Discovering Compassion and Adaptability During My Pre-Medicine Internship

I feel extremely honored and grateful to have been a part of this program and to have experienced everything that came with it. I interned with the program in Mombasa, Kenya for a duration of 2 weeks, shadowing in the pediatric, radiology, maternity, surgery, and emergency departments. Over the course of these two weeks, I learned a lot about medicine, not only various conditions and types of medical practice, but I also discovered the type of physician I want to be. I discovered that, to be a “successful” practitioner, one must not only have extensive medical knowledge and advanced skills, but they must also demonstrate compassion towards all patients. I also realized the extreme importance of adaptability in medicine. I observed practitioners as they navigated procedures and protocols with limited resources, as they were determined to provide the best possible care. One of the moments that I valued the most from this experience was the opportunity to observe cesarian sections, including a case involving an ectopic pregnancy. I am deeply grateful for the International Medical Aid staff, the healthcare professionals who welcomed me to their work, and my fellow interns who had the same deep desire to learn more about both medicine and culture.