Comparing Go Elective and Global Medical Brigades: How to Decide Which Is Right for You

When aspiring healthcare professionals seek meaningful international experience, they’re often faced with choices. Among the global health providers, Go Elective and Global Medical Brigades (GMB) frequently come up. While both aim to make a difference, Go Elective’s programs in Kenya and Tanzania offer unparalleled depth, clinical exposure, and long-term community impact that go beyond short-term missions.

Below, we explore how Go Elective’s philosophy, structure, and outcomes stand apart — especially for students seeking medical internships abroad that truly prepare them for healthcare careers.

What Sets Go Elective Apart in Global Healthcare Internships

1. Clinical Learning Beyond Primary Care

Global Medical Brigades is known for short-term primary care brigades, but Go Elective’s hospital-based internships provide in-depth exposure to specialist care, including surgery, maternal health, and trauma.

Our interns shadow major teaching hospitals in East Africa, work alongside local professionals, and experience a healthcare system from the inside out, not just from temporary outreach events.

2. Academic Excellence with Practical Experience

Go Elective’s clinical internships integrate educational frameworks that align with global healthcare competencies, offering structured mentorship and observational opportunities. Interns engage in:

• Shadowing across specialties: Emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and more.
• Mentorship from experienced healthcare professionals.
• Cultural immersion that enhances global competence and patient communication.

Explore Go Elective’s clinical internships in Kenya and Tanzania for hands-on experience in resource-limited settings.

Key Differences: Go Elective vs Global Medical Brigades

1. Program Length & Structure

Go Elective: Offers 1–8 week hospital internships, with the option to extend. Interns rotate across departments, engage in clinical shadowing, and join community outreach projects.
GMB: Provides 7–9 day brigades, focused on temporary clinics and supplementary projects (WASH, economic development).

2. Clinical Exposure

Go Elective: Interns work in urban and rural hospitals, observing real patient cases, diagnostic practices, and public health challenges.
GMB: Volunteers offer basic services in pop-up clinics, with limited access to advanced care settings.

3. Mentorship and Training

Go Elective: Interns receive one-on-one mentorship and structured pre-departure and in-country orientation.
GMB: Group-based learning with emphasis on team-led service delivery.

4. Focus on Sustainability

Go Elective: We work within existing health systems, supporting sustainable healthcare delivery by partnering with local providers and empowering communities.
GMB: Operates within a holistic model, including non-medical interventions like clean water and microfinance.

Why Go Elective is Ideal for Pre-Med, Pre-Health, and Nursing Students

1. Clinical Experience That Stands Out

Hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania present cases ranging from tropical diseases to trauma, giving interns unmatched clinical exposure. This strengthens med school applications and prepares students for diverse healthcare environments.

2. Personal and Professional Development

Beyond clinical work, interns develop:

• Cultural competence
• Critical thinking
• Resilience in resource-limited settings

These skills are invaluable for future healthcare providers.

3. Flexibility and Support

From visa support to accommodation, Go Elective handles the logistics, ensuring a safe, focused experience.

Learn how Go Elective’s internship packages include housing, transportation, safari adventures, and 24/7 support.

Go Elective Internships in Action: Programs in Kenya and Tanzania

Kenya (Mombasa)
Intern at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, East Africa’s second-largest public hospital. Engage in surgical rotations, emergency care, and community outreach — including hygiene education and mobile clinics.

Tanzania (Arusha)
Shadow in regional hospitals, where interns encounter unique tropical diseases, maternal health challenges, and contribute to public health campaigns.

See all our destinaations here 

Cultural Immersion: More Than Just Travel

Go Elective blends clinical learning with cultural experiences:

• Safari to Tsavo East (Kenya) or Serengeti (Tanzania)
• Local village visits and language immersion
• Cooking classes, city tours, and conservation excursions

These experiences foster a deeper understanding of social determinants of health.

Ethical Volunteering That Creates Impact

Unlike short-term interventions, Go Elective prioritizes long-term health improvements through:

• Community empowerment
• Training local health workers
• Public health education programs

Our interns are not just visitors—they become partners in change.

Who Can Apply to Go Elective Programs?

We welcome:

• Pre-med and medical students
• Nursing students and professionals
• Physician assistant students
• Pre-dental and pre-health students
• High school students interested in healthcare careers

Find out about eligibility and how to apply.

Build a Stronger Medical School Application with Go Elective

Admissions committees value real-world experience. Interning abroad with Go Elective:

• Demonstrates initiative and global health interest.
• Offers unique stories for personal statements and interviews.
• Provides letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals in the field.

Final Thoughts: Why Choose to Go-Elective?

While organizations like Global Medical Brigades offer valuable short-term exposure, Go Elective’s immersive programs in East Africa provide deeper clinical engagement, cultural learning, and long-term impact. If you're serious about preparing for a healthcare career and making a sustainable difference, Go Elective is your best choice.

Start your journey today: Explore medical internships with Go Elective.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives, Dental Internships, Nursing Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 8, 2025