What inspired you to travel abroad?
I initially wanted to go abroad in order to gain exposure to the medical system in a foreign setting. I specifically wanted to visit somewhere outside the U.S. in order to be challenged to a greater extent. I think the opportunity to be completely outside of your comfort zone was attractive to me in order to “test my metal”.
I had known other people who had gone on similar trips that reported being energized and experiencing great growth. Being aware of the need in certain areas, and large variation in the patient population were also contributors to my decision.
Haller Park
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I initially chose Kenya as a location because I had always yearned to see the African landscape and culture, and Kenya is easily accessible for travelers. I had previously been abroad as an undergraduate student with another company and had formed a relationship with Phares and Benson. I had had such an excellent experience with them my first time around, there was no debate that when I returned, I would want to visit my friends.
Phares spoke highly of International Medical Aid, their professionalism, their management, and their enrichment activities. I was already traveling with my university to the Amboseli area, and it made sense to include another rotation in a different location in Kenya with IMA.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
Kenya is unquestionably one of the most beautiful countries and has a very unique population. In Mombasa, you can experience a variety of cultures including the Maasai, coastal Swahili people, and an Indian population. Exposure to so many different groups allows you to gain a greater understanding of healthcare issues in the area, as well as being personally enriching.
Being a referral hospital, Coast General sees a large amount of this population. Alongside the clinical experience, the beaches and local history can’t be beat and there is not a better location to have “off time” in. I greatly enjoyed snorkeling and safaris. The chance to go to the Maasai Mara and see the wildlife is the opportunity of a lifetime.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Things that distinguish International Medical Aid from other experiences include the location, staff, and networking with a hospital. There are a variety of locations, but Mombasa is particularly extraordinary because of its people, culture, and beaches. The staff at IMA is exceptional, with a high English proficiency, and includes younger students who have traveled internationally themselves. Having locals who understand the culture, as well as younger students who understand your culture, makes the transition easier because you have someone to relate to.
Thirdly, IMA stands apart by coordinating with a doctor from Coast General to come do seminars outside of the hospital. Having this contact outside of the hospital makes going to the hospital much more comfortable and gives participants a “safety net” when at the hospital. These relationships enable you to get the most out of your experience. In addition, Coast Generals breadth of specialties also sets this location apart.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Staff support includes educational sessions, a daily debrief, and excellent logistics. All of the IMA staff was usually immediately able to answer all questions we asked (and if they did not know the answer, they would find out for us quickly). All special requests were accommodated to the best of the program’s ability, and all staff was readily available to contact at all times. Daily debriefs ensured that students could talk about possibly challenging experiences from the clinic and ensure continued improvement of the program.
The only critique I have is the addition of a staff member with medical experience (or the addition of a basic medical care education for the staff interns) as sometimes it was difficult to speak about medical issues seen at the hospital in the debriefs. Having someone with a basic medical background would improve the daily debrief and help guide students further.
Beach life
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I absolutely wish I would have done more emergency department night shifts with Dr. Aarif. These were the times where I got the most one-on-one instruction from hospital staff, and the extended hours allow you to get more comfortable in the department. I also wish I had spent more time with the staff and hearing their personal perspective on Kenya as a whole.
During my first trip to Kenya, I wish I would have brought a medical resource and kept a journal of conditions seen in the clinic, in order to research the conditions in the afternoon. Since this was my second time in Kenya, I was able to accomplish this. It is worth noting that it may be worthwhile for the program to invest in a “house reference” medical text (such as Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine) to be available to students.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On a typical day, you would wake up and get ready to go to the hospital (arrival by 8 PM), eat a breakfast made by the chef, get driven to the hospital, and then were in your respective department until about 2 PM (could stay longer if requested), return to the apartment, eat lunch, have a short daily debrief, and then have free time. About half of the afternoons we did community outreach (such as visiting the orphanage) or a seminar Dinner that was provided and made by the chef, and left to eat whenever you pleased.
During my time there I rotated in dermatology (which was extremely worthwhile), surgical, the ED, and internal medicine. I also spent one day in radiology which I highly recommend to any student. On the weekends there was often a community outreach activity or an excursion planned.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
What we enjoyed the most was going to the beach! It is a beautiful place to rest and relax. We also went to the old downtown area to walk and shop. When other students were in the house we went out to eat and tried quite a bit of the local food; there are several nice restaurants in the area. There is a movie theater with Hollywood movies, and the prices are very reasonable, so we went to a movie a couple of times. Local attractions and IMA excursions were also excellent. Uber is available and it is very easy to get around. We did a little studying or review each evening.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We had shared apartment style housing. You have large rooms with two beds and a large wardrobe. The house includes a shared kitchen which we were welcomed to use but did not need to. There is also a shared living area with TV. Bottled water (hot and cold) are always available via a shared water cooler. Our location had a mall with a supermarket nearby, so snacks were easily accessible. You are served three meals a day, unless requested otherwise. Your laundry is done daily during the week. We were constantly thankful for reliable running (warm) water and electricity, but by far our favorite feature was the air conditioner unit in the bedroom.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Do not underestimate the time you need to rest and process. Pack light, there is a large shopping center nearby with everything you could ever need. But do bring a Swahili dictionary and practice beforehand if you can. Bring a medical reference appropriate for your education level. Bring a guidebook if you like guidebooks. Be active and engaged in order to get the most out of it. I suggest getting CPR certified along with self-guided reading or taking a basic health class beforehand if you have no previous clinical experience.
The more clinical experience you have, the more you will get out of the trip and the more the physicians will be comfortable letting you be involved. If you have the ability to get your EMT certification beforehand, it would be extremely useful although it is not necessary. Do not be afraid to ask questions and insert yourself into a situation. Don’t expect to have people telling you what to do all the time, working in this environment requires some level of self-direction. You are not there to change or judge other people’s culture, you are there to learn all you can and experience an honest cultural exchange.
Just another day in clinic
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
Yes, I recommend these trips to everyone. There is no experience like working at a large hospital in Kenya, and there is no other city as unique as Mombasa. You will see a lot of pathology you will not otherwise have the opportunity too. International Medical Aid treated us very well and has reputable community connections. Housing was safe and appropriate. Also, having other opportunities for outreach like community clinics and the orphanage was extremely valuable. Above all, I love the employees at IMA and that is the main reason why I would recommend the program.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
There are so many benefits to travelling abroad that it is difficult to pick just one. For pre-medical students, I think it gives you a level of maturity and competitive edge that others are missing. It opens your prospective. For medical students, it offers unique and sometimes extreme medical challenges. It also forces you to be creative in a clinical setting as you are working in a system that you are not accustomed to with equipment and regulations that you are not accustomed to.
For everyone, travel gives you the insight to question your own biases, exposes you to people very different than you, and just makes you a savvier and more compassionate person in general.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Even though I was the least excited about my week in the dermatology clinic, this is some of the knowledge that I have found most clinically useful back in the United States. I saw so many cases in one day at Coast General, that I am now confident with common pathologies. Also, the opportunity to see many pathologies on non-Caucasian skin has made me a much better provider.
In general, the trip gave me a greater perspective and clinical context. It puts meaning to all of the studying and problem solving in an unfamiliar environment makes you a more creative provider.
I have noticed I am more careful at home as well since my return. I am more easily able to communicate with patients with varying backgrounds as my time in Kenya taught me how to relate to people very different from myself. Lastly, after my rotation in Kenya I definitely feel more “seasoned”, and like I saw a lot of medicine in a short amount of time. No situation that I have encountered since seems impossible to solve or overwhelming.
Time at the orphanage
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is an authentic experience and deepens your understanding of humanity and the world around you. It is not necessarily always “fun” travel, it can be challenging. You generally learn more than you expected to if you are doing it right. You return home with a new understanding of something different than you. You see multiple facets of the place you are visiting (both good and bad). Meaningful travel also means leaving a positive impact on the place that you visited, which can be as simple as representing your home country and leaving a good impression on the locals through the relationships you’ve made and interactions you’ve had.
