Medical electives abroad are not just a luxury. Though optional, an elective abroad is a major add-on to compliment your degree and to place oneself at the forefront of an increasingly competitive and globalizing market.

By taking a medical elective abroad, you reap the following benefits among others;

AN OPEN MIND

When you witness the way different countries provide medical care will challenge perspectives you’ve built up in the western world, whether you are observing medical practice deep in rural Uganda with a shortage of resources and an expanse of cases, or within the city where there is availability of resources.

You’ll become increasingly grateful for what you have access to at home, and develop a new empathy for cultures that have less. When working in the hospitals and embracing your host culture’s values, you’ll begin to challenge yourself and develop professionally

A NETWORK OF CONTACTS  

You will meet a whole host of characters on your medical elective abroad; ranging from students and staff to patients and specialists in the hospital.

Not only will you learn how to communicate with people from all walks of, but you’ll share experiences with them that will last a lifetime. Friends you’ll live and work with will lay the foundation for, or contribute to your existing international network of professionals.

COMMUNICATION

When you take your medical elective abroad, you often times navigate a language barrier, particularly when it comes to patients. Using non-verbal communication to convey ideas as well as learning simple clinical phrases in your host county’s language will stretch your

CONFIDENCE

You don’t need to be the world’s most confident student to take your medical elective abroad, because what you lack, you’ll learn. While you’ll increase in confidence at home, there’s something about putting yourself in an unfamiliar environment that forges a different type of courage.

THE CV

It goes without saying that having experience related to a medical elective abroad on your CV looks impressive. You can be sure it’ll stand out compared to those who undertake electives at home. The potential employer reading your CV will know exactly what taking your elective abroad signifies, the skills you’ll learn there, and the type of medic you aspire to be.