International Experiences In The Basic Science Years
Sunday, March 30th 2008
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This Fundraiser Had A Very Cool African Drumming Group
I was at a fundraiser recently for a program to send several first years over to Ethiopia for 4-6 weeks. They had this interactive drumming group come in who are actually a lot of fun. And while I’ve been on some international mission trips, hearing the kids who did it last year talk it made me really wish I had gotten to do this in between my first and second year.
It is becoming a trend to get students far more involved in clinical experiences during their first two years. Indeed, my school may be a little slow to the party. But if you can find the funding for it, it seems very important to send first and second years on international experiences. Listening to the second years who had been last year, they were getting to operate with an incredible level of autonomy, see incredible things, in a small way help a lot of people. I’m sure all of them are better medical students and eventually better physicians, for their experience over there.
For the first years going this year, good luck and do some good over there guys.
I love the image of huddled, needy children in the background. I suspect that these are the type of people who will be helped by sending a group of MS1s to some third world country — armed with their knowledge of anatomy, biochemistry, and how to go through the motions of a physical exam. It’s wonderful to travel; it’s even better to feel that in doing so you have accomplished something worthwhile. I can’t be sure what the “angle” of this fundraiser was, but they might have done better to replace the picture of poor Ethiopian children with a picture of eager looking medical students. It’s not like they’re building a freaking community water purifier. It’s a medical vacation; and whatever benefit is derived will belong solely to the student.
Your comment displays either incredible naivete or you have been going on the wrong international mission trips. These guys and gals will be doing a lot of good and putting in a lot of work. Keep your criticism to yourself unless you have valid, legitimate knowledge on which you base it. You have no idea about this specific program or likely international efforts that involve medical students in general.
Your friend,
Beguez Cesar
p.s.
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