International Medical Aid (IMA) has a primary mission of providing health care assistance in underserved regions of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. We offer job shadowing programs to healthcare practitioners and students in the regions most in need, these experiences that can be truly life-altering.
IMA is more than doctors in underserved areas. Our goal is to help the next generation of healthcare professionals start right by offering transformative opportunities during their pre-healthcare education. These are the types of experiences that not only will get you into the best medical schools but also give you an edge once you enter and help build a lasting professional network.
Benefits of Shadowing
International Medical Aid’s job shadowing program offers the following benefits for students and healthcare professionals:
For Students:
Gain firsthand exposure to the daily work of healthcare professionals.
Experience the realities of medical practice, particularly in resource-limited settings where innovative care is often required.
Deepen understanding of professionalism and medical ethics.
For Healthcare Professionals:
Mentor future medical professionals.
Share insights into ethical decision-making and real-world clinical challenges.
The AAMC guidelines for ethical clinical shadowing are followed throughout the experience. Students observe only, never participate in patient care or anything resembling medical practice. Failure to honor these guidelines violates the ethical code protecting the rights and privileges of doctors, students, and patients alike.
At IMA, we want your clinical experience to feed your passion for medicine. We believe that volunteering in Kenya, Tanzania, or Peru offers growth most can only dream of.
Areas Served
Our goal is to serve the areas of the world that are most in need of quality medical care.
East Africa
Since 2012, IMA has served Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—regions where poverty and resource shortages remain critical. While conditions are improving, our goal is to maintain a strong presence through mobile clinics, hospitals, and a network of international healthcare professionals. IMA also build cultural bridges between tribal leaders and governments to ensure lasting access to care.
South America
IMA began its mission in Ecuador in 2012, where access to healthcare remains limited despite consistent presence and regional growth. Fewer than half the population has medical access, and Ecuador is still considered the poorest country in Latin America. While a Universal Health Care system exists, corruption and fragmentation continue to hinder progress.
IMA has expanded into Colombia which is in a transitional state An estimated 6 million people remain displaced due to past violence. Healthcare needs stem not only from resource shortages but also from the long-term effects of conflict. Colombia now faces rising cases of conditions typically seen in more developed nations.
Caribbean
Haiti remains one of the most underserved regions, especially after the 2010 earthquake deepened its existing poverty and strained an already fragile healthcare system. It is now one of IMA’s newest focus areas for medical intervention.
The challenges in Haiti is similar to those in Africa—widespread communicable diseases, limited medical infrastructure, and a critical shortage of supplies. Unfortunately, the publicity that brought in funds after the earthquake has faded, leaving the country in dire need.
Cultural Needs
Our goal is to expose you to diverse cultures. Since IMA operates globally, your experience will vary by region, as cultural needs can differ greatly—or sometimes be surprisingly similar.
Cultural immersion also helps you develop bedside manner, teaching you how to approach patients based on their beliefs and situations. For example, in Kenya, a female provider treating a Muslim man could be seen as disrespectful. These experiences build resourcefulness as you learn when and how to seek help. Over time, you’ll gain confidence in patient interactions, guided by mentors throughout your internship.
Areas of Medicine
It is our goal that your exposure to various areas of medicine can give you meaningful insights. Pre-meds and aspiring PAs will shadow physicians of different specialties, often starting in the Emergency Department or Maternity Ward during prenatal, labor, and delivery, and limited postnatal activities.
Those interested in dentistry will gain access to care in that field, with opportunities to strengthen clinical skills and specific skill sets, while focusing on your educational background can provide you with incredible opportunities to grow your knowledge.
Nursing students can shadow nurses as they work in local hospitals and clinics. If you have already graduated, we can always use nurses looking for an experience of a lifetime, administering top-notch health care to those in need. Physician Assistant students have the opportunity to shadow a Clinical Officer Mentor. This is the equivalent position of a Physician Assistant.
Psychology, psychotherapy, and social work students are given the opportunity to shadow and be mentored by mental health professionals. This job shadowing program can be extremely challenging as cultural stigma prevents many mentally ill individuals from seeking treatment. and IMA is working to bridge that gap.
Malnutrition is rampant in every region that IMA has internships available. Either due to poverty or circumstance, dietetics is an important field. Shadowing our mentors and working in the mobile clinic in areas where a healthy diet can be challenging can prove to be a life-altering experience. One of the benefits of job shadowing is that you will have access to our Graduate and medical school admissions counselors upon completion.
Specialty Focus
Our goal is to let you shadow physicians in the specialties you're focusing your career on. These include:
Emergency Medicine
OB/GYN, Pediatrics
Internal Medicine
General Surgery
The program also offers an opportunity to focus further on the following specialties:
ENT
Epidemiology
Orthopedics
Ophthalmology
and region-specific tropical medicine.
Physician-Assistant students will shadow a Clinical Officer, which is the Kenyan equivalent title.
Patient Interaction
Our goal is to properly introduce you to the etiquette involved with patient interaction. By directly interacting with the patients, you will develop your own style of bedside manner. The patient always comes first, and your interaction cannot be treatment or diagnosis of any type, but there will be opportunities to communicate regularly with the patients. This is where you begin to show the compassion that is leading you to want to become a member of the healthcare field.
Remember that you are not allowed to perform any duties or answer any questions that reach above your level of training. You cannot diagnose, treat, or discuss a patient’s case with them. These guidelines are set in place by the Association of American Medical Colleges and protect both IMA’s liability as well as your own.
Healthcare Policy
Our goal is to help you develop a thorough understanding of healthcare policy and observe the differences between the various healthcare models in developed and developing healthcare systems. Your lecture series will include the reasons why a system can be effective in one country but not in another. Comparing models is enlightening, and seeing them in action offers an incomparable experience.
Adventures Beyond Medicine
At IMA, we believe a well-rounded internship, one that includes experiencing cultural exploration alongside clinical experience. Enjoy guided tours like African safaris, Mount Kilimanjaro, or Machu Picchu in South America during your downtime.
24/7 Support: Your Project Coordinator is available around the clock and may live on-site.
Comfort & Connectivity: Residences include Wi-Fi, local cell phones, and meals by a professional chef (local and American fare).
Safe Travel: You’ll be escorted outside the residence and provided daily transportation to clinics or hospitals.
Insurance: Each intern receives a $1M travel insurance policy covering medical/dental care, evacuation, lost luggage, and trip interruptions. Personal health insurance is also recommended.