Mike F., Former Intern in Chile (2012)
From time to time, we like to catch up with our former intern and study abroad candidates. Of course, many have used their experience with Adelante Abroad as a stepping stone onto bigger and better things in their lives. Nothing gives us greater joy than hearing about how their experiences affected and impacted them. The following is an example of this.
When I arrived in Viña del Mar, Chile in July of 2012, I had no idea my experience in South America over the next 5 months would shape where I am today. The language I learned and experiences I had will stick with me forever. Myself and the friends I made along the way (whom I still keep in touch with) climbed a volcano in Southern Chile, camped in the desert in Northern Chile, took jeeps across the salts flats of Bolivia, visited the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, volunteered at a medical clinic in Cusco, and made a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. The list goes on…
Despite U.S. med schools seeking clinical experience, American students pursuing careers in healthcare often find it difficult to gain meaningful experience early on, resulting in difficulties getting accepted into med school. Our medical internships offer access that goes beyond observation. You may assist in procedures, rotate through departments like surgery or pediatrics, and interact directly with patients, all under professional supervision.
But the professional growth doesn’t stop there. The experience alone is enough to boost your chance of getting accepted into med school, but it’s important to acknowledge all of the other beneficial parts of this kind of internship. As you work and learn in an international healthcare setting, you broaden your knowledge on healthcare systems and increase your cultural competency. Interning abroad also means learning medical Spanish and observing international healthcare systems, making you a desirable candidate and increasing the range of places where you can work in the future.
By learning how to communicate across language and cultural barriers, you also reinforce the idea that you are able to adapt quickly, which is on its own a crucial medical skill. These are powerful assets whether you’re applying to U.S. med schools or planning to work internationally. Not
only do you become a stronger candidate on an application, you become a stronger and important part of any healthcare system.
My time in South America pushed the limits of my comfort and gave me a unique perspective on the world as a whole. This perspective has proven very valuable while in college as well as after graduation when pursuing employment. I currently work as an associate scientist at a biotechnology company and I can confidently say that the free-thinking and multicultural environment I experienced while abroad positively affects the way I do my job now.
I now have the ‘travel bug’ after making another trip abroad to Europe this past summer and with plans to visit South America again in the near future. I would encourage anyone considering going abroad to stop considering and just do it! It is an experience that will change your life and one that you will never forget!
– Mike F.
Then: Biology Major, Northeastern University
Now: Associate Scientist at Biogen
More To Explore
7 Ways To Know If A Pharmacy Internship Abroad Is Right For You
10 Useful Tips For Intercultural Living Through Internships in Chile
