A Day in the Life of a Pre-Physician Assistant Intern in Africa

Your First Step Toward Becoming a PA Starts Here

If you’re a pre-physician assistant (pre-PA) student looking to build patient care hours, shadow licensed providers, and gain real-world clinical exposure, an international internship can be a game-changing experience.

At Go Elective, our pre-PA internships in Kenya and Tanzania offer immersive, hands-on opportunities to learn in public hospitals, work alongside healthcare professionals, and engage in community-based medicine.

But what does a typical day actually look like?

Here’s a detailed walkthrough of a day in the life of a pre-PA intern in Africa—from early morning rounds to cultural adventures after clinic hours.

> Explore Go-Elective Internships Abroad

Disclaimer:

Please note that the daily schedule described below is a general outline and may vary depending on operational needs, specific internship destinations, clinical site availability, and other logistical factors. Activities, timing, and opportunities are subject to change to ensure the best possible experience and adaptability to local conditions.

6:30 AM – Wake Up and Prep for the Day

Your day begins early. The Go Elective residence offers shared accommodation with hot breakfasts, filtered water, and essential comforts. You’ll typically wake up around 6:30 AM, grab breakfast with fellow interns, and dress in professional clinical attire—think scrub pants and a polo, or business casual with a white coat.

You’ll also pack:

A refillable water bottle
Notepad and pen for clinical observations
Hand sanitizer and face mask
A light jacket for cooler mornings (especially in Arusha)

7:30 AM – Travel to the Hospital

Interns are provided with daily in-country transport to the placement site. In Mombasa, for instance, you’ll travel to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (13.7Km/ 8.5 Miles), the second-largest public hospital in Kenya. In Arusha, interns are based at Mount Meru Regional Hospital—a major facility serving a diverse population.

During the ride, it’s common for students to chat about the day's rotation, quiz each other on anatomy or case studies, or soak in the vibrant street scenes of East Africa.

8:00 AM – Join Morning Rounds

You’ll arrive at the hospital and connect with your assigned clinical supervisor—a licensed medical officer or PA-equivalent (Clinical Officer) who will guide you through the day.

In many departments, you’ll join morning rounds, where the team discusses current inpatients and treatment plans. You might:

Observe physician-patient interactions
Listen in on case reviews and diagnostic decisions
Note medication changes or surgical plans
Ask your mentor clarifying questions when appropriate

Go Elective encourages structured learning, so you’re not just observing—you’re reflecting and connecting dots as future clinicians.

9:00 AM – Department Rotation or Clinic Shadowing

Depending on the week and your placement preferences, you’ll rotate through various departments, including:

Outpatient General Medicine – where you may help take vitals or document patient histories under supervision
Pediatrics – observing child evaluations and vaccine administration
OB/GYN – witnessing deliveries, postnatal care, and maternal counseling
Surgery – watching procedures from prep to post-op (from the scrub zone)

✅ Interns often rotate through 2–4 departments over a 4-week internship, giving you breadth and depth in clinical exposure.

12:30 PM – Lunch Break and Peer Reflection

You’ll take a break for lunch.

✅ Note: Most students choose to end their day at 1:00 PM, as the program recommends a minimum of five hours per day. Therefore, the program driver will take you back to the residence for lunch.

You may then spend the afternoon relaxing at the residence, feeding giraffes at Haller Park, exploring the area, attending Swahili classes, participating in global health tutorials, or going shopping.

However, you also have the option to extend your shift into the afternoon or evening if you wish.

1:30 PM – Continue Clinical Rotations or Participate in Outreach

Afternoons vary depending on your rotation, but may include:

Attending minor procedures or lab reviews
Sitting in on HIV counseling or family planning education
Participating in community health outreach programs, such as mobile clinics or school screenings
Learning to navigate care in resource-limited settings, including adapting when medications or diagnostics aren’t readily available

✅ These real-life scenarios help you develop problem-solving skills and cultural competence—essential traits for any future PA.

3:30 PM – Wrap-Up and Debrief

Some interns wrap up hospital activities between 3:30–4:00 PM. Before leaving, you might join a short debrief with your supervisor, discuss interesting patient cases, or clarify medical terms and techniques you encountered during the day.

You’ll head back to the residence with a full notebook and a deeper appreciation for the realities of healthcare delivery in low-resource settings.

5:00 PM – Group Reflection, Cultural Exchange, or Free Time

Evenings at Go Elective are as enriching as your clinical day. You might:

Join global health seminars/ group discussions to reflect on ethical dilemmas or standout experiences
Help prepare a group dinner featuring Kenyan or Tanzanian cuisine
Learn local Swahili phrases from your hosts
Relax with a book, call home, or prep for tomorrow’s rotation

Some evenings also include guest speakers, such as local clinical officers or health educators, who share insights into the healthcare system and the PA-equivalent training in East Africa.

7:30 PM – Dinner and Wind-Down

Dinner is served at the residence, often featuring delicious, hearty local fare like:

Chapati and lentils
Coconut rice with vegetables
Grilled chicken or fish
Fresh fruit juice and seasonal fruit

Afterward, students often chat, journal, or prepare for weekend excursions—whether that’s a safari in Maasai Mara, a trip to Zanzibar, or hiking near Mount Kilimanjaro.

What You’ll Walk Away With

Interning on a pre-PA internship in Africa is more than a clinical experience. It’s:

Immersive – You live in and learn from a vibrant, diverse healthcare setting
Educational – You develop critical observation, communication, and diagnostic thinking
Reflective – You gain insights that will enrich your personal statement and PA school interviews
Global – You become a more culturally aware and empathetic future provider

Thinking About a Pre-PA Internship in Africa?

Join Go Elective in Kenya or Tanzania for:

✓ 100+ hours of supervised clinical shadowing
✓ Rotations in surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, emergency, and more
✓ Public hospital settings with real patient volume
✓ Structured reflection and global health education

> Inquire today or reach out to us via hello@goelective.com to inquire about our programs, clinical hours or general schedule.