A Land of Resilience and Opportunity
Haiti is a symphony of strength and struggle. Its vibrant markets pulse with konpa music, its beaches shimmer under Caribbean skies, and its people carry a cultural heritage forged through history’s trials. Yet, Haiti faces daunting challenges. As the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation, it grapples with a fragile healthcare system, battered by political instability, natural disasters, and infrastructure deficits. Rural communities lack clean water (66.0%, 2023) and sanitation (35.0%, 2023), fueling cholera and infectious diseases. Women and children bear the heaviest burdens, with limited access to care amid ongoing crises.
Since 2013, International Medical Aid has partnered with Haitian communities to bring hope through healthcare. Our mobile clinics deliver urgent care, our sanitation projects combat cholera, and our mental health initiatives heal trauma. Rooted in the academic excellence of Johns Hopkins University, we collaborate with Haitian clinicians, community leaders, and families to create sustainable solutions. Though our internship program is currently suspended due to the political climate, we remain committed to Haiti’s future, planning to resume as soon as conditions allow. As a future IMA intern, you’ll join this mission, gaining unparalleled experience while helping Haiti rise.
Why Haiti with IMA?
Envision yourself in a Haitian clinic, the hum of Creole in the air, as you assist a local physician with a patient’s care. Or picture teaching hygiene in a rural school, children’s laughter echoing through the community. IMA’s Haiti internships, founded at Johns Hopkins, offer a transformative blend of clinical immersion, cultural connection, and global health impact. Unlike passive observerships, our programs place you at the forefront of care delivery in resource-scarce settings, honing skills that will distinguish you in medical or graduate school applications.
When our program resumes, our in-country Medical Director and Patient Coordinators will guide you, ensuring you thrive in Haiti’s challenging yet rewarding environment. You’ll live in secure residences with Wi-Fi, savor chef-prepared Haitian dishes like diri ak djon djon, and benefit from 24/7 security. Beyond the clinic, Haiti’s vibrant culture awaits—join Vodou ceremonies, explore historic Cap-Haïtien, or learn Creole with local guides. With flexible 2- to 12-week programs, IMA will tailor your internship to your goals, offering academic credit, a certificate of completion, and letters of recommendation. Join our <a href=”https://medicalaid.org/apply/” target=”_blank”>waitlist</a> to be the first to know when we return.
Key Statistics
Sources:
World Bank, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, washdata.org
Internship Opportunities
Our internship programs offer an extensive array of specialized healthcare and allied health placements. Each program is carefully designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experiences for interns. The detailed information for each specialty—including program dates, fees, safety and security measures, and residential accommodations—can be accessed through the provided links:
Visit our Program Overview | Dates & Fees | Safety & Security | Program Residences pages for details.
Pre-Med Internships Abroad
Pre-med internships abroad for undergraduates, gap year students and medical students. Shadow physicians on hospital rounds, attend global health lectures and clinical simulations and join community clinics in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Physician Assistant and Pre-PA Internships Abroad
Pre-PA and physician assistant internships abroad for pre-PA undergraduates, PA students, recent graduates and licensed PAs. Shadow clinicians in hospitals in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Pre-Dental and Dental Internships Abroad
Dental internships abroad for pre-dental students, dental students and recent dental graduates. Shadow dentists in hospital dental units, attend global health lectures and help teach oral health in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Nursing and Pre-Nursing Internships Abroad
Nursing internships abroad for pre-nursing students, nursing students, recent graduates and licensed nurses. Shadow nurses on hospital wards, attend global health lectures and simulations and join community clinics in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Mental Health and Psychology Internships Abroad
Mental health and psychology internships abroad for undergraduates, graduate students, recent graduates and licensed professionals. Observe psychiatry and mental health teams in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and support community awareness clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Nutrition Internships Abroad in Kenya
Nutrition internships abroad for nutrition and dietetics students, graduates and licensed nutrition professionals. Observe dietitians and nutritionists at a public hospital in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Physical Therapy and Pre-PT Internships Abroad
Physical therapy internships abroad for pre-PT students, DPT students, recent graduates and licensed physical therapists. Observe physical therapists and rehab teams in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Midwifery Internships and Placements Abroad
Midwifery internships abroad for pre-midwifery students, midwifery students and licensed midwives. Observe midwives on the maternity service, attend global health lectures and simulations and join community women's health work in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
CRNA and Anesthesiologist Assistant Internships Abroad
CRNA and anesthesia internships abroad for pre-CRNA and pre-anesthesiologist assistant students, nursing students, nurses and licensed CRNAs. Shadow anesthesia teams at IMA's teaching hospital placements in Kenya and Peru, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Pre-Optometry and Optometry Internships Abroad
Optometry internships abroad for pre-optometry students, optometry students, recent graduates and licensed optometrists. Shadow eye care teams in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and join community outreach. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Radiology and Rad Tech Internships Abroad
Radiology internships abroad for pre-rad tech students, radiologic technology students, recent graduates and licensed technologists. Shadow technologists and radiologists in a hospital radiology department in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Occupational Therapy Internships and Placements Abroad
Occupational therapy internships abroad for pre-OT students, OT students, recent graduates and licensed occupational therapists. Observe occupational therapists in Mombasa, Kenya, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Chiropractic Internships Abroad
Chiropractic internships abroad for pre-chiropractic students, chiropractic students and licensed chiropractors. Observe licensed clinicians under supervision, attend global health lectures and join community clinics. Housing, meals, transport, insurance and 24/7 support are included.
Our Impact & Stories of Change
Since 2013, IMA has planted seeds of hope across Haiti. Our mobile clinics have reached thousands, tackling cholera (45,000+ cases by mid-2024) and HIV (1.9% prevalence, 2023). Our WASH and sanitation projects promote hygiene in communities where only 35.0% have sanitation access (2023). Our mental health programs provide trauma-informed counseling, while our nutrition initiatives combat childhood malnutrition, supporting maternal health. Co-designed with Haitian clinicians and community leaders, these efforts are built for sustainability, empowering locals to lead their own health journeys.
Consider Marie, a mother in Carrefour, who received free cholera treatment through an IMA clinic. With education and care, she now advocates for hygiene in her village. Or meet James, a 2023 pre-med intern, who shares, “Haiti was transformative. Serving families with such resilience shaped the physician I want to become.” Though our program is paused, these stories endure, and your future internship will add new chapters.
Support
Our Mission
A Day in the Life
of an IMA Intern
Every contribution to IMA is a spark that ignites change. Your support funds mobile clinics that reach thousands, providing free cholera treatment and HIV care. It equips communities with sanitation resources, supports mental health counseling, and ensures children grow strong through nutrition programs. Since 2013, donors like you have powered IMA’s mission, addressing Haiti’s 45,000+ cholera cases (2024) and 1.9% HIV prevalence (2023). Your tax-deductible gift—whether $25 or $2,500—creates a ripple effect, sustaining our work until we resume internships. Join us in this mission and see your impact flourish.
Hear From Our Alumni
Don’t just take our word for it—listen to the experiences of our past healthcare and pre-health interns. Our alumni have pursued successful careers, using the skills and knowledge gained during their internships to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Here are some of our alumni's success stories:
Tyra Dennis
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Kayla McBride
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Grace Munoz
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Ija Mumford
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Alumni Experiences & Testimonials
Five words. That’s it. The ultimate definition of short and sweet. At the end of each week during debriefing, we were asked to present the group with five words that encompassed our experience in our respective departments. Every Friday, this…
Our Initiatives
IMA’s work in Haiti is a tapestry of care and empowerment, designed to endure. Our mobile medical clinics deliver urgent care to remote regions, addressing cholera and HIV with life-saving interventions. Our WASH and sanitation projects promote hygiene practices, critical where only 35.0% have sanitation access (2023), to combat outbreaks like cholera (45,000+ cases by mid-2024). Our mental health access programs offer trauma-informed counseling and group therapy, healing communities scarred by disaster and instability. And our nutrition programs support childhood nutrition and maternal health, ensuring families thrive.
These efforts are co-created with Haitian clinicians, community leaders, and families, ensuring cultural relevance and sustainability. Though currently paused, our initiatives continue through local partnerships, and future interns will contribute to clinical care, education, and advocacy that uplifts Haiti’s most vulnerable.
For Donors/Partners
Your support is the spark that keeps Haiti’s hope alive. Every donation fuels mobile clinics that reach thousands, providing free cholera treatment and HIV care. It equips communities with sanitation resources, supports mental health counseling, and ensures children grow strong through nutrition programs. Since 2013, donors like you have powered IMA’s mission, addressing Haiti’s 45,000+ cholera cases (2024) and 1.9% HIV prevalence (2023). Your tax-deductible gift—whether $25 or $2,500—creates a ripple effect, sustaining our work until we resume internships. Join us and see your impact flourish.
For Partners: Collaborate for Greater Impact
At International Medical Aid, we believe collaboration is the key to creating lasting change in global health. Since 2013, our work in Haiti has been strengthened by partnerships with local clinicians, community leaders, and families who co-design our programs to address critical needs—tackling cholera (45,000+ cases by mid-2024), improving sanitation access (35.0%, 2023), and supporting HIV care (1.9% prevalence, 2023). Now, we’re seeking partners to amplify this impact even further. Whether you’re an academic institution looking to offer your students unparalleled global health experience, a healthcare organization aiming to expand access to care, or an NGO passionate about sustainable development, partnering with IMA offers a unique opportunity to make a difference in Haiti.
Collaborate with us to develop new initiatives, provide resources for mobile clinics, or support training programs for local healthcare workers. Together, we can reach more of Haiti’s 11.8 million people, ensuring that every community—from Carrefour to rural villages—has the tools to thrive. Let’s unite in this mission to build a healthier, more equitable future for Haiti. Contact Us to Partner: [email protected].
Your Journey with IMA
When Haiti’s conditions stabilize, your journey with IMA will begin with a simple step: joining our waitlist. Once the program resumes, you’ll apply online with a form, personal statement, and documents, followed by an interview to ensure the perfect fit. Our comprehensive pre-departure guide will cover vaccinations, visas, and travel insurance. In Haiti, you’ll arrive at secure residences with Wi-Fi, chef-prepared meals, and 24/7 support. Your 2- to 12-week internship will unfold with clinical rotations, community outreach, and cultural experiences like historic fort visits or konpa dances. After completion, you’ll return with a certificate, potential academic credit, and letters of recommendation, ready to soar. Join the waitlist to be the first to know.
Medical Internships in Haiti
IMA’s Haiti internships, when resumed, will offer 13 clinical specialties, each built to maximize both professional and personal growth. From Medicine and Nursing to Mental Health, Nutrition, Dentistry, and beyond, every placement combines patient care, public health projects, and cultural immersion. Programs are available year-round, from 2 to 12 weeks, and are designed for students and graduates from diverse backgrounds. Whether you’re a pre-med student, a future nurse, or interested in public health, you’ll find a program suited to your career goals.
View Program Overview | Dates & Fees | Safety & Security | Program Residences for more details.
What You’ll Gain
This program cultivates resilience, cultural humility, and clinical adaptability. When our internships resume, you’ll master clinical skills, navigating complex cases in resource-scarce settings. You’ll build cultural humility, forging bonds across Haiti’s vibrant communities. Your resume will shine with public health experience, program management insights, and a certificate of completion, while academic credit and recommendation letters open doors to medical or graduate school. Interns will emerge with strengthened clinical decision-making, firsthand global health insight, and a deeper commitment to service. Working in Haiti is both a challenge and an honor, providing meaningful impact and lifelong lessons.
Safety & Support: Your Future Home in Haiti
When our program resumes, IMA will prioritize your safety. Our in-country Medical Director and Patient Coordinators will provide 24/7 guidance, from clinical mentorship to cultural exploration, with heightened security measures given Haiti’s challenges. You’ll live in secure residences with chef-prepared meals and a supportive community. Robust protocols and detailed pre-departure briefings will ensure peace of mind. Given Haiti’s political and infrastructural conditions, IMA takes special care to ensure intern safety. Site placements are selected for security and medical support. Learn more on our Safety & Security page.
