Surgery Electives Abroad
Surgery Electives Abroad
Go-Elective’s Surgery Electives/Clerkship Programs Abroad are designed to provide exposure to basic and complex surgical procedures in a unique international setting. Our programs offer supervised hands-on experience in various surgical specialties fostering a deep understanding of the everyday activity of surgeons in busy underesourced healthcare centers.
You'll have the opportunity to rotate through government hospitals and community healthcare facilities in East Africa. During this experience, you'll have a chance to compare and contrast the challenges and rewards of surgery in these diverse settings, contributing not only to your skill set but also to the healthcare of the local community.
Our surgery electives cater to medical students, senior medical students, surgery residents, and medical volunteers. The customized programs align with medical school requirements and personal rotation objectives.
Program Duration & Schedule
The duration of our placements program abroad is flexible, ranging from 2-12 weeks. You can choose the start and end dates that suit your schedule and align with your school’s requirements.
Weekdays include hospital rotations from 8 am to 1 pm, leaving afternoons for exploring, attending global health seminars, language lessons, or relaxing at the residence. You can also choose to extend clinical hours with additional hospital shifts.
Weekends offer relaxation, embarking on safaris, spending time with kids at local schools or participating in our volunteer work such as providing preventive health education.
What’s Included in the Program
Go Elective offers a comprehensive surgery internship abroad package.
We provide pre-trip support; airport transfers; 24/7 assistance; safe, spacious, and comfortable housing; private transport; unlimited Wi-Fi access; laundry services; chef-prepared meals tailored to personal dietary preferences; hospital fees; orientation; mentorship/training; residence-based weekly global health seminars; language lessons; recommendation letter/certificate of participation; volunteering opportunities as well as a chance to explore the destination, hike Mt. Kilimanjaro or go on a safari.
Why Choose Go Elective?
In today’s interconnected world, gaining a global healthcare perspective is essential. International surgery placements enable cultural interaction, skill adaptation, and practical, hands-on learning beyond the classroom.
This program introduces students to general surgical principles, covering pre-op evaluation, intra-op decision-making, and post-op care, while addressing surgical illnesses, surgical critical care, and non-operative care of critically ill patients. Besides, our surgery elective programs abroad come with distinct advantages including:
Flexible Program Durations and Dates
You can tailor your experience to your schedule. Our program durations range from 2 to 12 weeks, allowing you to choose dates that work best for your educational and professional commitments.
Global Health Impact
You will gain international exposure by exploring diverse surgical approaches worldwide and immersing yourself in various procedures performed by experienced surgeons. You?ll also Experience firsthand the impact of limited resources, poverty, and socio-cultural traditions on healthcare delivery. In regions with minimal access to health care, your contribution becomes crucial.
Unique Clinical Experiences
With a shortage of surgeons in the region, you'll encounter diverse operative experiences, contributing to both your skill set and the local community's healthcare.
Residents get to participate in bedside rounds and intra-operative experiences, diagnosing and treating surgical diseases in an austere environment, refining efficiency and adaptability skills.
Exposure to Diverse Specialties
Explore a range of specialties, including Orthopedic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Pediatric Surgery, Burn Surgery, Trauma and Emergency Surgery, and General Surgery.
Hands-On Learning in the Operating Room
Enhance suturing skills, experience invasive techniques, and broaden trauma assessment acumen. Shadow experienced surgeons in the operating room, asking questions at appropriate moments and adhering to professional standards.
Community Outreach and Volunteering
Participate in community outreach programs, volunteering in local orphanages, schools, and health education initiatives. Contribute to the well-being of the communities where we operate.
Insightful Global Healthcare Seminar
Engage in biweekly residence-based seminars, providing in-depth discussions on the healthcare system in the host country. Attend sessions with local healthcare professionals, gaining a broader perspective.
Safety and Support
Your well-being is our top priority. We ensure your safety with secure accommodations and provide 24/7 support through designated mentors and other staff.
Safaris & Cultural Immersion
Why travel so far and miss out on exploring your placement destination? Consider a safari in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti, or, for hikers, the chance to conquer Africa's tallest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. These opportunities await when you open yourself to exploring beyond your familiar borders. Picture yourself immersed in a new country, navigating vibrant markets, and sampling exotic cuisines.
Unique Program Highlights
Our programs are located in regions with unique healthcare challenges. Kenya, for instance, grapples with a shortage of surgeons, resulting in a distinct doctor-to-patient ratio. Limited resources lead to different approaches to healthcare delivery, such as prescribing medication when resources are scarce. Traditional medicine is also practiced in some hospitals, and research into its effectiveness is ongoing.
Resources are often limited, and emergencies can be challenging due to a lack of equipment. Patients and their families are typically expected to pay for treatment unless they have health insurance, which many cannot afford. Patients may present with advanced conditions, and you'll have the opportunity to contribute to research on diseases like TB and Malaria.
Beyond medicine, these regions offer remarkable experiences, from unwinding on palm-lined beaches to encountering elephants, lions, and giraffes on safari.
Hospital Profile
One of our featured hospitals is the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, with a rich history dating back to 1908. It's now the second-largest public hospital in Kenya, serving a primary population of over a million people and a secondary population of about 3 million. Patients travel from across Kenya and East Africa to seek high-quality and compassionate healthcare at this institution.
We also work with other public and private healthcare centers in Mombasa, Malindi Nairobi, Kakamega, and Arusha in Tanzania.
Elective Supervision & Mentorship While Abroad
Upon your arrival, our staff will meet you at the airport and drive you to our residence, allowing you to relax after your journey. The following day, you will receive a local area orientation, followed by a hospital induction.
During the hospital induction, you will be assigned a doctor mentor who will guide you throughout the program. We maintain daily communication with your supervisor to ensure your learning experience stays on track and aligns with your objectives.
GE Elective Programs Health & Safety
Our program residences are situated in the safest parts of the cities where we work. Each residence is in a gated community with security staff available all through. The accommodations might involve sharing a room with one other person depending on the number of participants at that particular time.
The residences are equipped with a TV, Wi-Fi, kitchen, dining area, and access to a swimming pool. Additionally, we offer private transportation to the destinations.
Available Specialties
GE offers surgery placements in a wide range of specialties including General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Pediatric Surgery, Burn Surgery, Trauma, and Emergency Surgery. Participants also gain insight into preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative patient care.
Kindly note that there are a limited number of slots for each department, so we recommend securing your spot as early as possible. We maintain a controlled number of students to uphold the quality of our surgical placements.
Scope, Task & Responsibilities of Medical Students in Our Surgery Program
Students will have access to the clinical area, however, tasks are usually assigned at the discretion of the supervisor after adequate orientation and evaluation of your clinical knowledge or skillset. Some tasks will include:
- Shadowing experienced surgeons in the operating room and asking questions at appropriate moments to deepen your understanding.
- Engaging in bedside rounds and intra-operative experiences with a local surgeon.
- Observing the diagnosis and treatment of surgical diseases in an austere environment.
- Enhancing your suturing skills through observation and practice.
- Gaining exposure to invasive surgical procedures.
- Gaining hands-on experience in acute and reconstruction burn surgeries, contributing to the local community's healthcare while enhancing surgical skills.
- Participating in community outreach programs by volunteering in local orphanages, schools, and health education initiatives.
These activities provide a unique and immersive surgical experience, allowing interns to actively
contribute to healthcare delivery
Adventure Beyond Medicine
We understand that exploring the local culture and attractions is an important part of your experience. In your free time, you'll have the opportunity to go on safaris, join excursions, or even take on adventurous activities like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa.
These optional add-on activities allow you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of the placement destinations.
Preparing for Your Elective Abroad
Before embarking on your surgery elective program, we recommend familiarizing yourself with your designated placement location. Learning about the language, climate, local customs, and culture will enrich your experience and help you adapt more easily. We will cover this in the pre-trip sessions.
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind!
Most applications are solo trips that then join other participants in the program. However,
you are free to travel with a group of friends or classmates. Moreover, you have the option
of extending your experience by inviting your family to join you for a memorable safari at
the program's conclusion.
Note that there may be group discounts available for those who choose to travel with friends
or classmates.
Other Placement Options
Besides healthcare, other work placement options available are Teaching, Community Development, Business Treks, HIV work, Orphanage Work, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and more.
Our programs revolve around volunteering, studying abroad, career exploration, cultural immersion, language study, and gap year programs. Which can all be used for school credit.
2026 & Summer 2027 Electives Applications Ongoing
Apply now for our surgery programs and embark on a transformative journey with Go-Elective. Receive support at every step, from liaising with your university to handling travel paperwork, visas, and flights.
If you're seeking specific advice or more information about our medical internships in 2026 or the summer of 2027 before applying, don't hesitate to reach out. You can email us or click here to schedule a virtual meeting or call.
Scrub up and hit the ground running with Go-Elective's Surgery Electives/Clerkship Program. Enhance your skills, broaden your perspective, and empower yourself to make a difference in global healthcare.
Success Stories from Our Alumni Network
Go Elective surpassed my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the GE staff made me feel at ease. The shadowing experience I got from the rural clinics in Mombasa was incredible, allowing me to see things I don't think I would have seen anywhere else.
Kayla Foord, Premed Internship
Success Stories from Our Alumni Network
Working with a skilled surgeon was incredible, but the real highlight was the eye-opening experience at the Coast General Hospital. It humbled me and showed me the impact that the medical profession can have worldwide.
Matthew O'Donnell, Medical Elective
Go Elective surpassed my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the GE staff made me feel at ease. The shadowing experience I got from the rural clinics in Mombasa was incredible, allowing me to see things I don't think I would have seen anywhere else.
Kayla Foord, Premed Internship
Travel with us.
Inquire Today!
Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.
Partners & Collaborative Ventures
