How to Prepare for a PA or Pre-PA Internship Abroad

If you’re pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant (PA) or exploring the field as a pre-PA student, gaining meaningful clinical exposure is one of the best ways to strengthen your path—especially when that experience includes cultural immersion, global health insight, and real-time observation of healthcare in action.

At Go Elective, we offer international internships designed specifically for pre-PA and PA students looking to shadow experienced medical professionals abroad. Whether you're hoping to build your resume, prepare for graduate school, or explore medicine in a new context, an internship abroad can be both personally and professionally transformative.

Here's how to prepare and make the most of the experience.

Why Consider an Internship Abroad as a PA or Pre-PA Student?

A global internship gives you a front-row seat to the complexities of healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. You’ll gain:

• Clinical shadowing hours across multiple departments
• Exposure to diseases and cases less common in the U.S.
• Insight into public health, global medicine, and health disparities
• Interactions with diverse patient populations
• Cross-cultural communication skills

Most importantly, it’s a chance to observe what compassionate, adaptable care looks like in environments that rely heavily on clinical judgment, teamwork, and creativity.

Step 1: Check Your PA Program’s Clinical or Internship Policies

If you're currently enrolled in a pre-PA or PA program, it's a good idea to check with your academic advisor or program coordinator about how an international experience might align with your academic or professional goals.

Side note: While not all schools require it, some programs may request faculty approval, learning contracts, or additional documentation—especially if you're hoping to count the experience toward a specific requirement. Reaching out early ensures you have time to complete any forms or gather signatures, if needed.

At Go Elective, we regularly support students with:

• Signed supervisor evaluations
• Hour logs
• Certificate of completion
• Custom school forms

Just send them to us in advance, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Step 2: Choose the Right Location and Duration

Go Elective offers internships at several destinations. However, for PA, we highly recommendn:

• Mombasa, Kenya – A historic coastal city with a large referral hospital and access to both urban and rural cases
• Arusha, Tanzania – A regional medical hub near Mount Kilimanjaro, with opportunities in hospitals and outreach clinics
  
  

Duration options range from:

• 1–2 weeks: Perfect for flexible school schedules.
• 3–4 weeks: A deeper immersion into clinical environments
• 6–8 weeks+: Ideal for students aiming to complete a significant number of clinical observation hours (80–200+)

Step 3: Know What to Expect

Your daily shadowing schedule runs from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with placements across departments like:

• General Medicine
• Pediatrics
• OB/GYN
• Surgery
• Emergency and trauma
• Infectious disease and tropical medicine

While you won’t provide direct patient care, you’ll observe physicians and healthcare teams, join teaching rounds, and experience patient interaction in a real clinical setting.

Step 4: Organize Your Travel and Medical Prep

Before traveling, be sure to:

• Check your vaccination requirements (e.g., Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, etc.)
• Speak to your healthcare provider about malaria prophylaxis
• Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months
• Purchase travel medical insurance (required for all Go Elective participants)
• Review any documents your school may want signed before, during, or after the internship

We’ll also send you a pre-departure guide covering everything from what to pack to local customs, health safety, and how to navigate the hospital environment.

Step 5: Maximize the Experience

Afternoons and weekends are yours to explore, recharge, or volunteer. Many students:

• Take Swahili lessons
• Visit giraffe sanctuaries or cultural sites
• Volunteer in local orphanages or schools
• Join public health outreach or mobile clinics
• Head out on safari, snorkel in the Indian Ocean, or visit UNESCO towns like Lamu or Stone Town, Zanzibar

You’ll gain far more than clinical insight—you’ll build emotional intelligence, global awareness, and lifelong memories.

Final Thoughts: Grow Clinically, Culturally, and Personally

Whether you’re just starting your pre-PA journey or already enrolled in a PA program, an internship abroad can offer you so much more than shadowing hours—it provides perspective, maturity, and clarity about the kind of provider you want to become.

By preparing thoughtfully and staying open to every learning moment, you’ll leave your placement with:

• Real-world exposure to global health
• Verified clinical observation hours
• A broader worldview
• And a story that will set you apart in any interview

Ready to Take Your PA Path Global?

Apply now or contact us for guidance on choosing a destination, planning paperwork, and preparing for your PA or pre-PA internship abroad.

Because learning medicine is about more than classrooms—it’s about people, places, and the purpose you bring with you.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 13, 2025