What inspired you to go abroad?
My family has a zeal for adventure and a profound love of travel. During college, my parents moved to Sweden for a two-year period, and I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and travel independently around Europe. That experience greatly developed my character, and I returned to the United States as a more well-rounded, empathetic, and intelligent person.
I craved more of these experiences and began searching for a medical-related trip where I could combine my passions of healthcare and adventure in a valuable, life-changing way.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
A group of interns and in front of Coast General Hospital on one of our last days of clinic.
With the desire to engage in an overseas medical trip, I researched a wide array of companies and programs that offered similar experiences. I did not disclose this plan to my parents as I wanted to ensure that the program I presented to them met high safety, legitimacy, and educational standards that they would agree to. Only International Medical Aid (IMA) met each of these marks, providing clear information on their website and program mentors who answered all of my questions.
The idea of going to Kenya and experiencing healthcare in a third-world country thrilled me, and I could tell that IMA had incredible clinical connections that would give me the learning opportunities I sought. Because of these clear competencies, my parents and I felt very comfortable with the program.
What was your favorite part of Mombasa?
Upon arriving in Mombasa, Kenya, I had no idea what to expect from the city. On the initial drive from the airport to the IMA residence, I was shocked and excited by how drastically different it was from any place I had been in my previous travels.
Although at times uncomfortable and saddening, these dramatic distinctions were my favorite part about the country, as it offered me the chance to engage in a completely different culture and gain perspectives that I never would have been exposed to in the U.S. The Kenyan people experience daily hardships that are hard to comprehend, but, despite their challenges, they were some of the most loving, faithful, and generous individuals that I have ever encountered.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Two words describe this experience: adaptability and humility. Being so out of my comfort zone allowed me profound growth and hands-on learning that completely changed the way I approach the world. When the ENT doctor I was shadowing had her otoscope stolen, and there were no funds to buy another, we used a headlamp. When a patient tested positive for cholera, but there was no room in an isolation ward, we created a makeshift room for her outside.
Enjoying the sights from the rooftop of a van on safari!
As a volunteer, I worked with the local physicians to understand the best ways to provide care in a place where resources, sanitation, and health literacy are minimal. I learned that medicine is more than diagnosis; it is compassion for the person at large and resilience through obstructions.
Coming home, I feel incredibly equipped to collaborate, share unique perspectives, and continue my medical education.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
From the start, the IMA program mentors in Mombasa were readily available to answer my questions and guide me through the travel planning process. Upon my arrival at the Mombasa airport, I was greeted and transported by staff members to the residence. Each mentor made a genuine effort to welcome me, make me feel comfortable, and ensure that my time with the program was both enriching and safe.
I appreciated how intentional and attentive the staff was; without being overbearing, they maintained close awareness of each student, checking in if someone seemed off and adjusting plans as needed to enhance our experience. I felt comfortable approaching the mentors with any needs, and they consistently listened and supported me throughout this journey.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
While I believe I maximized my time in Kenya, in retrospect, I wish I had signed up to work more night shifts at the hospital. My one and only night shift (on my last evening in Mombasa) was by far my favorite and most transformative clinical experience.
Because there were fewer students and less patient care required, the doctors spent extra time teaching and providing hands-on involvement in cases that greatly extended my learning and competence.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
My days in Mombasa were busy and deeply fulfilling.
Each morning began with a shared breakfast amongst the interns in the residence before boarding the van to Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital (CGTRH). Once there, we split into our respective placements and spent the morning shadowing doctors within our assigned specialties.
Around midday, the vans transported us back to the residence for lunch, followed by a scheduled medical teaching or competency session. These varied by day and included lectures, skills labs, community engagements, or cultural treks.
Once those finished in the mid- to late afternoon, I often went to the gym with other interns and then spent our evenings either trying a new local restaurant or playing games in the residence.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
Riding camels on the beach in Mombasa.
One of the most unexpected and profound aspects of my trip with IMA was the free time I received. While I spent the majority of my time in the hospital or doing medical-related lectures and engagements, I was also given essential time to reflect, rest, and absorb the experience.
I was fortunate enough to find a great group of friends within the intern group, and we used our free time to maximize our experiences in Mombasa. Many of us joined a private gym, where we decompressed by working out together. We also visited local restaurants, went to the beach, tried out a nearby church, and spent time with local residents.
This enabled me to gain a much broader perspective of daily life in Mombasa beyond the hospital walls, while simultaneously furthering connections with my intern friends.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
In Mombasa, International Medical Aid owns a private residence slightly outside of the city. This gated, three-story, spacious accommodation housed all interns in either triple or quadruple rooms with private bathrooms.
My favorite aspect of our housing situation was living together in one communal space; all meals, games, movie time, and lectures were enjoyed as a group in a place that felt comfortable and restful. Mealtimes were one of the most special memories; a team of chefs would come to the residence and prepare amazing dishes, and the interns would eat together at a long, outdoor communal table.
This made it exceptionally easy to make close connections, enjoy quality time together, and further our learning while debriefing our days at the hospital.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Just recently, a friend whom I referred to IMA embarked on the same program to Mombasa. We spoke on the phone the day before her flight, and she was wracked with nerves and doubt. The one piece of advice I reiterated to her was that she would get out of the program what she was willing to put into it.
As much as IMA invests in its students, the learning and life changes that come with the experience are multiplied by how much the intern invests in the program. This includes saying yes to every opportunity offered, taking on extra shifts to further medical knowledge, actively participating in lectures, asking valuable questions, and intentionally interacting with the other interns and medical providers present in the country.
Through this, students are guaranteed to walk away with an abundance of medical, professional, interpersonal, and worldly experiences.
Would you recommend Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships to others? Why?
Distributing products and educating school-aged women about menstrual cycles.
Since returning home, I have frequently reflected on my time with IMA and the immense impact it had on my personal growth. I have recommended the program to friends who are pursuing careers in healthcare, as it offers skills and perspectives that broaden the world of medicine and human connection. This opportunity provided me with a combined knowledge of both healthcare and humanity.
Seeing first-hand the disease burden, hardship of life, and difficult conditions completely rewired my previous perspectives. What changed me the most was each person’s endurance amidst trials, and their overwhelming joy that filled even the darkest moments.
Mombasa is a place of vibrant life, and IMA allowed me to experience it wholeheartedly as both a tourist and medical volunteer.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I credit international travel with many forms of personal growth, but the most transformative benefit is humility. Being removed from one’s comfort zone and immersed in a new setting where nearly every aspect of daily life is different encourages new perspectives and appreciations of diverse ways of being.
Too often, people adhere to familiar patterns and assume their way of life is the only “correct” one. Traveling abroad challenges this mindset by revealing that no way of life is superior to another; in fact, having an open mind and being willing to adopt new habits while understanding the world at large is what brings peace between humankind.
Learning to respect and honor all distinctions is, to me, the greatest reward of international travel, and the humility that results is life-changing.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
On my first day back in the US, I drove to Target to pick up groceries for my family. I stood in the entrance of the store and froze, not believing what was in front of me. After spending one month in a place where people live in homes made of mud, work long days for a few dollars, and live in uncertainty of when they will get their next meal, I had forgotten what Americans—myself included—take for granted each day. We have access to broad commercialization, and it took some time for me to re-assimilate into society.
Being swarmed with love by children at a grade school in Mombasa after attending a community outreach activity spreading awareness about sanitation.
After much internal confusion and grief, I slowly realized that I could take what I had learned in Kenya and apply it at home, while also appreciating my life here. I am more conscious than ever of the value of money, and I find myself increasingly grateful for all I have.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Many people experience new places by disembarking from major cruise lines to visit a handful of nearby tourist attractions, or by staying within gated resorts and hotels where they rarely venture beyond the grounds.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, I personally seek a deeper, more meaningful connection with the places I visit. To me, meaningful travel means investing in the local people themselves, as they make up the heartbeat and history of the destination. I seek to interact with the local people on a personal basis, learning first-hand about their lifestyles and culture. I find it critical to humbly seek their differing perspectives, habits, and recommendations to understand the deeper significance and rhythms of the place they call home.
I like to travel on foot, exploring a location’s inner roads and local settings that few visitors take the time to see. I strive to visit new places with a completely open mind, willing to learn and listen, and therefore gain the transformative experience that comes with travel.
