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Internships in France

Pursuing an internship in France offers a competitive edge in the European job market and access to some of the region's best cultural experiences. With a strong work ethic and pro-employee benefits extending to interns, France is an ideal place to gain international work experience. The French tradition of learning by doing through apprenticeships makes interning in France a perfect way to master your profession à la française!

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Latest Program Reviews

Umoja Ni Nguvu: How My IMA Internship Transformed My Pre-PA Journey

by: Breana Smalls - United StatesProgram: Physician Assistant/Pre-PA Internships Abroad | IMA
10

My overall experience with IMA was terrific. The house was spotless, with helpful staff. Interning in the hospital was a great learning experience. I thoroughly enjoyed every community outreach opportunity. Coming to this internship experience, I hoped to gain the hours needed to become a strong applicant for PA school. However, my internship experience in Mombasa instilled a new outlook on the medical field and invigorated my pursuit of a healthcare career. While in Kenya, I discovered my strengths and built the confidence needed to thrive as a provider. I plan to incorporate the same passion and dedication Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital's medical staff displays into my career. I wish to educate my American colleagues about our privileges compared to others worldwide to create change. Kenya will forever have a place in my heart, and I aim to continue to support the people of Mombasa by building a non-profit while working for my medical license. "Bahati haibish mara mbili" is Swahili for "luck doesn't knock twice" and reminds people to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves in life. I took full advantage of the opportunity to discover Mombasa; my lessons will live with me forever. Studies show that our brain is continuously changing through the process of neuroplasticity. Triggered by new stimuli, neuroplasticity is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth, and reorganization. Neurologists suggest that traveling to a new location has been found to stimulate the brain, allowing neurons to form new connections with other neurons, generating more dendrites, and thus increasing neuroplasticity. That being so, the month spent in Kenya not only opened my eyes, it rewired my brain. Adapting to a new environment, learning the Kenyan culture, conducting a weekly community outreach, and assisting at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) reframed my view of the global healthcare system and the world. Understanding the infrastructure of the Kenyan healthcare system was crucial to adjusting to the medical environment at CGTRH. The Kenya healthcare system is divided into three divisions: public health sector, commercial private sector, and faith based organizations. CGTRH is a part of the public health sector and provides the most affordable and accessible care to the majority of the Kenyan population. Unfortunately, these public facilities are often short staffed , low on medical resources, and provide a lower quality of patient care. During my time at CGTRH I was able to experience these disparities first hand as I shadowed in various departments around the hospital. For example, instances when a tourniquet was needed, a glove was used instead, lack of sterile technique contributed to high incidences of hospital acquired infections, and many wards were short staffed and run by residency doctors. However, aside from the lack of resources, all medical staff were knowledgeable , precise, well versed, and spoke multiple languages. I observed, as medical officers maneuvered through crammed wards with no central air conditioning, to monitor the health status of each patient and create a specialized plan of care. It was during these times that I was able to understand the true meaning of what it takes to be an exceptional healthcare provider. Even in the least desirable circumstances, all medical staff remained on the same mission; to listen, treat, and heal in the most efficient way possible. This was the case for an infant girl with hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid deep within the brain. The excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen, putting pressure on the brain, potentially causing brain damage or early death if left untreated. A prominent indicator of hydrocephalus in infants is an enlarged head and swollen veins on the scalp. Due to lack of prenatal care in Kenya, hydrocephalus is commonly caused by deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin B12 during pregnancy , as well as neonatal infections like neonatal meningitis and ventriculitis. I observed as neurosurgeons skillfully performed a Ventriculoperitoneal shunting, or VP shunt, procedure on the small infant.The procedure consisted of drilling a small hole in the skull, making a surgical cut in the stomach, and passing a catheter through a ventricle of the brain down to the abdomen to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid. Almost immediately after the shunt was placed into the ventricle, the excess fluid began to drain, indicating a successful procedure. Witnessing this operation awakened a new interest and enthusiasm for surgery , and the surgery department soon became my favorite rotation. I took full advantage of my time there, and observed over 10 major surgeries including an appendectomy, a skull elevation, a coccygectomy, and a foot amputation. During each operation, I had the opportunity to ask questions, take notes, and get an adjacent view of procedures I had only read about in books. This up close perspective helped me recognize that I am not a squeamish person, and am able to stay calm in paramount procedures. I continued to learn more about myself as I rotated throughout CGTRH, and my confidence grew as I shadowed and learned from medical and clinical officers in internal medicine, pediatrics, maternity, and the newborn unit. Outside of the hospital, I had the chance to display that confidence while hosting community outreach clinics. Every week, the IMA interns and I traveled to local primary and secondary schools to teach lectures on hygiene education, and women’s health. During these lectures I sharpened my public speaking skills, while engaging in important conversations. I enjoyed volunteering as a team leader and collaborating with the other interns to create fun and memorable lectures. However, the most rewarding part was being able to distribute items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and menstrual pads. It was humbling to see how something as trivial as a toothbrush could bring so much joy to a child. Days like this put into perspective how privileged life in America was, and every week I became eager for the next clinic. Aside from hygiene and women’s health, the IMA interns and I also collaborated with psychologist and medical officers from CGTRH to host a mental health clinic, and a free community medical clinic servicing hundreds of civilians.The mental health clinic gave the interns and I a chance to speak with high schoolers and gain an insight on the day to day pressures they face. It was refreshing to learn that they deal with the same problems and insecurities as teens in America, and being able to relate to them made it easier to teach them positive mental health practices. The community medical clinic required a more hands on approach, as we provided essential healthcare services to those in need. Here I had the opportunity to work alongside pharmacists and learn how to fill free prescriptions for the community. Experiencing this level of philanthropy was profound, and made a lasting impression on me. Coming into this experience I hoped to gain the hours needed to become a strong applicant for PA school. However, my internship experience in Mombasa instilled a new outlook of the medical field and invigorated my pursuit for a career in healthcare. While in Kenya I discovered my own personal strengths, and built the confidence needed to thrive as a provider. I plan to incorporate the same passion and dedication displayed by the medical staff at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital into my own career. I wish to educate my American colleagues of the privileges we have compared to others around the world in hopes to create change. Kenya will forever have a place in my heart, and I aim to continue to support the people of Mombasa by building a non-profit while working for my medical license. “Bahati haibish mara mbili” is swahili for “luck doesn’t knock twice”, and reminds people to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves in life. I believe I took full advantage of the opportunity to discover Mombasa and the lessons I learned will live with me forever.

A Guide to Interning Abroad in France

Prepare for an Internship

Set goals

While making the most of your time abroad, why not set some goals to really refine what you’d like to gain from your internship? Here are a few basics to start with:

  • Decide what part of the field you like the most while working on any specific skill set—hard or soft skills, or otherwise—and push yourself to gain ground in those areas. Examples could be time management, a specific skill within the field, or empathy toward peers.
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