“[My residents] treated me like an actual intern and not like a student. Even though it was tough in the beginning it was very helpful to boost up my confidence and get an idea of what it would be like to be a resident in the United State. I ended up doing a lot of work because they pushed me to it. This made me realize that I can fit it into the system. ”
– Noor Shoukat – Shifa College of Medicine (Pakistan)

“I think it’s important for medical students doing surgery to know that it’s not just the residents you learn from. It’s also the nurses and everyone else. You must introduce yourself and write your name on the board so people can help you. They are going to teach you a lot beyond what is happening in the surgery.”
– Samia Ellias, Topiwala National Medical College (India)

“If you are interested in cardiology, this is a must-do elective. Besides the  CICU, you are gifted the clinics and the cath lab experience which makes this elective special. At home, we don’t get much exposure to cath lab and don’t get to watch many procedures. Here, we were allowed to watch a number of procedures. We just had to request the attending and it was always scheduled.”
– Zain Chunawala, Seth GS Medical College (India)

“This has been a great experience for me and has been new for me. We are here 5 days a week, we do research and read about it. And then finally we go to the clinics and see the patients and they are exactly how we read it.”
– Sherley Chhibber, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College (India)

“The entire nephrology team is very thorough with their patient work up. I learned how to analyze urine samples and was also able to witness the placement of a dialysis catheter. The rotation also helped me polish my case presentation skills.”
– Nishad Barve, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (India)

“I chose a rotation that was technically hard and advanced, laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery, I didn’t expect to be able to give a hand since it is very technical and way beyond my level. But I was taught a lot about those procedures and techniques. I was able to train through simulation in the lab and residents were always there to help and give me tips. They taught me some tricks on how to perform those procedures even though I couldn’t do them on real patients, which is what I was prepared for from the beginning.”
-Patrick Cherfan, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

“The diseases are so new and so complex in this elective. For example, UNC is giving patients treatment that is not provided anywhere else. I felt that this was the forefront of treatment and UNC is using cutting edge technology. I’ve never seen this type of patient care before, it’s very up to date. These are things I never would have experienced anywhere else.”
– Rukhsaar Khanam, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (India)

“It can be very overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time in the US, it can be very intimidating, so just be yourself and there’s nothing to be afraid of. That’s what I learned because I was scared when I came. Just be confident about what you know and what you do because the way that they do things here can be very different from the way they do things in your home school, and you might feel a little out of place or you might start doubting yourself, thinking that you don’t know stuff. But it’s alright, I think people here understand that you’re from a different background, so it’s alright to just be yourself.”
– Ishani Mehta, Topiwala National Medical College (India)

“I really liked both of my electives, and they gave me two different experiences, but were both really enriching. I definitely feel like I am more ready to join the American medical system. My skills in terms of note taking, history taking, and examinations have really gotten better because I have had amazing residents and attendings and fellows who have always been so forthcoming and very willing to teach.”
-Rishanki Jha, Kasturba Medical College Manipal (India)

“It was interesting because it was so fast-paced. In the morning, we had morning rounds and I’d never done that! So, as a medical student being exposed to that was fun because I got to see and take care of so many patients on my own.”
– Saamia Javed, C.M.H. Lahore Medical College (Pakistan)