Third World Experience

[Peeshee]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does anyone have suggestions on good places to obtain 3rd world medical experience? I really would enjoy something in a remote/rural setting in a place that I can obtain some excellent clinical experience.
Thanks so much!

 

[MSERMAN]

You want rural, go to Ross University in Dominica!!!! That place will make you appreciate the grand ole' US of A. I went there for a week to look at the school and it was horrible. There would have nothing for my wife to do, the houses are practically huts and they charge out the whazoo (~600-1000/month). You cannot get a real meal down there. You will eat rations like a piece of pizza for lunch, piece of chicken for supper, etc. It was quite an experience and bugs are awful. It is a pretty place, but it depends on what you want! My wife and I did not want that, so we left. I advise you must VISIT whereever you are looking at going before you decide to move there. Good luck!!

 

[Stephen Ewen]

For one venue, I recently posted several pages to such info on the Everyone forum you can search down.

 

[carddr]

Consider the Philippines. The Fatima School of Medicine will provide you with some very hands-on experiences in your clinical rotations, such as delivering babies(Delivered over 20 babies there, do you think for one moment that would happen in the States, absolutely not!!!)circumcisions,giving shots, etc. And if you really apply yourself you can come back to the states almost totally debt free(except for $7,500., my scholarship paid for all my tuition, so I am not burdened with over $100,000 or more in debt for the next 20 years, thank God) And its definitely third world. Some negatives, living conditions are drastic, its always hot and the pollution is out of control, dealing with the paperwork can sometimes be frustrating(they tend to procrastinate and things don't always get done in a timely fashion)not to mention the 24 hours in the plane to come home twice a year. They also have you do rotations in the States if you so chose ( great for those LORs' you will need) you do have to be selected for that however, by keeping your grades up. Manila offers some good fun times and the restaurants are excellent there as are the hotels. Manila is about 45 minutes away from the school. I sincerely would do it again, the Philippine people are some of the most gracious and kindest people in the world, they are willing to be there for you.
!

 

[saori]

There are programs that allow you to come to the Dominican Republic, but you must first contact one of the univesities or a church - the American Red Cross can also help you find a mission that works on health care services -and sign up for some basic spanish.

We do have basic facilities in most of the towns, but I would give you more information later on.

 

[hosskp1]

The best thing you can do is wait until you are 4th year and do a rotation abroad. Every school will let you do something abroad. There are foundations set up to help you do this as well (churhes, operation smile--Etc). Maybe your school will have a few ghetto hospitals for you to do rotations(it is just as screwed up as the third world and you get to come back to civilization every night). It is probably not a good idea to do your whole medical school abroad.