What inspired you to go abroad?
Growing up in a rural community in interior British Columbia, I became aware early on of how geography, staffing shortages, and limited resources shape access to healthcare. Even in Kelowna, these challenges persist, reinforcing my curiosity about how social determinants influence patient outcomes beyond a Western or Canadian context.
Academically, I immersed myself in medicine-focused science courses, yet despite years of rigorous study, I reached a point where I felt lost within my degree. Watching peers move forward with certainty left me questioning my place in medicine. I was deeply motivated to change this: to rediscover purpose, re-engage with learning in a meaningful way, and grow through discomfort by stepping outside of what was familiar.
As I explored opportunities abroad, it was essential that my experience be rooted in meaningful, ethical global health work rather than “voluntourism.” I was not seeking to observe from a distance or center my own growth at the expense of local communities, but to learn humbly alongside local providers in resource-limited settings.
International Medical Aid stood out for its commitment to ethical engagement, sustainability, and partnership with local healthcare systems rather than replacement. This alignment made IMA the first opportunity where my academic preparation, values, and desire to serve could truly intersect.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
Last day Interning at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya.
I chose International Medical Aid because of its strong emphasis on ethical global health engagement and avoiding harm. IMA prioritizes education, supervision, and a clear scope of practice, ensuring patient safety while allowing students to learn responsibly.
The program’s commitment to working alongside local hospitals and clinicians—rather than replacing them—reflects a deep respect for existing healthcare systems. Structured learning through rounds, mentorship, and lectures reinforced reflection and accountability throughout the experience.
I was also drawn to IMA’s reputation for cultural humility and sustainability, as well as the diverse clinical exposure offered at the Mombasa flagship site, which allowed me to learn from a wide range of cases within a resource-limited setting.
What was your favorite part about Mombasa?
My favorite part of my host country and city was the strong sense of community and interconnectedness that shaped everyday life in Mombasa. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the warmth and generosity of the Kenyan people and how relationships were deeply valued in both clinical and non-clinical spaces. Healthcare, culture, and daily life felt closely intertwined, reinforcing the idea that health is a shared, communal responsibility rather than an individual one.
Outside the hospital, Mombasa’s coastal environment offered balance and reflection. Spending time near the Indian Ocean after long days in the hospital provided moments of calm, grounding, and renewal. Cultural richness was present in everyday experiences through the Swahili language, food, music, and tradition, allowing me to feel connected rather than like a visitor.
What made Mombasa especially meaningful was how interconnected everyday life felt: healthcare, culture, and community were seamlessly intertwined. This sense of connection left a lasting impression and continues to shape how I view community, care, and belonging.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made my experience abroad truly extraordinary was the depth of immersion I experienced over two full months. Rather than a brief observational visit, this extended time allowed me to slow down, build trust, and form meaningful relationships with physicians, staff, patients, and fellow interns—relationships that I now hold closest to my heart. I intentionally chose to stay long enough to move beyond surface-level interactions and truly learn within the community.
One of the most impactful aspects of my experience was participating in community outreach initiatives, which quickly became highlights of my weeks. Through IMA, we led hygiene education clinics focused on oral health, hand hygiene, and reproductive health, and helped organize free medical clinics for lower-income communities.
Community Clinic Triage Work
These experiences emphasized the importance of preventative care, education, and community-driven engagement. Spending time with school-aged children during outreach was especially eye-opening and filled me with overwhelming joy, reinforcing my belief in compassionate, service-oriented medicine.
The relationships I formed with patients were equally extraordinary. Seeing cases I had previously only encountered in textbooks—particularly within pediatrics—brought my academic learning to life in a deeply human way.
One young patient in the pediatric ward left a lasting impression on me as she navigated chronic cholangitis. This experience struck a deeply personal chord, as one of my family members also lives with chronic cholangitis. Witnessing the contrast between her access to care and my family member’s experience in Canada made the role of geography and healthcare systems impossible to ignore. I spent time sitting with her and her mother, taking vitals, and offering moments of respite. On my final day, the young girl’s tearful embrace stayed with me, reshaping how I understand vulnerability, trust, and continuity of care, and reinforcing the responsibility that comes with practicing medicine across different contexts.
Clinically, working alongside local healthcare providers allowed me to witness medicine practiced with limited resources but profound compassion. Physicians demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to their patients, often in circumstances that would be unimaginable at home. I encountered cases I had previously only studied academically, transforming knowledge into lived understanding.
Perhaps most extraordinary were the relationships I built with other interns. Being bonded through such an intense and meaningful experience created connections unlike any I had formed before. Sharing night shifts, community outreach, daily debriefs, and emotionally heavy moments fostered a deep sense of trust and understanding. These bonds have extended well beyond the program. We remain in close contact, have visited one another across countries, and continue to support each other’s academic, professional, and, most importantly, personal journeys.
Throughout my time abroad, I was constantly reflecting on ethics, privilege, and responsibility in global health. This reflection grounded my learning in humility and respect, making the experience not only extraordinary but also deeply formative and enduring.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
Local staff were foundational to my experience and learning throughout the program, and their support extended far beyond clinical instruction. Nurses, physicians, and support staff consistently approached teaching with patience, generosity, and genuine care. Even during busy shifts, they took time to explain conditions, procedures, and clinical decision-making, creating an environment where curiosity was encouraged and learning felt collaborative.
Local providers modeled professionalism, empathy, and resilience while working within limited resources. Watching them balance urgency with compassion reinforced the ethical responsibility of patient-centered care. Staff also played a key role in bridging cultural and language gaps, making intentional efforts to include me rather than allowing me to feel like an outsider. This sense of inclusion made it easier to ask questions, acknowledge uncertainty, and engage fully in clinical settings.
Beyond the hospital, mentors and support staff provided emotional support during demanding days, offering reassurance, guidance, and a strong sense of belonging. Ultimately, the support I received reflected IMA’s commitment to partnership and ethical global health engagement—I was not simply observing, but welcomed, taught, and supported by a community built on mutual respect and shared purpose.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
If given the opportunity again, I would dedicate more time to learning Swahili before arriving. While I picked up phrases quickly on site, entering with a stronger foundation would have allowed for deeper communication with patients and a more seamless integration into daily life.
Even small linguistic efforts often opened doors, and I saw firsthand how language fosters trust, respect, and connection in healthcare settings.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day abroad began early, preparing for the hospital and sharing breakfast with fellow interns before traveling together to our placements.
Mornings were spent participating in rounds and observing patient care. These moments were central to my learning: I listened carefully as cases were discussed and connected with medical interns and student doctors who often took time to explain diagnoses and treatment plans. Their kindness, openness, and willingness to teach made the clinical environment feel welcoming and supportive. When appropriate, I served as an extra pair of hands, which helped build trust and deepen my clinical exposure. I also jotted down brief notes in my journal to reflect on later.
After returning in the afternoon, we gathered for group debriefs to process challenging experiences and support one another. Evenings were spent hanging out with friends, journaling, and reflecting on the day. This routine allowed me to maintain balance between clinical learning, personal growth, and fully experiencing where I was.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
Sunset Camel Ride on Nyali Beach.
During my free time abroad, I fully immersed myself in life in Mombasa rather than viewing the experience as a vacation. Spending two months there allowed the city to feel like home. I loved exploring Mombasa’s beaches and coastline, especially Nyali Beach, where time by the ocean helped me decompress after long days in the hospital. One of my favorite days off was spent at Coco’s Beach Resort, laying in the sun, racing in the pool, playing euchre, and laughing with other interns, surrounded by the community we had built together.
I also enjoyed visiting local markets and trying Kenyan food. Sharing meals with others created moments of connection and learning, whether dining out at Kinzjo BBQ or enjoying chapati made by our resident chef. Building friendships with fellow interns was central to my experience; we explored the city together, visited places like Mamba Village, Wild Waters Kenya, and Nguuni Nature Sanctuary, and spent memorable nights out at Moonshine.
IMA’s cultural activities further deepened my appreciation for the Swahili language, Kenyan history, and local traditions. I especially loved spending time with animals, including feeding giraffes. Alongside these moments of joy, I valued quiet time journaling and reflecting, which allowed me to process my experiences with gratitude. This balance of connection, exploration, and reflection made my time abroad vibrant and deeply fulfilling.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in shared intern housing arranged by IMA, which felt safe, supportive, and community-oriented. I shared a room with two other interns, and the space was comfortable and well-maintained, with plenty of room for our belongings. We also shared common areas where interns gathered to talk, play cards, and decompress after long days, which encouraged reflection and connection.
The residence was consistently clean, and small details—like coming home to a neatly made bed—made me feel genuinely cared for. The compound included shared amenities such as a pool, common rooms, and outdoor spaces that fostered community. Housing was also close to the hospital, with transportation provided, making daily routines smooth and stress-free. Overall, the accommodation offered a welcoming space to rest, recharge, and build meaningful connections.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One of the most important things every future participant should know before beginning this program is that the experience requires both practical preparation and a thoughtful mindset. Coming into the program with humility and openness is essential. You are not there to “save” anyone, but to learn alongside local professionals, patients, and communities who already possess deep knowledge, resilience, and expertise. Understanding this from the outset grounds the experience in respect rather than assumption.
Emotional challenges are an inevitable part of the program, and being prepared for this reality is just as important as packing the right supplies. You will encounter situations that challenge your expectations of healthcare, expose inequities, and prompt difficult questions about access, resources, and privilege.
Nguuni Nature Sanctuary
For me, this became unmistakably clear during early night shifts in pediatrics and Accident & Emergency, where I witnessed the limits of care imposed not by a lack of effort or skill, but by a lack of resources. These moments were emotionally heavy and ethically confronting, yet they became some of the most meaningful learning experiences of my time abroad.
Finally, future participants should know that this program will challenge how they see themselves. It invites you to confront privilege, sit with discomfort, and redefine what meaningful contribution looks like. If approached with intention, humility, and reflection, the experience offers far more than clinical exposure—it provides personal growth that continues long after returning home.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
Yes, I would strongly recommend International Medical Aid to others seeking an ethical, meaningful, and well-supported global health experience. IMA’s strong ethical framework ensures that learning is prioritized over intervention, with clear expectations around supervision, scope of practice, and patient safety. The program’s respect for local healthcare systems, working alongside local hospitals and clinicians rather than replacing them, this creates an environment rooted in partnership and mutual respect.
IMA also provides excellent mentorship and structure. Through guided rounds, lectures, and reflective debriefs, participants are supported both clinically and emotionally. This structure allows students to engage deeply with learning while processing challenging experiences in a safe and supportive way. The emphasis on education rather than exploitation ensures that patient care remains ethical and that learning is intentional and responsible.
Most importantly, IMA encourages long-term personal and professional growth. The program emphasizes reflection, cultural humility, and ethical responsibility: lessons that extend far beyond the two months abroad and continue to shape how participants approach medicine, service, and global health. Rather than offering a fleeting experience, IMA provides a foundation for thoughtful, sustainable engagement.
Overall, IMA offers a safe, structured, and deeply meaningful experience that fosters growth, accountability, and lifelong learning. It is a program I would recommend without hesitation to anyone seeking to engage in global health with integrity and purpose.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the personal growth that extends far beyond academics or clinical exposure. Living and learning in a different healthcare system allowed me to gain a global perspective and understand medicine as a social system shaped by culture, resources, and access. It strengthened my cultural competence, empathy, and adaptability, while also teaching me how much I do not know—and how to be comfortable with that.
This humility has changed how I approach learning, patient care, and ethical engagement. Traveling abroad challenged my assumptions, broadened my worldview, and reinforced the importance of curiosity, reflection, and responsibility—lessons that continue to shape both my personal and professional growth.
Hand and Teeth Hygiene Clinic!
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I am home, my time abroad continues to shape how I approach medicine, learning, and service. The experience changed how I view patient care, reinforcing the importance of compassion, equity, and understanding healthcare as a social system rather than a purely clinical one. It strengthened my confidence in navigating unfamiliar environments and clarified my commitment to service-oriented healthcare.
Since returning, I have become deeply passionate about global health and healthcare literacy. I have shared my experience with professors and fellow students, given guest talks in upper-year biology courses, and intentionally tailored my academic projects toward global health and equity-focused themes. IMA helped bring my future into focus by grounding my academic learning in lived experience and ethical reflection.
Ultimately, my time abroad did not simply influence my future goals; it helped me believe in them. I would not be the person I am today without this experience. IMA transformed abstract aspirations into lived reality, and that clarity continues to guide every step I take moving forward.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means approaching new places with humility, respect, and a genuine willingness to learn. It is not about consuming experiences, but about building relationships, listening to local voices, and engaging ethically with communities.
Meaningful travel centers learning over impact, reflection over assumption, and responsibility over intention. Through IMA, I learned that meaningful travel leaves you changed in perspective and purpose—not just with memories, but with a deeper understanding of privilege, service, and your role in the world.
Finally, meaningful travel demands responsibility after returning home. Carrying lessons forward, applying them long-term, and using what you have learned to advocate, educate, and serve is what transforms an experience into lasting impact. For me, meaningful travel is not defined by where I went, but by how I continue to show up: more aware, more humble, and more committed to ethical, compassionate engagement in healthcare.
