Some thoughts from students who recently completed rotations this summer in Jordan, Thailand, Slovenia, Germany, and Poland:
Jordan:
City: Irbid
Department: Orthopedic Surgery
“My exchange exceeded my expectations. The Jordan exchange was absolutely amazing! The clinical program was very good and the social program was perfect. The clinical experience was very good. There were a wide variety of procedures to observe, and we were allowed to scrub into almost any that we wanted. The doctors also went out of their way to explain what they were doing in the operating room and also how to perform orthopedic exams of various types. The social program was very good, and [the hosting students] took us all over Jordan. Our hosts were always more than willing to show us around or help with absolutely anything and did everything in their power to make the experience memorable.
Thailand:
City: Bangkok
Department: General Surgery and Neurosurgery
“I was given opportunities to practice wet and dry wound dressing, as well as allowed to scrub in and enter the surgical field on 7 cases. The medical students and residents were very kind and helpful in the hospital, often serving as my translators. They were also very good tour guides and took me to visit the famous Wats (Thai Buddhist temples), the National Museum, open markets, and shopping centers. Spending an entire month in Bangkok, Thailand was wonderful. I had an amazing experience and would do it over again in a heartbeat!”
Slovenia:
City: Maribor
Department: Neurology
“This experience was the perfect bridge between the basic science and clinical years. My rotation was a great reminder of why I wanted to become a physician in the first place. I learned that there is no one way to practice medicine well. The physicians were very laid-back and highly knowledgeable, so I was able to learn at my optimal potential and actually have fun doing so. My exchange exceeded my expectations. My housing was in a student dormitory. The social program was extremely organized. The local students planned weekend trips for 3 out of four weekends, taking care of all accommodations, food and activities so that we could focus on having fun. Additionally, they enthusiastically organized and participated in social events during the week as well. The hosts and exchange students both became lifelong friends.”
Germany:
City: Dusseldorf
Department: Cardiovascular Surgery
“Nothing is better than getting to experience the field of medicine in another country. I learned more than I would have imagined in the space of a month. Not only did I experience and participate in the everyday duties of the hospital but I also experienced a whole new culture and way of thinking. I definitely recommend this experience to anyone interested in broadening their clinical skills and horizons in general. I was taught so many things (different suturing techniques, lumbar punctures, IV and blood draws) over the course of this month that I became more comfortable with patients. The patients spoke German but I tried my hardest to still communicate with them. I did feel left out at times due to my lack of German, but the doctors always spoke in English with me and so did the medical students and local exchange committee. The social team in Dusseldorf is the best!!!! They drove us into the country side, gave me a bike, and were super helpful with everything! I had so much fun in my off time.”
Poland:
City: Warsaw
Department: General Surgery and Liver Transplantation
“There was a very involved social program that helped us grow accustomed to the city and get to know each other very well. The host students spent time with us each evening. The [clinical] experience depended on the doctor. We didn’t have one doctor who spent a lot of time with us- we rotated around or found our own surgeries and asked to observe or scrub in. Some doctors were much better than others in their willingness to teach us. There were some occasions that doctors spoke in Polish and would translate for us, but also many instances that they did not translate- it wasn’t a major barrier and they would always translate if asked.”
