International Medical Internships in Uganda

Program Description

Internships vary from working for public health initiatives, to conducting medical research or working within healthcare facilities such as: midwifery, physiotherapy, medical, radiography, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing. Many interns have the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals and learn about their work. Interns may help provide care for pediatric patients in underfunded hospitals, draft reports and articles about healthcare topics or learn about traditional medicine and alternative treatments, carryout health outreach in the communities, and tend to administrative work.

ASTCF’s internships in health and medical care provide participants both valuable career experience in public outreach, medical research, or patient care, and an opportunity to make a difference. Internships display to medical schools and employers that the intern has a strong commitment to healthcare and the real-life skills necessary to succeed in this challenging field.

Hospitals are often poorly resourced with underpaid medical staff. As a medical intern, you are sure to see a huge gulf in medical standards between the developed and developing worlds. This, combined with a lack of experience and funds to pay for routine medical treatment often causes the patients you see to have advanced illnesses and conditions now rarely treated in the developed world.

Give yourself an edge over the competition in the workforce by experiencing a medical internship in a private practice, clinic, laboratory or hospital setting. For those looking to become doctors, nurses, or for valuable hands-on medical experience before committing to your career or any specialty in the medical field, ASTCF internships offer one of the few ways to enhance your education and get real world experience working alongside healthcare professionals.

Pre-med interns usually start by observing the doctors and nurses. If you can demonstrate a good understanding of local medical conditions and are trusted by the local staff, you may be given more to do. The role of interns who already have some medical experience also varies and it is important to build a good relationship with the local medical staff. You can contribute towards community projects during a gap year, career break or during holiday time. Therefore, your exact role within the hospital or clinic will depend on your level of medical experience, as well as the enthusiasm and effort that you show to the local staff.

Highlights

This is a valuable opportunity to learn about different medical techniques or honing your own learning
Gain real world experiences and knowledge sets
Give back to the local community in a meaningful manner

Qualifications

Eligibility
Whether you call them “electives”’ “internships”, “clerkship rotations” or “global health placements”, we work with people from all over the globe to provide tailored placements. As long as you fit our eligibility criteria, we can tailor an internship to suit your needs.

In order to join the programme, the general rule is that you must be studying (or have completed) your clinical course. We understand that this can be confusing if the terminology we have used relates to a period of work experience that in your country is taken far earlier in your studies. Unfortunately though, many worldwide universities and schools use matching terms for completely different study points.

Medical Internships
You need to be on your medical degree, or have completed it, to be able to join a ASTCF medical internship placement. This is your actual clinical training, so if the route to qualification in your country is a pre-med degree followed by a second entry degree that focuses on medicine, it is the latter that you need to have started.

Ask yourself the question, when I graduate will I be a qualified practitioner and able to work in a hospital? If the answer is yes, then you are eligible to join a ASTCF Medical placement. It doesn't matter how far into the course you are - we tailor each internship to your level of skill and requirement.

Dentistry Internships
You need to be on at an accredited dental school or dental degree program to be able to join ASTCF Dentistry Internship placement.

This is your actual clinical dentistry training, so if you have to complete a pre dental course before you are able to apply for dentistry training, you will need to wait until you have started this latter course before we can accept you. It doesn't matter how far into the course you are - we tailor each internship to your level of skill and requirement.

Nursing and midwifery Internships
There are many routes to becoming a qualified nurse or midwife - whether through a bachelors degree, associate degree, a nursing diploma, a vocational to registered "bridging" course or something else.

The rule is, if you are on a clinical course where the ultimate aim is to pass an exam that allows you to provide nursing or midwifery care in a hospital environment, we can accept you on ASTCF Nursing and Midwifery Internship program. As we tailor each placement, we will make sure your level of skill is communicated to your supervisors overseas.

Radiography Internships
Whether you are a radiographer, radiologist, radiologic technician, radio therapist.... if you are on, or have completed, an associated degree, accredited course or a postgraduate specialist course that allows you to use imaging devices for diagnostic purposes, ASTCF programs are good for you! Don't worry about what year of your studies you are in, we will tailor the internship to match your skill level.

Pharmacy Internships
Most countries require a degree in pharmacy to become a qualified pharmacist. Some countries also offer courses to become a pharmacy technician, which allows you to assist a pharmacist. If you are on an accredited course that allows you to enter either of these professions (exams pending!) then we can accept you onto the ASTCF Pharmacy Internships program. Do not worry about where you are on the course, we will tailor your internship to match your skill level.

Other consideration, interns should have strong self-motivation and interest in working in healthcare. Depending on what kind of internship is sought, some background in research or in patient care may be helpful. Interns need to be ready to adapt to new circumstances and different cultural perspectives on healthcare. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are important to make the internship a success.

ASTCF’s minimum age for participation is 18. There is no maximum age for participation. Due to the customized nature of our internship placements, interns at all stages of their careers are welcome on the program.

Understanding of Ugandan culture can help improve your internship experience. Consider enrolling in our one-week language and cultural immersion program.

Internship Types

What`s Included

What is included in the fees?
• Administration costs
• Airport pick up and airport transfers
• Accommodation
• Training
• Food - 3 meals a day 7 days a week
• Program supervision – field guide
• 24 hours 7 days a week local staff support
• In-country emergency support
• Information Pack