Anna Sobol, M.D., Internal Medicine
MIHP rotation: Kenya, October 2005

"Medical practice has an entirely different flavor in Kenya. Working with extremely limited resources, medicine is stripped to its bare essentials. You exhaust your options relatively quickly, often without a definitive diagnosis and few available diagnostic studies. You are forced to give up much of the control we as American physicians are used to having with the many resources available to us. I can tell you that my medical experience in Kenya was unexpectedly and profoundly fulfilling, certainly an unparalleled experience that I can only be thankful for. The warm, genuine hospitality of the physicians and the support staff, as well as the Sisters who took care of me in the guesthouse, was sincerely appreciated."

Irene Yeh, M.D., Internal Medicine
MIHP rotation: Cambodia, January 2006

"I think that the most important thing I learned while I was there is that healing is not just a physical experience. How you see people and how you look at people changes when you strip away your own cultural assumptions. Building trust with your patients is so crucial. You need to find ways to break down your own assumptions. to begin building that trust."

"Every day there was a new discovery, tearing down old beliefs and building new layers that quickly accumulate as fast as your stimulated senses can take in information. I have learned from the Khmer people that joy and humor can still exist, even in the toughest of circumstances, and have been forever changed by their graciousness and hospitality."

Alrich Gray, M.D., Internal Medicine
MIHP rotation: Jamaica, January 2005

"This away elective was definitely an experience of a lifetime. The open appreciation expressed by the patients I provided care to was overwhelmingly gratifying. The technical hands-on experience was beyond compare. Through the MIHP elective I was availed the opportunity to work along side a wonderful group of people, observe how medicine is practiced in a setting where resources are limited, provide care to an underserved population, and in the process of it all, I was able to reconnect to my Jamaican heritage and regain a deep appreciation towards being a doctor. It was both an honor and a privilege. I thank the MIHP for providing me with a medical experience that will last a lifetime."

Kristin Chrouser, M.D., Urology
MIHP rotation: Nigeria, January 2004

"Providing care in developing countries gives you an opportunity to gain experience in procedures that are rarely, if ever, practiced in the United States anymore. It also shows you how much it is possible to accomplish even with very limited resources."

"Every resident should step out of their comfort zone and see how medicine is practiced where the majority of the world's people live. We have a duty to the developing world to share our knowledge and expertise. Institutions like Mayo are setting the standard. If every residency program in the country required this type of rotation, we would change the face of medicine in the Third World."

Sung Bae Lee, M.D., Neurology
MIHP rotation: Kenya, December 2004

"As I began my work in the medical ward, I saw the reality of third-world medicine. As a neurology resident, I did not have the comforts of a CT scanner or an MRI. I was equipped only with basic laboratory tests, an x-ray machine, and my physical exam. It was not comfortable, but I wanted to be there."

"I am thankful for the clinical experiences that I had at Tenwek (Hospital). However, more importantly, I am grateful for the relationships that were formed during my time there. It was humbling to work with such dedicated colleagues, who have shared their lives with my wife and me. They have shown me how hope, compassion, and solid medical care are not only found in advanced, well-equipped hospitals, but can also be provided by the dedicated individuals of a third-world country."

Linda Lee, M.D., Pediatrics
MIHP rotation: Kenya, December 2004

"Since I was the "highest ranking" medical officer that day, many people were asking me questions. While there was much that I felt I could offer in regards to basic inpatient medical management of babies and children, there was so much that I felt I did not know about the common diseases prevalent there, such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and serious diarrheal illnesses, with which I had previously almost no experience in the U.S."

"We will never forget our short, one-month stay in Kenya, and we will never be the same as a result of it. My husband and I were so incredibly blessed to be a part of the work at Tenwek. We returned with a sense of deep appreciation for the medical training and facilities that we are privileged to have, both as practitioners and patients. Our hope is that we can continue to use our training and skills to help provide medical care and education to underserved areas. Our trip to Kenya has confirmed that though such work is often strenuous, it is clearly worth it."

Kelli Bernice Ingram, M.D., Dermatology
MIHP rotation: Ensenada, Mexico, July 2005

"The patient population was wonderful. Most waited for a long time in line to be seen and were already there before our arrival. The cases seen were also very interesting and allowed us to see dermatologic cases we were not used to on darker skin. We saw both adult and pediatric cases. We saw everything from sun-induced diseases to infectious to cosmetic complaints...

The mission was a wonderful way to be introduced to third world medicine and practicing with limited resources. The patients were all very interesting and very appreciative. The group you are with is formed by superb people and is very well organized. You see patients, you treat with what you have and can use and you don't have to worry about billing and over documentation. You are there to treat people and that is what you do. It reminds you why you wanted to become a doctor in the first place."