Sample Clinical Reflection for a Medical Internship Abroad [2025]

How to Write and Structure Meaningful Medical Internship Reflections

Reflecting on your clinical internship abroad isn’t just about recounting what you did — it’s about how you grew, what you learned, and how your perspective shifted. Whether you’re preparing for a Go Elective program in Kenya or Tanzania, applying to med/PA/nursing school, or crafting a blog or case report, your reflection can become a powerful piece of personal and professional insight.

Below is a structured, sample clinical reflection from a pre-med student interning at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. This example highlights cultural context, clinical exposure, emotional response, and key takeaways — all useful when preparing your own post-internship journal, report, or school application narrative.

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Sample Clinical Reflection

Name: Maya T.
Program: Pre-Medical Internship
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
Placement Site: Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital
Rotation: OB/GYN and Emergency Medicine
Duration: 2 Weeks

Initial Impressions

When I first walked into Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, I was struck by how different it looked compared to hospitals back home in the United States. There were no sleek machines humming in every corner. Instead, I saw rows of beds, nurses moving swiftly between patients, and a palpable urgency in the air. I was nervous but excited — I knew this experience would push me outside my comfort zone.

Case Encounter: Emergency Cesarean Section

On my third day in the OB/GYN department, I observed an emergency cesarean section on a mother in fetal distress. The attending physician explained the urgency of the situation while preparing for surgery. I helped push the trolley into the theater and was allowed to stand near the operating table during the procedure.

Although I’d studied childbirth and watched videos in my classes back home, witnessing a C-section live, especially in that (resource-limited) environment, felt entirely different. The speed, coordination, and confidence of the team were inspiring. There was a moment of silence after the incision, followed by the sharp cry of a newborn. I had to remind myself to breathe.

Cultural Observations

One thing I noticed during the OB rotation was how important family and community support were in the Kenyan healthcare system. Women were often accompanied by sisters, mothers, or aunties who stayed through the night to help care for the baby. The ward was full, but there was an atmosphere of shared resilience and kindness that I rarely see in clinical settings back home.

I also became more aware of the language barrier, particularly when midwives spoke in Swahili or local dialects. Although many patients understood English, the use of local languages made me appreciate the importance of cultural sensitivity and clear communication.

Ethical and Emotional Reflection

In the emergency department, I observed several cases where patients had delayed seeking care due to cost or travel distance. One case that stayed with me was a young man with severe sepsis from a diabetic wound. The team acted quickly, but it was a sobering reminder that healthcare inequities are not abstract . They’re real and urgent.

At first, I felt helpless. But my mentor reminded me that bearing witness, learning, and asking questions are how we begin to build solutions. This helped me reframe my role as an intern. Not to “fix” anything, but to listen, learn, and grow into a more empathetic future provider.

Lessons Learned

#1. Resourcefulness is clinical strength: 

I learned how physicians make critical decisions even with limited lab tests and equipment. This sharpened my clinical thinking.

#2. Humility is essential: 

I realized that my U.S.-based perspective is only one lens. Kenyan clinicians taught me that healthcare is not one-size-fits-all.

#3. Global health requires partnership: 

Real impact comes not from “volunteering” but from respectful collaboration and ongoing education — something Go Elective emphasized from the start.

How This Shapes My Future

This internship solidified my desire to pursue medicine with a global lens. I now understand the importance of health equity, cultural competence, and resilience. I plan to focus on underserved populations in my future practice, and this experience has given me not just motivation, but direction.

Tips for Writing Your Own Clinical Reflection

• Start with a moment or patient that impacted you emotionally or intellectually
• Describe the setting, including differences from your home country
• Reflect on challenges or discomfort and what you learned from them
• Connect the experience to your personal growth or professional goals
• Use honest, specific language — but maintain patient confidentiality

Use Your Reflection To:

• Write compelling PA or med school personal statements
• Create internship summary blogs or vlogs
• Complete Go Elective reflection reports or academic credit journals
• Showcase learning in university applications, interviews, or presentations

Want more guidance? Go Elective’s healthcare internship programs provide ongoing mentorship and structured reflection sessions to help you process and articulate your clinical experience — both during and after your internship abroad.

Article Details

Categories

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

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 27, 2025