Medical missions trips and how it looks question.. please help!

[MDWannabe90]

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So I have been seeing thread's lately talking about medical missions trips.. particularly this one! http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=939427

I wanted to ask about my situation but didn't want to hijack the above thread lol

I have been interested in doing a medical missions trip like medical brigades but have felt that although I sympathize with poor countries like honduras.. I don't have a strong connection or significant interest in the country and their healthcare system itself. (Not trying to be a jerk just being honest) If I did a medical brigade in another country it would most likely be for the sake of having it on a resume and thats it.

However! I have a cousin who passed away a few years ago from sickle cell anemia 🙁 she lived in the bahamas, my family is originally from jamaica but a lot of my family left because of the bad crime and went to bahamas. I strongly believe that if my cousin was in the U.S. she would have lived much longer receiving better care. Bahamas healthcare system is not very good, they have opportunities in clinics though for students like myself to go there and volunteer which is something I would really love to do because unlike honduras, I have a greater passion to go there because the healthcare system has effected me and my family through my cousin's death.

I'm also extremely interested in academic medicine because I LOVE working with students, I have at least 5-7 things on my resume directly linked to me working with students on my college campus, if I went to bahamas I might have the opportunity to speak to students and do a seminar there on higher education and career goals for students and show them their options and follow up with them throughout the year.

So my question is.... Would adcom's look down on this? Because it isn't a formal legit program like medical brigades but unfortunately medical brigades doesn't go to bahamas because many aren't informed of the health disparities existing there. And doing it on my own would be WAY cheaper but because I am doing it completely on my own, I am afraid this might look "sketchy" to adcom's. I was thinking I could do it and not mention it, but what if I have some really awesome experiences I want to share? What do you guys think? Mention it or maybe just do it and don't mention it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Freesia88]

So I have been seeing thread's lately talking about medical missions trips.. particularly this one! http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=939427

I wanted to ask about my situation but didn't want to hijack the above thread lol

I have been interested in doing a medical missions trip like medical brigades but have felt that although I sympathize with poor countries like honduras.. I don't have a strong connection or significant interest in the country and their healthcare system itself. (Not trying to be a jerk just being honest) If I did a medical brigade in another country it would most likely be for the sake of having it on a resume and thats it.

However! I have a cousin who passed away a few years ago from sickle cell anemia 🙁 she lived in the bahamas, my family is originally from jamaica but a lot of my family left because of the bad crime and went to bahamas. I strongly believe that if my cousin was in the U.S. she would have lived much longer receiving better care. Bahamas healthcare system is not very good, they have opportunities in clinics though for students like myself to go there and volunteer which is something I would really love to do because unlike honduras, I have a greater passion to go there because the healthcare system has effected me and my family through my cousin's death.

I'm also extremely interested in academic medicine because I LOVE working with students, I have at least 5-7 things on my resume directly linked to me working with students on my college campus, if I went to bahamas I might have the opportunity to speak to students and do a seminar there on higher education and career goals for students and show them their options and follow up with them throughout the year.

So my question is.... Would adcom's look down on this? Because it isn't a formal legit program like medical brigades but unfortunately medical brigades doesn't go to bahamas because many aren't informed of the health disparities existing there. And doing it on my own would be WAY cheaper but because I am doing it completely on my own, I am afraid this might look "sketchy" to adcom's. I was thinking I could do it and not mention it, but what if I have some really awesome experiences I want to share? What do you guys think? Mention it or maybe just do it and don't mention it?

Thanks in advance!

IMHO, if you do chose to go, let bolded part number 2 be the reason and what you use in your application. Your honesty in bolded part number on is admirable though.

 

[BABSstudent]

Don't go on the trips because it looks good. Go on the trips because you have something specific you want to get out of it and you could explain on your application.

I'm also extremely interested in academic medicine because I LOVE working with students, I have at least 5-7 things on my resume directly linked to me working with students on my college campus, if I went to bahamas I might have the opportunity to speak to students and do a seminar there on higher education and career goals for students and show them their options and follow up with them throughout the year.

I would look for service trips that included this in it if you want to do one.

For me, I wanted to speak and practice medical Spanish on a service trip so I searched for a service trip that would align with this. For background, I studied abroad for a semester, worked towards a BA in Spanish and ultimately spent a Spring break translating for US doctors in Guatemala (the service trip). All of them line up with my ultimate goal of being a bilingual doctor and show that I am actually dedicated to being that. The reason for my trip was because I cannot translate in the US since I lack the translating certificate and don't want to pay the $200 to take the test.

Back to you now. There is a definite difference between going to Africa (or Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, "Insert generic country/continent here") just because and going to demonstrate your ongoing goal to doing something better. If teaching is what you want to do and you want to work specifically with that group, then do it. If you want to just teach, why not stay in the US and find something that incorporates the two? I think your service thing in the Bahamas would be justified and look better than someone else doing it.

 

[Rumalum]

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[MDWannabe90]

Thanks everyone for the advice! 🙂

Don't go on the trips because it looks good. Go on the trips because you have something specific you want to get out of it and you could explain on your application.



I would look for service trips that included this in it if you want to do one.

For me, I wanted to speak and practice medical Spanish on a service trip so I searched for a service trip that would align with this. For background, I studied abroad for a semester, worked towards a BA in Spanish and ultimately spent a Spring break translating for US doctors in Guatemala (the service trip). All of them line up with my ultimate goal of being a bilingual doctor and show that I am actually dedicated to being that. The reason for my trip was because I cannot translate in the US since I lack the translating certificate and don't want to pay the $200 to take the test.

Back to you now. There is a definite difference between going to Africa (or Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, "Insert generic country/continent here") just because and going to demonstrate your ongoing goal to doing something better. If teaching is what you want to do and you want to work specifically with that group, then do it. If you want to just teach, why not stay in the US and find something that incorporates the two? I think your service thing in the Bahamas would be justified and look better than someone else doing it.

Especially thanks to you! 🙂 That experience worked out really sweet for you by the way 👍