Amanda Alldredge assists a patientUAB International Medical Education (IME) recently welcomed back eight medical students from their international clinical training electives in Kenya, Zambia and Peru. These fourth-year medical students were awarded scholarships by UAB IME to travel and train in Africa and South America. “The Medical Student Enrichment Program (MSEP) provides UAB medical students with unique experiences to develop clinical skills and cultural competencies in diverse environments,” said Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., assistant dean for International Medical Education. “After completing an international clinical elective, our students learn about practicing medicine with low dependence on technology; improve their clinical, diagnostic and communication skills; and gain a better understanding of disease prevention, primary care and public health. These are skills that will serve them well in their future career in medicine.”
Past MSEP international clinical training consisted of structured educational travel opportunities with UAB IME arranging all logistics such as transportation, housing, meals and training schedules. This year, UAB IME encouraged the students to play an active role in structuring their international medicine experience. Upon returning, each student wrote a reflection article and evaluated the location, training and international host hospital or organization. By implementing this added component, UAB IME will be able to quickly assess other possible study abroad locations to add to its UAB IME structured opportunity list for next years’ scholarships while further enriching the experience for the students.
Kendall Snellgrove, John Snellgrove, and Melissa ParrishMelissa Parrish, one of the medical students who traveled to Zambia, had a very formative experience as she explained in her reflection paper: “In our pride, we often think that American health systems are the only way, but it takes getting out of our comfort zone and going somewhere new with a spirit of humility to truly gain a perspective that is so much greater than our own system. In the rural hospital in which I was working, resources were indeed limited; however, the doctors and nurses rely much more strongly on their own clinical skills and critical thinking to take care of patients adeptly.” Although she was eager to be of help in the hospital environment, Parrish quickly remembered she was also there to learn.
John Snellgrove was also a part of the group who traveled to Zambia. He shared, “While in Macha, I got to experience firsthand the privilege and responsibility that comes with the role of a healthcare provider. It may be challenging or frustrating at times, but it is still incredibly rewarding to have the opportunity to intervene.”
His colleague and fellow student, Amanda Alldredge, added, “On my last day, my eyes were drawn to the faces of patients I’d come to know well, and staff members I called friends. All of the minor details about the appearance of the wards and the missing resources had fallen away, allowing me to see the truly important aspects of a hospital that does so much for its patients with so little.”
The eight scholarship students were:
Kenya - Catherine Brown
Kenya - Claire Cordes
Kenya - Amelia Schuyler
Peru - David Osula
Zambia -Amanda Alldredge
Zambia - Melissa Parrish
Zambia - John Snellgrove
Zambia - Kendall Snellgrove