There is something truly special about being part of the International Medical Aid family. Over the years, you’ve experienced hands-on clinical learning, formed lasting bonds with fellow interns, and explored healthcare from a global perspective, all of which helped shape your personal and professional path.
As you stand at a crossroads in your medical or pre-medical journey, we invite you to continue that momentum by applying for our upcoming Summer and Winter 2025 programs. Returning to IMA as an alumnus will deepen your clinical expertise, expand your leadership skills, augment your professional network, and add to your profile as a healthcare professional.
As you stand at a crossroads in your journey—whether in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, mental health, midwifery, nutrition, physician assistant studies, or any healthcare-related field—we invite you to sustain that momentum by applying for our upcoming Summer and Winter 2025 programs.
Returning to International Medical Aid (IMA) as an alumnus offers a unique opportunity to deepen your expertise, refine your hands-on skills, expand your leadership abilities, grow your professional network, and enhance your profile as a future healthcare leader, no matter your discipline.
In this article, we’ll explore all the reasons to come back to IMA, how our programs are structured across various internship locations abroad (without needing to name specific “sites”), and the wealth of opportunities available through our leadership and Ambassador roles.
We’ll also look into the details of our brand-new Referral Program and clarify how alumni scholarships work—especially for those applying and admitted to the 2025 cohorts. Whether you’re advancing your medical training, gaining dental or midwifery experience, or building expertise in mental health or nutrition, we aim to show you how IMA’s diverse programs can propel your future in healthcare.
A Program for Every Healthcare Path
IMA offers a wide array of programs tailored to your specific interests and career goals, each designed to provide practical, global experience in underserved communities. Here’s a glimpse of what’s available:
- Medicine | Pre-Medicine: Develop hands-on medical skills while serving communities in need, perfect for aspiring physicians at any stage.
- Physician Assistant | Pre-PA: Enhance your PA expertise through international clinical exposure, bridging theory and practice.
- Dentistry | Pre-Dentistry: Gain real-world dental experience in global settings, strengthening your skills and perspective.
- Nursing | Pre-Nursing: Advance your nursing abilities through immersive healthcare service abroad.
- Nutrition | Dietetics: Engage in community health and nutrition practices, applying your knowledge on a global scale.
- Physical Therapy: Participate in PT practices in international environments, broadening your therapeutic approach.
- Mental Health: Build expertise in psychology and mental health support within culturally diverse contexts.
- Midwifery: Strengthen your midwifery skills through impactful global health experiences.
Each program is crafted to deliver meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities, ensuring you return with enhanced skills and a deeper understanding of global healthcare challenges.
Program Details That Matter
No matter which IMA program you choose, you’ll find consistency in our commitment to quality and support. Our Program Dates & Program Fees provide clear schedules and costs for upcoming sessions, making planning straightforward. Safety is paramount, and our Program Safety and Security measures ensure a secure experience abroad, giving you peace of mind as you focus on your growth. From structured clinical rotations to community-based projects, each program is designed to maximize your impact and learning, tailored to the unique demands of your chosen field.
In this article, we’ll walk you through all the reasons to come back to IMA, how the program is structured at different “sites” (internship locations abroad) without needing to distinguish them by name, details on our leadership and Ambassador opportunities, and specifics on the brand-new Referral Program. We’ll also clarify how alumni scholarships work, particularly for those who apply and are admitted to the 2025 cohorts. We aim to ensure you know exactly how to take advantage of everything IMA offers as you continue building your future in healthcare.
Why Return to IMA?
If you’ve participated in an IMA program before, you already recognize the tremendous value of our immersive approach to global healthcare education. As an alumnus, you’ve gained firsthand exposure to diverse clinical environments, interacting with patients and medical staff across cultural boundaries, and seen how resource availability and community health priorities vary worldwide. However, the benefits of participating in multiple IMA programs go beyond simply revisiting a place or repeating a clinical routine.
Deepen Your Expertise
Returning for a second or even third experience allows you to layer advanced clinical skills alongside the foundational knowledge you built during your first internship. You can tailor your new experience by focusing on specific medical specialties or departments that align with your evolving interests—pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, and more.
Build Professional Credibility
Graduate schools, medical schools, physician assistant programs, and prospective employers notice a pattern of consistent involvement in meaningful experiences. A second (or subsequent) stint with IMA highlights your dedication to global health, motivation to refine practical skills, and capacity for sustained growth. It shows that you are not just checking a box but are genuinely committed to continuous learning in international clinical contexts.
Further, Expand Your Global Network
The students and professionals you’ll meet in Summer and Winter 2025 will likely come from different institutions, backgrounds, and even countries. By returning, you’ll position yourself at a key intersection where you can connect with people you might never encounter. These connections often translate into valuable references, future collaboration opportunities, and diverse friendships that can last a lifetime.
Share Knowledge and Mentor Others
As an alumnus, you’re uniquely qualified to help newcomers adapt. You’ll understand how to navigate local customs, explain basic dos and don’ts at placement sites, and help new interns see the value in pushing themselves out of their comfort zones. This mentorship experience is highly rewarding and underscores your readiness to be a leader in any clinical or community setting.
Above all, deciding to return to IMA speaks volumes about your dedication to service, cultural humility, and educational advancement. You’ll not only further your own growth but also inspire the next wave of participants who are about to discover the life-changing opportunities that a global health internship can provide.
Apply for Summer and Winter 2025 Programs
We’re excited to announce that our Summer and Winter 2025 cohorts will occur across multiple international locations, each offering unique clinical focus areas, community engagement possibilities, and cultural immersion experiences.
Did you intern in Africa the last time? Revisit the familiar or explore opportunities in Peru this time. Think of each location as fresh avenues for exploration and impact. Regardless of your chosen site, you’ll receive the same foundational support from IMA, including dedicated Program Mentors, secure housing, and a structured clinical or research curriculum.
What You’ll Gain
- Hands-On Clinical Exposure: You’ll have the chance to shadow physicians, assist with basic patient care tasks, and observe local healthcare dynamics in real-time.
- Refined Cultural Competence: From daily interactions with patients and staff, you’ll build on the empathy and adaptability skills you cultivated during your first IMA experience.
- Enhanced Problem-Solving: Every site is different, and the challenges you encounter—whether due to resource constraints or local customs—will force you to think critically and act innovatively.
- Opportunities for Reflection: Returning alumni often find that their second experience is even more impactful, because they arrive with a deeper sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of what they hope to achieve.
As an alumnus, you already know how crucial it is to plan early. We encourage you to get started as soon as possible to secure your spot, since space is limited and we anticipate high demand for our summer and winter sessions.
Alumni Scholarships - How They Work
We are pleased to share that alumni who are admitted to our 2025 cohorts are automatically awarded a scholarship—provided they fall within the first 20 eligible alumni to be accepted. This scholarship is designed to acknowledge your prior commitment to IMA’s mission and to help offset some of the logistical expenses associated with another international clinical experience.
Key points to note about this alumni scholarship:
- It is available up to 20 alumni for the Summer and Winter 2025 programs combined.
- Once you are accepted, your scholarship will be automatically applied, so there’s no separate form to fill out.
- This scholarship is not the same as a discounted program fee, but rather a targeted financial award.
- Space is limited, so consider applying early if you hope to benefit from this particular funding opportunity.
If you have any questions regarding eligibility or if you’d like to confirm the availability of remaining alumni scholarships, feel free to reach out to our admissions team. We will be happy to guide you through the process and confirm whether you’re among the 20 who qualify for this cycle.
Become a Cohort Leader
For many alumni, the concept of “taking the next step” in their IMA journey means stepping into a leadership role. Being a Cohort Leader is an excellent way to demonstrate your capacity to lead, advise, and inspire. By liaising between IMA staff and new interns, you’ll provide mentorship on various aspects of the program—from clinical etiquette to best practices for cross-cultural communication.
But what does being a Cohort Leader entail?
Mentorship Responsibilities
You’ll be the first point of contact for questions about daily schedules, patient interactions, housing, and cultural immersion activities. Many first-time interns are anxious about living and working in a new country. Your familiarity with IMA’s structure and your previous internship memories can help put them at ease.
Group Coordination
Cohort Leaders often coordinate group outings or study sessions, ensuring new participants get the most out of their free time. This might include organizing weekend trips to historical sites, introducing your cohort to local restaurants, or scheduling group debriefings after hospital shifts.
Professional Growth
While a Cohort Leader role is not a financial incentive, it is an invaluable professional milestone, particularly for those planning to apply to graduate school, medical school, or physician assistant programs. Admissions committees frequently look for leadership experiences that go beyond typical classroom settings, and a role guiding peers in a global health context stands out for its blend of responsibility, interpersonal skill, and cultural sensitivity.
Skills and Résumé Enhancement
You’ll cultivate a suite of transferrable skills from conflict resolution to proactive problem-solving. By including “Cohort Leader at International Medical Aid” on your CV, you underscore your ability to function in high-pressure, multicultural environments—a quality that resonates across many healthcare disciplines.
To be considered for a Cohort Leader position, simply indicate your interest when applying for Summer or Winter 2025. Our admissions team will follow up with you regarding any additional requirements or interviews. Keep in mind that because this role carries significant responsibility, we look for alumni who demonstrated maturity, flexibility, and a strong sense of teamwork during their first IMA experience.
Join the Ambassador Program
Staying engaged with IMA doesn’t have to end once you step off the plane. If you’re looking for a longer-term commitment that integrates IMA into your everyday life—whether on campus, in a lab, or at the start of your career—our Ambassador Program might be the perfect fit. This program allows you to serve as a positive force in your community, sharing your IMA experiences to encourage others to explore the transformative world of international healthcare.
As an IMA Ambassador, you will:
- Represent IMA at your home institution or workplace, answering questions about the application process and directing interested individuals to official IMA resources.
- Expand Your Network by staying in close contact with current interns, fellow alumni, and IMA staff—strengthening your professional connections within the global health sphere.
- Gain Access to Exclusive Opportunities such as specialized webinars, leadership training sessions, and priority consideration for volunteer or research roles that may arise within the IMA framework.
- Earn a Notable Professional Distinction: Listing your role as an “IMA Ambassador” on your résumé underscores your ongoing commitment to the organization’s mission, reflecting well on graduate and job applications that value community engagement and leadership.
If you’re curious about taking on an ambassadorial role, you can find more information and submit your application at our Study Abroad Ambassador Program page. Like being a Cohort Leader, being an Ambassador is not designed as a financial incentive but rather as a distinctive leadership, outreach, and professional development opportunity that can truly set you apart in competitive admissions and employment arenas.
Introducing the Referral Program
One of the most exciting announcements we have for returning IMA alumni is the Referral Program, which is effective immediately. We recognize that many of you have played an integral role in sharing the IMA mission—informally suggesting our programs to your classmates, lab partners, and even professional colleagues. We want to reward that loyalty and advocacy with a tangible “thank you.”
How the Referral Program Works
$150 Referral Fee
For every eligible candidate you refer who enrolls in an IMA program, you’ll receive $150. There is a cap of 10 referrals per year, allowing you to earn up to $1,500 annually.
No Retroactive Referrals
Only referrals made after the date of our official announcement (the date of this post) will be eligible. If you recommended someone in the past who is already enrolled or who enrolled before this program launch, those enrollments do not qualify.
Include Your Name
The referred individual (your “referee”) must specifically include your name as the referrer on the Pre-Matriculation Form during enrollment. That is the only way for us to track referrals accurately.
Payment Method
Once your referee’s spot is confirmed—meaning they have been officially admitted, enrolled, and submitted any required deposits—we’ll verify the details with you via email to confirm we have the correct mailing address. We’ll then send a check for $150 within 30 days of their successful enrollment.
Annual Limit
You can refer as many people as you like, but we will only pay out for a maximum of 10 successful referrals per year. This keeps the program fair and manageable for all alumni.
Why Launch a Referral Program?
Many of our participants initially hear about IMA through word of mouth, and we’ve found that recommendations from satisfied alumni are often the best endorsements. This formal program is our way of acknowledging the enormous value of your personal experiences and your willingness to share them. You become an essential ambassador of our mission every time you encourage someone new to explore global health and clinical education through IMA.
Getting Started
If you know someone in your extended network—perhaps a friend looking to bolster their medical school application or a peer aiming to gain global research experience—simply encourage them to apply here. Make sure they list your name in the designated referral field on the Pre-Matriculation Form. Once they’re fully enrolled, you’ll receive a confirmation email from us, and you can expect your referral check shortly thereafter.
How the Referral Program Interacts with the Ambassador Program
You might be wondering: “If I’m already an Ambassador, can I still earn referral fees?” Absolutely. These two ways of staying involved with IMA complement one another. As an Ambassador, you actively promote IMA on campus or at your workplace and may naturally meet prospective interns.
The Referral Program simply formalizes any referral that leads to a successful enrollment, ensuring you receive a financial token of appreciation for your support. We suggest directing interested candidates to our website to learn more about the Ambassador Program and IMA’s full range of clinical and research opportunities before they apply.
The Value of Continuous Engagement with IMA
It’s easy to assume that once you’ve done one or two internships, you’ve gained all there is to know from an organization. However, IMA’s comprehensive approach to global health education evolves as the international healthcare landscape changes. By re-engaging with IMA, you stay current on pressing global health issues—like emerging infections, innovations in telemedicine, or shifts in international healthcare policy. You’ll also have the opportunity to:
- Participate in Research Collaborations: From time to time, IMA partners with academic institutions or local clinics for data collection, pilot programs, or community health initiatives. Alumni who remain in our network often get the first chance to join these teams, enabling them to co-author research papers or contribute to meaningful, evidence-based projects that shape local healthcare outcomes.
- Contribute to Best Practices: As you enhance your expertise, your insights can help us optimize our internship structure, clarify training materials, and fine-tune the cultural immersion components. We consider our alumni equal stakeholders in ensuring that future participants have a safe, well-rounded, and transformative experience.
- Cultivate a Sense of Service: Whether you’re choosing to return or remain involved signifies a drive to serve communities that face unique healthcare challenges. Each new volunteer cycle, each new group of interns you support, and each prospective participant you refer represents a renewed promise to make a meaningful impact on global healthcare delivery.
- Open Doors for Others: You may have had a mentor or professor who recommended IMA to you initially. You’re paying that gesture forward by continuing to participate and refer new interns. You never know whose life you might change by introducing them to the transformative power of international medical education.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We’ve covered a lot of ground, from how you can deepen your clinical expertise in a second IMA program to how you might earn referral fees by spreading the word. Here’s a quick recap of the actions you can take:
- Apply for Summer or Winter 2025 Programs
- If you’re eager to immerse yourself in another global health placement, get started with your application at your earliest convenience. Remember, alumni who are among the first 20 admitted to these cohorts will automatically receive a scholarship.
- If you’re eager to immerse yourself in another global health placement, get started with your application at your earliest convenience. Remember, alumni who are among the first 20 admitted to these cohorts will automatically receive a scholarship.
- Become a Cohort Leader
- If you want to develop critical leadership and mentoring skills, indicate your interest in the Cohort Leader role on your application or reach out to the admissions team directly. This role is designed to distinguish candidates during the admissions process for medical, graduate, or PA schools—not to offer a financial incentive.
- If you want to develop critical leadership and mentoring skills, indicate your interest in the Cohort Leader role on your application or reach out to the admissions team directly. This role is designed to distinguish candidates during the admissions process for medical, graduate, or PA schools—not to offer a financial incentive.
- Join the Ambassador Program
- For a long-term, ongoing engagement with IMA, consider applying to our Ambassador Program. In doing so, you’ll be a beacon for prospective interns, providing them with insights, encouragement, and official IMA resources.
- For a long-term, ongoing engagement with IMA, consider applying to our Ambassador Program. In doing so, you’ll be a beacon for prospective interns, providing them with insights, encouragement, and official IMA resources.
- Start Referring
- Spread the word about IMA to friends, colleagues, or pre-health clubs. Make sure anyone who decides to enroll lists your name on their Pre-Matriculation Form, so you can receive a $150 referral bonus (up to $1,500 per year). This new initiative is only valid for referrals made after the date of our official launch—so start sharing your experiences now!
- Spread the word about IMA to friends, colleagues, or pre-health clubs. Make sure anyone who decides to enroll lists your name on their Pre-Matriculation Form, so you can receive a $150 referral bonus (up to $1,500 per year). This new initiative is only valid for referrals made after the date of our official launch—so start sharing your experiences now!
- Reach Out with Questions
- Whether you’re unsure about the specifics of how the scholarship is applied, need clarification on the Cohort Leader responsibilities, or simply want to confirm the mailing address for referral checks, our admissions and alumni support teams are here to help. We encourage you to connect with us early so we can address any concerns in advance.
Your Next Chapter with IMA
As an IMA alumnus, you’ve already witnessed the power of working in healthcare settings that challenge you to learn, adapt, and grow. Your experiences—managing language barriers with patients, assisting doctors in resource-limited environments, or collaborating with peers worldwide—have shaped your approach to healthcare and global citizenship. But that journey needn’t end with one internship.
With new sessions rolling out in Summer and Winter 2025, leadership roles like Cohort Leader available, ongoing ambassador opportunities, and a formalized Referral Program, there are countless ways to remain an active part of the IMA community.
Returning alumni bring extraordinary value to our programs by guiding new interns, cultivating a sense of camaraderie, and illustrating how professional growth evolves. Your continued involvement, whether through direct participation or referrals, enhances your career trajectory in invaluable ways.
By rejoining IMA, you’ll gain the unique perspective of comparing your previous experience to the new challenges and rewards of another global health internship. You’ll refine clinical skills, expand your cultural competencies, build up your leadership resume, and forge stronger relationships within our worldwide network of healthcare professionals.
In short, IMA is here to support your ambitions—whether those ambitions center on medical school, graduate research, or a career in allied health. We’re excited to welcome you back for Summer or Winter 2025, and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make as a returning participant, a Cohort Leader, an Ambassador, or even a dedicated advocate who refers others to our shared mission. Together, let’s continue shaping the future of global healthcare, one internship, one mentor-mentee relationship, and one referral at a time.
Thank you for being part of the IMA family. We look forward to seeing you soon!
