How an Overseas Internship Abroad Can Jumpstart Your Healthcare Career

A Student Experience that Became a Career Foundation

When Maya was a nursing student at the University of California, San Diego, she wanted an experience that went beyond her local hospital rotations. She joined a Go-Elective placement in Arusha, Tanzania, and the experience ended up shaping her career more than she ever imagined.

“I wouldn’t be in my current role without it,” she reflects. “That placement gave me confidence, resilience, and real-world problem-solving skills that I use every day.”

From Internship to Global Health Career

During her summer placement, Maya rotated through busy maternity wards, pediatric units, and community outreach clinics. She learned firsthand how to deliver care in a low-resource environment, where equipment was limited, and staff had to be extraordinarily resourceful. She practiced Swahili with patients, observed advanced HIV and TB cases rarely seen in the U.S., and assisted in community programs that emphasized preventive care.

That summer transformed her perspective:

She learned how to communicate effectively across language and cultural barriers.
She saw what resilience in healthcare truly meant.
She developed confidence in clinical decision-making under pressure.

Today, Maya works with a public health NGO based in Botswana. Her role includes training rural nurses, supporting maternal-child health initiatives, and conducting program evaluations. “Almost every day I draw on what I learned in Tanzania,” she says. “Whether I’m helping to design training modules or working directly with patients, those lessons stay with me.”

Why Employers Value Overseas Internships

For Maya, her Go-Elective experience was a major talking point in interviews. “Every question they asked me, I had a story from my time in Tanzania. It showed them I’d faced challenges, adapted quickly, and gained cultural competence,” she explains.

An internship abroad sends a clear message on your CV:

You’ve stepped out of your comfort zone.
You’ve developed problem-solving skills in environments where resources are scarce.
You can work cross-culturally with empathy and professionalism.

Employers recognize this combination of adaptability and resilience as a marker of strong future clinicians.

A Lasting Impact

Maya still carries vivid memories of her placement. Assisting with neonatal care on a busy labor ward, improvising oxygen delivery systems when equipment was limited, and collaborating with local nurses who inspired her with their skill and compassion.

“Go-Elective gave me my first real understanding of global health,” she says. “It wasn’t just a line on my resume. It gave me the foundation I needed to step into my career with confidence.”

Your Turn to Take the Leap

If you’re considering an internship abroad, Maya’s advice is simple: do it.

“It’s the best investment you can make in your career and in yourself. You’ll gain skills you can’t learn in a classroom, friendships that last a lifetime, and a perspective that will shape your future.”

Discover how Go-Elective can help tailor an pre-med internship or volunteer experience, nursing internship or medical elective to your goals and give you the experience that could launch your career.

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Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.