What inspired you to travel abroad?
When I found International Medical Aid, I was not specifically searching for an abroad experience. Once I saw what they had to offer, local internships seemed to pale in comparison.
It seemed like once in a lifetime to be able to work so closely with patients and be completely immersed in a new culture before medical school.
I have always tried to take the initiative to broaden my perspective through a diverse array of experiences. I believe placing yourself in unique experiences is a great way to grow as an individual.
Equally, I wanted to have experiences with a population I would otherwise not have the chance of knowing to this extent. I want to experience as many patients as I can not to hold any implicit biases and give anyone the best care I can provide.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid (IMA)?
International Medical Aid had nothing but outstanding testimonials. The pictures and kind words of their alums initially turned my head.
What struck me was the fact that I would have the opportunity to not only work firsthand with patients but also volunteer and contribute to the community at schools and orphanages.
I admired the way they took the initiative to educate the young population about health to hopefully eliminate the misinformation and lack of education surrounding medicine in the Kenyan population today.
Preet’s program teaching children in Kenya about bathroom hygienic tips and tricks.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
I fell in love with Kenya on my first day at the hospital. I was immediately surrounded by the biggest sense of community, my favorite aspect of Kenyan culture.
Within the hospital, patients and staff could always find a way to brighten the day with smiles and laughter.
My favorite example of this is when one little boy who was alone in the ER was taken in by another family who watched him, gave him toys and food, and never hesitated to show him familial love despite never knowing him before.
At the orphanages and schools, the children were filled with a joy I’d never seen before. Just radiating pure happiness with their laughter and dancing, making sure each of us interns felt welcomed.
I loved the fact that no matter where I was, I never felt like a stranger. They always took us in with open arms and the biggest smiles.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made my experience in Kenya was the people. At the hospital, the doctors, nurses, and security were truly incredible with their unrelenting work ethic and perseverance through the most difficult situations I’d ever seen.
My favorite memory is of one mother who was so grateful for our support during her labor that she asked me to name her child, an incredibly humbling experience.
My fellow interns were always supportive and only ever tried to help one another. My experience wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for every person I met while in the program.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The cleaning and cooking staff at the residency became family by the time I left. They would come to check in on me if I missed a meal and saved some for me.
They talked to me about their lives and their experiences. They even threw me a birthday party once they found out I was celebrating away from my own family.
The drivers would chat with us on the way to the hospital every day and share their favorite music with us, which was always an amazing way to start the day.
The leaders sat down with us and gave us a space to debrief and talk through anything we needed.
The doctors were incredibly patient. Taking time to explain concepts to us, even drawing sketches and checking in to make sure we understood each concept.
I am in complete admiration for all of the generosity each staff member had.
The outreach clinic visits remote communities to provide free health care and check-ups.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish that I would’ve recorded more of my time so I would have it now to look back on. I would have journaled a debrief every night because I feel like there are many moments you have you never wish to forget.
Equally, I would have asked more questions to the doctors I was working with. Not just regarding medical content but also their life experiences to grasp a fuller idea of what it’s like to be a doctor.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical weekday at IMA was usually quite busy:
- Wake up by 7-8 am and enjoy your breakfast with all the interns. The staff always had a lovely breakfast prepared even taking requests.
- Take the bus ride to the hospital, which was a private service provided by IMA with all the other interns.
- Once at the hospital, spend roughly 4-5 hours shadowing a practitioner. What you do depends entirely on what you’re studying.
- After the hospital, come home on the bus and eat a prepared lunch. After, have différent activities.
- Either lectures, tutorials, and debriefs, or it would be community outreach. We would go to schools or orphanages to work with the amazing kids.
- You would then get home and have an amazing dinner and dessert, watch movies with the other interns, play games, or even swim in the pool.
- End the day by going to bed in a cleaned and prepared room.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
There was a lot of time to enjoy yourself with other interns within the program. IMA assured us that we would see all the historical and cultural sites, with city tours that occurred weekly.
We also could go off into the city independently within curfew hours, something quite easy to do with Uber. We would go to the beach, which was always incredible.
Or even to the malls and restaurants to try different cultural foods or get snacks. We visited animal sanctuaries, and IMA offered safari tours and day trips to other areas in Kenya.
My favorite experience was being able to visit a young boy at his orphanage who we met at the hospital. He was so happy to see us and show us how he lived, and it was one of the best days off I spent in Kenya.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Our accommodation was like a villa. It was in a private gated community, and the house itself was behind further gates with more guards.
You would share a room with 1-2 other people, along with a washroom. There were big common areas to relax with other interns, eat, and play.
We were provided with a pool, which was a fun way to end the day. Everything was kept clean by the staff, who even did our laundry. Meals were provided, which we were all grateful for.
My favorite aspect of the accommodation was how well organized it was to meet our needs as interns. Everything was cleaned and cooked, which made a huge impact on us.
We had space to relax and space to take time for ourselves. The landscape was incredible, surrounded by natural plants and places to sit and enjoy.
You never felt confined as they created such a relaxing place that could truly feel like a home away from home.
A fun evening group outing with the interns of the program.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I would tell new interns to come in with an open mindset. Things may be different from home, but that’s the point of going abroad.
Keeping an open mindset lets you absorb as much information as possible from everyone around you. You can learn as much from the cooks as you can from the doctors about the culture and life if you take the initiative to ask questions.
It might be hard at first, but you’ll gain the most out of your time with the more questions you ask and the time and energy you take to listen truly.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) to others? Why?
I highly recommend the International Medical Aid. They provided me with a life-changing experience, and although it might sound cliché, it’s completely true with no exaggeration.
I feel truly changed and so grateful for my time spent with them. Not only do you get an amazing pre-medical experience, but they take the time and initiative to ensure you get a proper cultural immersion.
They care about the interns and will get to know you and your needs to ensure you take away as much as you can from your time abroad.
I do not believe there is another program that exists which provides what the IMA can.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is individual growth. There is nothing that can replace visiting a new place and immersing yourself in new cultures.
You learn so much about the world and yourself in the process, and it can’t be replicated. It is simply amazing to see how diverse the world is and how unique cultures exist and practice.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I have become incredibly grateful for all the simple things within my life, things which I never stopped even to appreciate before.
I keep in touch with the staff back in Kenya and my fellow interns and am reminded of my experiences there often through those friendships.
I believe my views on medicine have changed profoundly, now having seen firsthand the immense amount of effort required to practice every day.
I also believe that my time in Kenya has made me excited for my future in medicine. I hope to someday return as a practitioner to give back to the community there and be able to help within the hospitals properly.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, is dependent on the time one takes to immerse oneself in the culture. I think in order to gain takeaways from your experience; it is essential to go out into the communities you’re traveling in and learn from the people and their culture.
You do not have to be gone for long to have a life-changing experience. You just need to take the steps to get to know the world around you by asking questions and listening with an open mindset.
