Choosing a location to study medicine abroad in doesn’t have to be hard, as there are study abroad programs all over the world. Since you’ll be in the country for an extended time, it’s important to pick a country or region that interests you and could help you grow as a future doctor. If you’re interested in becoming fluent in another language, consider study abroad programs that allow you to take language courses and practice the language in your daily life. If you’re interested in public health education, Africa and Latin America are home to many opportunities to study medicine abroad that will allow you to get involved in health education programs that can help save lives. Keep these types of things in mind as you begin to decide on a location for your study abroad experience.
Africa is a vast region of the planet that offers a wide range of opportunities to study medicine abroad where you can apply your newly acquired medical skills in the real world to make a difference in a person’s life. While Africa is riddled with hunger, infectious disease, HIV/AIDS, and numerous health disparities, it is a great place to really expose yourself to a new culture and make a real impact in the local neighborhood by utilizing your medical knowledge. Popular locations to complete a medical rotation in Africa include South Africa and Ghana.
South America offers many opportunities for medical students to experience the local healthcare system, whether urban or rural, and gain valuable language skills along the way. There are over 400 million native Spanish speakers in the world; as a doctor you will most likely have to treat someone who speaks Spanish in your career, so why not learn the language among natives? Argentina, specifically, is a hotbed for Spanish language schools, where many schools even provide classes focused on medical Spanish for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to improve their vocabulary and aid in cultural competence.
Looking to gain experience in Western medicine, but experience a different healthcare system? You may want to study medicine in Europe. Many medical schools offer international rotations in Europe for fourth year medical students. While studying medicine in Europe, you’ll continue to gain valuable skills and knowledge in a wide variety of specialties, but you’ll also gain an inside understanding of how healthcare systems function in other countries. When you’re ready to shed the scrubs, you’ll be able to head outside the hospital to enjoy the delicious local dishes, diverse architecture, and centuries old history.
The medical field is found universally in some form or another throughout the world. People get sick and there has to be professionals to take care of them. While most of your learning will take place in the classroom or in a hospital, don’t forget to put your skills to the test in the real world. Spend a summer or a clinical rotation abroad and apply your skills, gain a better understanding of different cultures and their healthcare systems, and grow as a person and a future doctor.
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