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- Jun 22, 2004
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I am moving to France in a few weeks to play sports for a year or two, after which time I plan on coming back to the USA and starting medical school.
I am going to take classes while I'm there (although I'm told any graduate work I do in France will not be looked at by US medical schools), but REALLY want to get some time volunteering and gaining clinical experience.
I was an EMT for four years in college, and worked in a lab all through college and then for two years after I graduated to support myself while I was in an Olympic training program. So, I feel like I have some valuable skills to offer (short of being a real doctor!).
I really want to get an "inside" appreciation for the French medical system by spending time doing something clinical. I think that understanding and experiencing the French medical system first-hand will be very valuable for me as a person who hopes to pursue a career in international public health.
Any ideas? Where do I start? How can I get myself in the door at a clinic or hospital as a foreigner??? Right now my language skills are probably my biggest challenge, but I will be in French courses 15-20 hours a week and I already have a decent understanding of the language, so hopefully after a month or two this shouldn't be too much of a burden.
Please let me know if you have ANY advice to offer!!! I'm kind of nervous about my big move to France 🙂
I am going to take classes while I'm there (although I'm told any graduate work I do in France will not be looked at by US medical schools), but REALLY want to get some time volunteering and gaining clinical experience.
I was an EMT for four years in college, and worked in a lab all through college and then for two years after I graduated to support myself while I was in an Olympic training program. So, I feel like I have some valuable skills to offer (short of being a real doctor!).
I really want to get an "inside" appreciation for the French medical system by spending time doing something clinical. I think that understanding and experiencing the French medical system first-hand will be very valuable for me as a person who hopes to pursue a career in international public health.
Any ideas? Where do I start? How can I get myself in the door at a clinic or hospital as a foreigner??? Right now my language skills are probably my biggest challenge, but I will be in French courses 15-20 hours a week and I already have a decent understanding of the language, so hopefully after a month or two this shouldn't be too much of a burden.
Please let me know if you have ANY advice to offer!!! I'm kind of nervous about my big move to France 🙂
