room or from the main house, and had heating and air conditioning that we could set to our preferences. Our accommodations were beyond anything I imagined, and were so nice to come home to everyday after working in the hospitals. Aside from our bedroom, the IMA residence had plenty of space to walk around, a pool to enjoy with our fellow interns, biweekly laundry service, and 24-hour security to make us feel safe and welcome. The staff were always on-site, and we even had a chef to cook us three delicious meals a day.
My favorite part about the IMA residence was how intentional it was made to give us chances to relax and get to know one another. The large living room was our favorite spot to hang out and debrief as a big group, and nights spent laughing by the pool or talking on the porch were some of my favorite memories.
We taught about feminine hygiene and safety, as well as learned more about the girls and let them ask us any questions!
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
On my first day as an IMA intern, I eagerly walked into the doors of Coast General determined to see the most traumatic case in Casualty. I didn’t stop to observe the hoards of people sitting, standing, or sleeping on the cement waiting to be called into the outpatient clinic or the endless line by the pharmacy. I had my sights set on the adrenaline-rush that I thought an exciting emergency would bring. Watching seemingly-healthy people wait in line for a check-up wasn’t what I came here for, it seemed almost mundane to me.
Throughout the week, I stopped longer and longer before my shift to look over the crowds of people begging to be seen by the outpatient clinic. I watched as fathers pleaded for their sick children to receive attention, as elderly wifes begged for medication they couldn’t quite afford because their husbands were desperate. I noticed the same people sleeping on the cement blocks, as if they’d out-waited the entire day before and were catching some rest to try again today. By the end of the week, it was the first thing I noticed on my way to Casualty, and my attention was intentional where it once was in passing.
Since that first day, I realize how ignorant I was to head straight for the most “interesting” thing. I realize how selfish it was to overlook the masses begging for healthcare in search of my own entertainment. I ignored the core of healthcare by ignoring the people in the waiting areas. My entire perspective of being a doctor changed after just one week at Coast General. Where I once imagined myself running from trauma to trauma, chasing only the most rare or extreme cases, I now appreciate the daily practice of caring for your own neighbors, of serving the masses of your community.
I found the importance in appreciating the blood, sweat and tears that these patients put into attaining healthcare and the diligence with which doctors treated too many patients, even if it didn’t appear to be the most exciting thing going on in the hospital. It’s not mundane, it’s beautiful and it’s medicine.
In my second week at Coast General, I rotated in the surgical department following multiple doctors through a range of procedures. I’ve always thought I’d love surgery, and this rotation confirmed that I do. I’ve never felt as satisfied as watching an entire successful adenotonsillectomy on a two year old little girl.
It wasn’t so much the surgery, even though watching it was a thrill I’ll be chasing forever, it was watching Dr. Hassan hand her back to her mother and the sigh of relief she gave when her baby was okay. Watching the teamwork between the scrub nurse, anesthesiologist and ENT was like watching clogs turn a clock forward; it was brilliant.
The second surgery that day was a thyroidectomy to remove a tumor. During the surgery while the woman laid with her neck open, the entire hospital lost power (which I now know is common). I remember our orientation mentioning wifi blackouts and power outages as expected events, but it never occurred to me that the hospital could suffer from the same loss of function. While I felt the panic start to rise thinking about all of the life-sustaining machines that no longer worked, the doctors didn’t think twice about manually bagging and continuing with the surgery via flashlight.
Again I was in awe of the teamwork and composure everyone showed, and after the surgery I talked with the scrub nurse about the versatility built into the OR for such cases. She showed me the equipment that had its own battery, the manual equipment to use as back-ups, and the training that everyone had to accommodate a power loss with a patient on the table. I’ll probably never experience that aptitude in the U.S. because there will never be a need for it, and it made me appreciate the lengths to which Kenyan healthcare workers have to go just to treat patients.
While I applied to International Medical Aid to gain medical exposure in the hospital, I will take away much more than that. One of the most impactful experiences during my time was the women’s hygiene clinic at Utange Girls Secondary School, which was the first community education session I took part in. I never thought I’d have so much fun teaching women about feminine hygiene or answering their questions about reproductive health.
While navigating the cultural barrier of abstinence was tricky, it was so rewarding to answer their questions and to make them feel like their bodies were going through normal and wonderful changes during their adolescent years. I especially loved their welcome song and how they found my hair so fun to play with! Educating fellow women on things I had questions on when I was their age made me feel like I was actually making a difference in the lives of the people whose community I’d been living in.
It was so fulfilling to share my knowledge about health and to contribute to a higher health literacy, even if it was to a small group of people. I also loved volunteering at the local orphanage and playing with the children whose smiles were so wide despite all they’d gone through in their lives. I hope I made a difference in their lives, because they definitely made a difference in mine.
Those three weeks were nothing short of life-changing. I learned more about East Africa, healthcare in an underprivileged community, and myself than I ever thought possible. Observing the differences in healthcare delivery from techniques to education levels to the patient experience was enlightening, and I can not wait to continue learning about the differences in healthcare as I continue my education.
The doctors I shadowed and cases I witnessed showed me the insurmountable burden of disease that Kenya must overcome to adequately support its population medically, and seeing this has fueled a desire in me to be a part of that change. One person can not change the healthcare system in Kenya, but one person can make a difference in the treatment of one patient. I believe it will take help from those with sufficient resources and training for Kenya to make the leap to a more developed healthcare system, and I hope to one day return and be a part of that.
There are a few things I decided about my future career as a health professional in which IMA were integral. First, I decided to apply to a medical school whose mission is focused on the underserved populations in Georgia. Through IMA, I’ve learned that helping those who aren’t as fortunate as I am through the blessings that life has given me is a passion I want to pursue day in and day out. Nothing will satisfy me like serving others through medicine, which is why I chose a school whose mission reflects that.
Second, I have learned about the altruism it takes to be a truly ethical doctor. A doctor should be someone who puts others before themselves consistently and by choice, and that is something I want to reflect on and grow in as I start medical school. Finally, I’ve begun to gain a cultural competence for Kenya and the people in it, and intend to foster future relationships and experiences to keep growing this new perspective.
No experience can truly teach you about others like living and working with them. Listening to the stories, values and concerns of the people you are caring for will afford you so many more opportunities for growth and understanding than studying a topic and believing you’ve seen it all. It takes breaking down your own walls and letting others have an impact in your life for you to be able to truly have an impact in theirs. I believe that is what these past three weeks with IMA have done for me.
What is one thing every future participant should know about International Medical Aid before their program begins?
Take notes because you will learn more about healthcare, the art of medicine, the Kenyan culture, and ultimately yourself in your time as an IMA intern than you ever thought possible. Also, go into your experience with an open mind and an eagerness to learn and accept what you cannot change. I thought I’d seen most of what there was to see in medicine, and that I would gain shadowing hours but not new knowledge at Coast General. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My preconceived notions were shattered in the best way, and my eyes were opened to sides of healthcare I had never before considered. You will gain exposure to things in this program that you will never be able to see in a nation like the U.S., and it is something to cherish and learn from. Despite being at such a disadvantage with the state of the healthcare system in this third world nation, you will learn from some of the most apt and adaptable physicians that you’ll ever encounter.
You will face situations that you might never see in healthcare again, and these doctors are the true definition of altruistic medicine. Ultimately, you will learn the right and wrong reasons to practice medicine, and you will learn this through seeing it firsthand. It can be overwhelming to watch things occur knowing you cannot intervene, but this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible. So take notes on everything-what you’re seeing and what you’re feeling, because you will want to relive these memories for years to come.
We stopped by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi where they rehabilitate and release injured or orphaned elephants.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I could not recommend IMA enough. Despite being told by close friends this was a life-changing experience, I didn’t understand the impact and truth of that statement until I completed my internship with IMA. I would recommend this program because it does everything it claims it will do and more. Not only did I gain the necessary clinical and shadowing hours I needed to apply to medical school, I gained such a unique experience and perspective on medicine.
I feel that completing this internship with IMA made me a much stronger applicant for medical schools, and allowed me to share stories and experiences with admissions committees that no one else could. Not only that, it grew for me from a cross-cultural perspective with a group of people so unlike those I grew up around.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I feel that in order to appreciate those that are different from you, you must first understand them, and what better way to understand a new culture and group of people than to live with them? Seeking a greater perspective is so important. It makes you a more accepting, humble and loving person, and for someone like me who wants to spend my life working with others in healthcare, these are the essential qualities of a good physician.
Traveling abroad gives you a firsthand experience of people, places and new culture that nothing else can replicate. It helps you become more adaptable and allows you to build your interpersonal skills while building a network of connections with others. Traveling abroad is key to understanding the role you play in a much larger world, and how your actions can impact others in ways you can’t even imagine.
If our goal is to better the human condition, it’s essential to understand first what the current condition is and work from there on the best ways to help those who need it. The best way to achieve this goal is to submerge yourself into new and uncomfortable situations with an open mind and an eagerness to learn so that you may return a more unprejudiced and apt individual.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is travel that makes you a better person when you return back home. Meaningful travel alters you in some way that makes you a more accepting, loving, knowledgeable, or skilled person. In many ways, this relates to cultural immersion during travel.
Meaningful travel often means diving into a culture that is foreign from yours, and using your experiences to learn and grow as an individual. When you leave with a better understanding of a place, its people, the problems and how you can be a part of change, that is meaningful travel. When you go into a new place with a desire to learn, and use your travel as a tool to better equip yourself with a global perspective, that is meaningful travel, and that is also very important travel.
