Resident Experiences
Read about residents' experiences around the world through the Global Health Residency.
Internal Medicine Residents
"As a soon-to-be ID fellow, I sought an intensive clinical experience with a focus on HIV and TB care for my AOC block. Working in Botswana provided good practical experience in the management of both; patients with TB and HIV fill every ward of Scottish Livingstone Hospital (SLH). The medical staffing gaps are marked, so visiting physicians will find that they are welcomed with open arms. " – John Szumowski, Botswana
"I think it is important to get out of the bubble of tertiary care medicine in a place like Boston and see how medicine is practiced in a different culture, with different medical and social problems, and in a more resource poor setting. It is really eye-opening and I think can have a lasting effect even on how you practice medicine back in the States. For that reason, I think it is helpful, even for someone who may not pursue a career in global health" - Jennifer Nierman, Botswana
"I worked 4 days a week on the adult medical wards in the hospital and one day per week in a clinic setting. My days started at 7:30AM with a meeting for all the medical staff to discuss the overnight admissions and other difficult cases. " - Rebecca Zash, Botswana
"It goes without saying that my clinical experience in Botswana was unmatched by any rotation in Boston. As I had hoped, I became more familiar with the diagnosis and management of HIV, TB, and other opportunistic infections during my rotation. I gained confidence in starting and adjusting ARV regimens. I also became more comfortable caring for patients with end-stage HIV." -Lauren Scott, Botswana
"I wanted to participate in this global health elective for several reasons. First, I wanted to broaden my exposure to the various ways medicine is practiced around the world. In particular, I wanted to gain experience in a third world country where resources are scarce. Second, I wanted to gain experience in oncology as I plan to pursue a fellowship in Heme/Onc after residency. Finally, I wanted to conduct a research project to better understand cervical cancer in this region." - Anasuya Gunturi, India
"I feel that I had an educational and meaningful clinical experience in Nicaragua. It was surprising to see how scarce some resources are (such as foley catheter bags), and to see how physicians try to make clever use of the resources that they do have (such as taping an empty saline bag to the end of a foley catheter to turn this into a collecting device)."
- Eric Kerns, Nicaragua
"I found my medical experience to be quite rewarding. I really enjoyed working with such an underserved community. Even though many patients had problems which we were not equipped to deal with, universally everyone was appreciative that we had spent time to come to their community and to practice our craft as best we could."
- Rich Kalman, Nicaragua
