Alumni Interview with Jess Byrne

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I have always loved traveling. From a young age, I traveled both domestically and internationally thanks to my place in the world of competitive Irish Dancing. As I grew older and began my education at the University of Delaware, my love for medicine manifested and I found myself looking for ways to marry my two loves: travel and medicine.

In my sophomore year of my undergraduate career, I travelled to Lima, Peru with MEDLIFE to provide medicine, education, and development for low-income families in the Callao region. I performed triage during pop-up clinics and shadowed physicians, gynecologists, dentists, and pharmacists. This experience was also ripe with community engagement. 

Working with local leaders and community advocates to not only provide medical treatment, but to provide aid that would be sustainable after the volunteers left resulted in the development of a staircase that served as an emergency escape route down the mountainous region. This was my first experience in the world of meaningful travel. I left Peru feeling fulfilled and eager to engage in another impactful experience.

A year later, I traveled to South Africa to study behavioral health and nutrition in a global context through the University of Delaware. I spent a month traveling to hospitals, clinics, and orphanages, listening and learning to their triumphs, and defeats, in the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. 

With an open mind and open arms, I embraced the culture and the community, allowing it to shape me and mold me into the person I am today. I returned home with a new perspective on healthcare and its delivery in underserved populations and, again, a burning desire to do more, see more, and learn more.

It was no longer just a love for medicine, travel, and service to the community, but a passion that drove me to seek out opportunities that would change me again into a better person and caregiver. 

This work was inspiring. It was purposeful and impactful and I reveled in playing even the smallest of parts in it. I began researching programs with similar mindsets, motives, and abilities. It led me straight to International Medical Aid. Two years after my experience in South Africa, I found myself boarding a flight to Kenya, where I would spend another month learning and expanding my view of healthcare. 

With a program tailored specifically towards students seeking a career as Physician Assistants, an emphasis on community service, and a mission to improve access to medical and public health resources, I could not have been more excited. It was exactly what I was looking for. 

Looking back now, I can say with full confidence that my time spent with International Medical Aid has been, by far, the most meaningful and impactful experience in my life, not only in my journey to become a Physician Assistant, but also in my personal development as a caregiver, friend, and coworker.

Why did you choose International Medical Aid?

International Medical Aid was the perfect program for me and it came to me at a time when I needed it most. I was preparing to apply to Physician Assistant programs a year in advance. My application looked good, yet was lacking in one key aspect: Physician Assistant shadowing. 

After months of countless phone calls, emails, and office visits, I came up empty handed in my search to find a PA who would allow me to shadow him/her. With such a tough time finding shadowing opportunities locally, I thought I would be hard-pressed to find any opportunities internationally.

When I found International Medical Aid, I was elated. Not only did it provide me with 120 hours of Physician Assistant shadowing over the course of 4 weeks in 4 different specialties, but International Medical Aid prided itself on the same passion for community service, medicine, and travel that I did. 

Every aspect of International Medical Aid felt like it was made for me. Having worked previously in pediatrics, I was extremely interested in doing a rotation in the specialty. My first day in the hospital, I was paired with a senior Clinical Officer (the Kenyan equivalent of a PA) in pediatric consultation who took me under his wing and taught me immensely about disease identification, prevention, and treatment for the week.

Aside from the hospital rotations which were scheduled to meet my preferences, IMA also provided continuing education on medicine, history, and culture. We received lessons on suturing and IV placement, as well as lectures on the history of Kenya and the disease burden in Kenya. It is of the utmost importance to be culturally competent and aware while a guest in another country, and especially in another county’s public hospital. 

Through IMA’s education, I felt well prepared to enter the hospital and knowledgeable about where I was and what I might encounter. Another aspect of International Medical Aid, and one of my favorites, was the dedication and commitment to community service. I gained so much from this experience and it was imperative to me that I give back.

On weekends, we traveled to Sahajanand Feeding Center where we distributed food and water to women and children who had traveled up to 50 km on foot and waited in line for hours to receive sustenance for their families. After mornings spent in the hospital, we traveled to local schools to provide education on female hygiene, proper hand hygiene, and teeth hygiene while donating toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sanitary napkins.

Other times we set up pop-up clinics, where those with no access to affordable healthcare in the private or public sector, could come to receive treatment and see a doctor free of charge. Lastly, we visited orphanages to spend time with the children and learn of their needs.

We donated items they requested and spent time playing with the children. International Medical Aid was not simply an opportunity to shadow physician assistants or travel. It was an all-encompassing, well rounded program that not only gave interns a glimpse into life at the public hospital, but gave insight into the daily lives of the Kenyan people: their culture, their government, their hardships, and their needs.

IMA educated us on these topics and gave endless opportunities to ameliorate the plight through service to the community and continuous education.

What was your favorite part about Kenya?

There were many aspects of Mombasa that have competed for the title of “favorite” in my mind. By far, my favorite part of Mombasa, Kenya was the people that I met there. Friendly and kind. Interesting and eager.

The program mentors, drivers, chefs, hospital staff, and other Kenyans I met along the way embraced me happily. They were curious about my life and eager to show me theirs. They treated me kindly, showed me around the area, and taught me absolutely everything that they could in a short amount of time.

They not only taught me of medicine, but of compassion, kindness, and understanding. While the beautiful city of Mombasa had its memorable restaurants, tours, and culture, it was the people I met there that had the greatest impact on me, and the reason I remember Mombasa so fondly.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

My experience abroad was nothing short of extraordinary. In fact, it far surpassed it. My experience in Mombasa was not simply focused on professional development. It was largely focused on personal character development. It is this all encompassing nature of IMA that made my time there extraordinary. IMA offered me every opportunity for growth, compassion, and learning. 

The Clinical Officers I shadowed at Coast Provincial General Hospital amazed me. They took time from their busy schedules to teach me, and they did so much more than that. They translated, taught me to listen to lung sounds, showed me X-Rays, and pointed out the differences between each rash, bump, or bruise.

I left the hospital each day eager to begin researching what they had shown me and excited to return the following day. After hours at the hospital, we jumped right into the community. We lectured at schools, held open clinics, volunteered to hand out food, and spent time with children.

These experiences showed me the importance of doing what cannot be taught in a textbook: compassion and empathy. This type of experience remains extraordinary. I returned home from Kenya not only a better caregiver, but a better person. 

How did the International Medical Aid staff support you throughout your program?

The staff at IMA was incredible. I believe my experience would not have been the same without them. They were there every step of the way to assure I felt safe, comfortable, and in the loop with all updates.

Phares, the program director, answered all clinical questions and oversaw our daily schedules. Round table discussions happened daily, recounting how our days were and what needed improvement. The staff walked us around town and recommended local restaurants. They made sure we were well acclimated. 

All of the staff were highly competent in the roles they played, and we quickly became friends. I looked forward to the hour-long drive to Sahajanand Feeding Center, because I loved talking with Benson, the program’s diver. He was always kind and honest, and spoke fondly of his culture, childhood, and life in Mombasa.

After a long day at the hospital I could always count on having a laugh with Jess and Faith, the program mentors. I loved learning about local Kenyan cuisine from Joshua, the program’s chef. He made wonderful food and was happy to share his creations and stories with us. 

The staff was also always accessible if we needed them. Just a text away, they were always prompt and available to answer any questions that arose. With the IMA staff, I felt comfortable, knowledgeable, and ready for whatever the day had in store.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

I don’t have many regrets from the time I spent in Kenya. I truly felt that I committed myself to doing absolutely everything I could and making the most of every second, and IMA made sure that I had every opportunity to do so!

However, it wasn't until my fourth and final week at International Medical Aid that I volunteered to do a 10 hour night shift in the emergency room. So much of my learning came from just that one shift. I wish I had taken advantage of this opportunity sooner.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

A typical day in Mombasa, Kenya was busy, exciting, and new. Mornings began with breakfast with all the program interns and a discussion with the program mentors as to what the day would hold.

After a quick drive to the hospital, we were met by the mentors who escorted us to our chosen units and introduced to the staff whom we would be shadowing. I spent four weeks at Coast General Provincial Hospital and completed four one-week rotations in pediatrics, surgery, OB/GYN, and the Emergency department. We were also offered the opportunity to do 10 hour night shifts. 

During a shift in the Emergency department, I shadowed a physician, Dr. Sherman, who showed and explained to me in great detail how to place IVs. I watched him consult on various cases, such as appendicitis, pneumonia, meningitis, bronchitis, HIV/AIDS, and congenital heart diseases.

I was able to observe him and other physicians prepare for surgeries, such as craniotomies, preauricular sinus excisions, and total knee replacements. After shadowing was completed, we were picked up by Benson and brought back to the residence for a late lunch. A round table discussion about our hospital experiences was held and each student spoke of his/her day. 

The afternoon could be filled with a number of things. Some days we received a lecture on relevant topics in Kenya and other days we had clinical skill lectures on IV insertion, suturing, etc. On many occasions, we gathered back in the van to head to local schools to provide hygiene education or pop-up clinics.

We also had the option to engage in cultural treks in and around Mombasa, such as Haller Park, Bombolulu Workshops Cultural Centre, and Mombasa City Tours. After, we returned to the residence for dinner and had evenings to ourselves, which I used to exercise, contact family members back home, shop, and spend time with other interns.

As busy as it was, I learned something new everyday and was offered every opportunity to make the most of my time in Mombasa. Four weeks flew by the time I left, and while I felt like I had just arrived, my journals reminded me just how much I had accomplished.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

During our free time abroad, I and other interns enjoyed the beautiful city of Mombasa. There were beaches just a short walk away from the residence which we visited frequently. The beautiful shore and cool wind was the perfect ending to a long week at the hospital.

We also spent plenty of time in the nearby city mall trying new fruits, candies and snacks from the supermarkets and purchasing toys and supplies to bring to the orphanages and clinics. 

One of my favorite pastimes was traveling around the city to visit the restaurants recommended by IMA staff and introduced to us on the Mombasa City Tour. We jumped into the Kenyan, Indian, and Arab cuisine that was scattered throughout the city.

After returning home to New York, I was eager to try my hand at Chicken Tikka Masala and other curries. While it pales into comparison to the curry I had in Mombasa, it is now a frequent part of my weekly meals that always reminds me of Kenya. 

The staff at International Medical Aid also offered us plenty of day trips and excursions to occupy our weekends and free days. There were optional day trips to Wasini Beach and Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park.

Other activities offered included Mombasa Go-Kart and a visit to English Point Marina. The IMA staff traveled with us to Kilifi to ride jet skis and enjoy a beautiful day on the beach.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

The accommodations provided by International Medical Aid were apartments on the Nyali Coast. IMA owned two apartments in a gated complex while they searched for larger accommodations to provide for the number of interns due to come in the summer.

I shared a room with another intern, and there were two other additional rooms in the apartment that housed a total of 4 other students. In the second apartment, there were 6 other interns as well as our gathering space. We met there for lectures, classes, and meals. I liked this set up because it allowed me to form close friendships with the other interns. 

We spent most nights all together in the living room of the second apartment watching movies, talking about our experiences, and occasionally ordering Dominos. It’s location was also ideal. Just a 5 minute walk to the grocery store and a 15 minute walk to the beach, we had everything we needed.

This setup also gave us the perfect amount of independence. The IMA staff was with us from the morning through dinner, at which point we were left with free time to use as we pleased. Most of the time it just meant relaxing in the living room, but it left us with a sense of independence nonetheless.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

One thing future participants should know before starting the program is that you will get out of it what you put into it. IMA provides interns with boundless opportunities for adventure and growth, but it is up to the intern to accept them.

Many of the cultural treks, excursions, and activities were optional. However, those were some of my fondest memories. I loved seeing the Bombolulu Workshops and cultural center. Bombolulu was a center for physically or mentally disabled people to come and live peacefully with their families and other members of the disabled community. 

At Bombolulu, they learn skills such as textiles, jewelry making, and wood carving. Their beautiful creations are then sold to tourists as their means of income. I had the opportunity to meet and learn from the residents of Bombolulu and it remains one of my favorite parts of my time spent in Kenya.

The treks to Haller Park and Mombasa City Tour were also optional, but it provided me with so much history and helped me acclimate and learn how to respect the culture, religion, and societal norms. This insight was pivotal in my experiences. 

My mindset while in Kenya was to do as much as I could, learn as much as I could, and spend every second doing something meaningful. I came home with a journal full of experiences, adventures, and stories of people I had met and how I felt each step of the way. I truly gave everything I had to IMA and believe that is why I received so much in return. 

Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?

I would, without hesitation, recommend International Medical Aid to any student looking for a place in the world of healthcare. My experience in Kenya helped me to see healthcare through a different lens and identify the role I want to play.

As a future Physician Assistant, I hope to work with underserved populations in a way that is both ethical and sustainable, as International Medical Aid has. The opportunity to not only learn, but to experience healthcare in a global context has been one of the most defining and impactful experiences in my career in medicine thus far. 

Shadowing Physician Assistants in a public hospital 6 hours/day is an opportunity completely unique to IMA, and is truly a once in a lifetime experience. IMA also has dedicated itself to being a mutually beneficial program that allows interns to have a meaningful impact on the community by increasing education and access to healthcare through hygiene clinics and pop-up medical clinics. 

These experiences have made me a better care provider, more culturally competent, compassionate, and eager to provide necessary care to those populations who need it most. My experience in Kenya has left an incredible mark that will guide me to continue the work International Medical Aid has introduced me to.

I hold IMA in the highest regard and cannot recommend this program enough. Having now been accepted into a Physician Assistant program in the United States starting in 2021, I can confidently look back and say that I would not be where I am today without IMA.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

Traveling abroad has a multitude of benefits that, to some (myself included), make it irresistible. International travel challenges the traveler, by requiring him/her to step out of his/her comfort zone and experience something new and unknown.

In exchange, the traveler gets to see a different perspective. The best way, in my opinion, to change your perspective is to embrace the culture and submit to learning and understanding the values and local way of life. 

This respect, awareness, and understanding is the most important lesson, and remains applicable to all areas of life, not just while traveling abroad. This shift in perspective is the biggest benefit of travel, because it stays with you long after your travels have ended. It changes the way you see the world, and perhaps helps you to define the role you want to play in it, or how you want to experience it. 

After traveling to Kenya with IMA, I saw healthcare through a different lens and saw its delivery in a different light. This experience helped me to identify the role that I want to play in healthcare and drives me still in my pursuit to become a Physician Assistant.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

My time abroad has impacted just about every area of my life. My experience in Mombasa was momentous, and one that has shaped the person that I am, and the care provider that I choose to be.

After returning home from Kenya in the beginning of February, I began working at a local hospital in Long Island as a patient care technician. Two short weeks later, the first wave of the COVID pandemic swept through our hospital, and New York City was quickly named the epicenter. 

I relied on the lessons I had learned in Kenya to help me provide the highest quality of care that I could. In Kenya, I learned the importance of kind and compassionate care. I did not simply provide medical care for these patients, I provide emotional care-- I was a hand to hold and ears to listen.

I learned the importance of communicating with patients in light of barriers or challenges. In Kenya there existed a language barrier, however I did not let it affect my ability to communicate with patients. During the COVID pandemic, most of my patients were on ventilators, CPAPs, BIPAPs, or other respiratory divides that often hindered their ability to communicate.

It was up to me to make the time and find a way to talk to them, understand their needs, and provide for them both medically and emotionally. 

My time in Kenya helped me to pinpoint what I am most passionate about in healthcare-- equitable healthcare delivery to those who need it most. As a Physician Assistant I hope to work and go where I am needed, primarily in underserved or underprivileged communities.

Physician Assistants have lateral mobility that allows them to switch specialties without further education. In this career, I will be able to bring my knowledge and abilities wherever I am needed without hindrance. 

My experience in Kenya was extremely humbling. I believe myself to be a better person, kinder, more aware and passionate because of it. It has affected personal, professional, and emotional aspects of my everyday life and I carry the lessons I learned with me each day.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

There is no travel more meaningful than that which is mutually beneficial- travel where you give back. Growing up, I had traveled extensively in the United States and outside of it. I had a great time in London with my family, in Ireland, California, and Scotland.

They were great trips and I had a wonderful time there, but I didn't do anything for the people who lived in these beautiful places. When I began traveling in my undergraduate career, I found travel that felt fulfilling and felt necessary. 

I went to Peru with MEDLIFE providing medical care to low income families. I traveled to Thailand and Myanmar to complete service learning. I spent a month in South Africa volunteering at orphanages, hospitals, and HIV/AIDS clinics. These experiences led me to seek out International Medical Aid.

This kind of travel felt important. It's based around culture, acceptance, understanding, and a mindset of “It’s not about you.” In Thailand, our group volunteered at a home that acted as a safe haven for physically disabled people who were outcast from the community. When we arrived we simply asked, “what do you need? What can I help you with right now?”

To our surprise, all they wanted us to do was clean. Clean the floors, the windows, and tidy up the common areas. It wasn't what we were expecting but it wasn't about us or our expectations. It was truly about doing whatever it was they needed, no matter how small or trivial it seemed to us. 

This was the mindset that changed everything for me, especially travel. When I plan to travel, I no longer pack my itinerary with a million excursions and tourist favorites. I leave time for exploration, to meet people and to help someone. 

Meaningful travel is not just taking every experience for yourself, but bringing your gifts with you and offering them up. Even if it's just as simple as offering your time to clean someone’s windows. Meaningful travel encompasses more than just your singular perspective and your expectations.

It's about community and about what you can do for someone else. This is the kind of travel I crave, and which I seek out extensively. This is also the type of travel offered by International Medical Aid and I could not be happier to have been a part of it.