Completing a physiotherapy internship is one of the best ways to have a strong professional foundation in the realm of healthcare. And when done abroad, it can be a transformative experience. Not only does it provide the opportunity to practice in a different setting, but it also offers a host of other benefits.
From learning in a different environment to improving your social capital, here are the top reasons to complete a physiotherapy internship abroad.
1. Experience a Different Setting
Completing a physiotherapy internship abroad allows you to experience new cultural and medical settings. First, healthcare systems vary between countries. Therefore, a foreign internship lets you learn from professionals while broadening your medical perspective.
Secondly, if you’re interning in a country with fewer healthcare resources than where you come from, you’ll sharpen your ingenuity and flexibility. You’ll learn how to improvise and think on your feet by working in an under-resourced environment while still delivering the desired results as a physiotherapist.
Furthermore, you’ll develop empathy by immersing in the local culture and practices that may present a direct contrast to what you’re used to. This will help you appreciate your native culture, which can contribute to your growth as a professional physiotherapist.
2. Boost Your Résumé
Another benefit of interning abroad is that it will beef up your résumé and increase your chances of employment.
One US study showed that students with internship experience are 35% more likely to get a job offer than those without. Completing your internship abroad takes it a notch higher. It’s proof that you have diverse practical experience. It also increases your chances of being allowed to practice in a country other than yours. These credentials will help you stand out from the competition.
3. Learn from Your Peers
An internship isn’t just about shadowing doctors and other professionals. It’s also a chance to learn from your peers. You can exchange physiotherapy tips, correct each other, and experience working in a team setting. You can also dive deeper into their cultures and way of life, harnessing your empathy and socialization skills.
Local interns may also have a pragmatic and profound view of the state of their healthcare system. Knowing their perspectives can broaden your own. Furthermore, it helps you examine your country’s healthcare system, gaining insights into what could be improved and appreciating the opportunities and privileges it offers.
4. Travel and Explore New Destinations
Completing your internship abroad doesn’t only revolve around nourishing your knowledge and improving your skills. It also gives you the chance to travel and explore new destinations. Internships can take anywhere between two to twelve weeks. This means you’ll have enough opportunity to interact with the locals, visit tourist attractions, and learn about the local culture.
What’s more interesting is that when you go to local and remote villages, you can usually find hidden and unknown gems, such as places and foods you’ve never seen before, enriching your experience even more. They offer distinct and unique charms you can share about back home.
5. Diversify Your Professional Network
Networking is an essential part of any field. By completing your internship abroad, it enables you to create and maintain a professional network outside your region, increasing your access to global opportunities.
The chance to build connections with international colleagues and mentors can have long-lasting impacts on your career trajectory. Such relationships can lead to fruitful collaborations, partnerships, and referrals, broadening your perspective of international healthcare systems and, at the same time, expanding your professional reach.
An international internship serves as a catalyst for professional growth that blends varied cultural insights, advanced learning experiences, and a global network, paving the way for a multifaceted and enriched career in physiotherapy.
6. Learn People Skills
Learning how to interact well with people is a crucial skill for a physiotherapist. Every day, you’ll meet people with different personalities—you need to be able to help them address their issues regardless of their respective characters.
Managing to live and work with people from different cultural and social backgrounds than yours will teach you essential people skills, including empathy, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Final Thoughts
The transformative nature of a physiotherapy internship abroad stems from exposure to diverse healthcare systems, allowing interns to assimilate a broad spectrum of medical knowledge and practices, enhancing adaptability and resourcefulness, especially in settings with varied healthcare resources. This exposure is a catalyst for developing heightened empathy and cultural sensitivity, crucial components in delivering patient-centered care in a diverse world.
Therefore, an international physiotherapy internship lays down the foundation for a versatile, informed, and enriched career in physiotherapy, poised to make significant contributions to global healthcare.
If you want to complete a medical internship abroad, you can check this page for more information.
