Global health concerns impact every medical professional today. While many health issues appear local, they often connect to worldwide challenges.
Climate-related illnesses, vaccine inequality, and pandemic responses demonstrate how health challenges transcend borders. And as these global issues grow, more students aim to participate, seeking meaningful ways to contribute. One way to get involved is through internships.
Internships in global health offer you various benefits, from deeper cultural understanding to job opportunities. Read on to learn how you can do your part in the initiative and make a difference.
Exploring Your Interests Within Global Health
Only a handful of students truly have a vision of what they want to pursue when getting into global health. Don’t stress about it too much—it’s perfectly normal. The field is broad, so the smart way to start is by identifying what’s meaningful to you.
Try pinpointing specific areas you’re interested in. For example, mental health advocacy might strike a chord. Or you’re curious about infectious diseases and how to contain them. You might also gravitate toward public health campaigns or clinical assistance.
From there, consider your strengths and academic background. If you excel in biology, you could participate in tropical disease research. Do you have excellent communication skills? Your talent may aid health equity awareness movements. When you match your abilities with your passions, it makes the search for an internship easier.
Even if you don’t have it all figured out yet, don’t panic. Apply for an internship anyway, and through experience, you might find the answers. Several non-profit organizations have programs on global health initiatives where interns can gain practical knowledge while making a difference. You’ll visit a community in low- to middle-income countries and provide healthcare while training locals on basic hygiene and first aid.
Types of Global Health Internships
Internships in global health initiatives take many shapes and forms. Here are some of the options you can consider:
Research Internships
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Some opportunities are more research-heavy, focusing on data collection or literature reviews. You can get involved in global health by joining epidemiological studies. Science, pre-med, or public health program students might find this type interesting.
Clinical or Field-Based Internships
These internships are more hands-on. You may shadow doctors or assist in health screenings in mobile clinics as part of your responsibilities. And as an intern here, you could also participate in global health education programs. These types are ideal for those considering careers in nursing or community health.
Policy and Advocacy Internships
This route is suitable if you want to support an international NGO or health-focused government department. Here, you’ll gain more exposure to global health issues and how local organizations address them. You might write policy briefs, coordinate events, and research various health systems.
Where to Find Global Health Internship Opportunities
Finding internships in global health initiatives might sound complicated, but it really isn’t. Many universities often know of health-related programs looking for interns. Professors, such as those in health or global affairs departments, might also have some leads. If your school has a university career center, start looking for options there.
Well-known global health organizations usually offer internship programs, too. UNICEF, WHO, and USAID are just some examples. You can find either summer or year-round opportunities available.
Another place to find internships is online. Sites like LinkedIn can help you when you type in specific keywords for your search. Several non-profit organizations should also have official websites. Check them out for global health initiatives abroad you can participate in.
What to Expect in Global Health Initiatives
Once you find and successfully apply for an internship opportunity, it’s important to be flexible. Not all programs work the same way. For instance, you could be doing administrative work in the first week and then assisting on the field in the next. As an intern, you should be ready to adapt, pitch in when needed, and learn from any experience.
If you’re completing your internship abroad, expect some significant challenges, too. Language barriers, tough living conditions, and cultural differences are some hurdles interns face. However, those challenges lead to growth, especially in global health. Sometimes, you must be in other people’s shoes to understand their situation and provide appropriate solutions.
There are a lot of rewards to global health internships, from real-world skills to improved empathy for others. The lessons you learn could give you a clearer sense of professional direction.
Long-Term Impact on Career and Personal Growth
Taking part in global health initiatives through internships may push you toward a fulfilling career. They offer substantial benefits that extend well beyond the internship itself.
Practical Experience
Internships are where you put theory learned in school into practice. They allow you to apply your lectures to situations where real people are affected.
A massive benefit to global health internships is practical exposure. Some interns’ tasks include assisting in child health, brainstorming on educational programs, and organizing logistics for international outreach. Even ‘desk jobs’ offer insight into how global health initiatives are developed, funded, and executed.
Networking
Being an intern puts you in places where you’ll meet others participating in global health initiatives. You can build connections with other medical professionals, researchers, and advocates you’ll work with. These people are helpful when the time comes to find job openings or make graduate school plans.
Mentorship is also a great opportunity you can gain through networking. Getting advice from an expert in the field will come in handy in med school or once you start working.
Cultural Awareness and Global Citizenship
Besides career benefits, the experience cultivates a global mindset all healthcare workers should have. It encourages you to engage in broader causes bigger than yourself.
As you pursue your internship abroad, you develop cultural awareness. Working in different places, especially underserved areas, opens your eyes to the real world. You grow more empathic, adaptable, and socially and economically aware.
Internships help you realize that you’re a citizen of the world. You, too, have a sense of responsibility to everyone on the planet. So, if you aim to leave a positive mark in the world, internships are a great place to start.
Final Thoughts
Getting involved in global health initiatives is a fantastic way to contribute to the world. And you can do that by pursuing an internship. Through the experience, you’ll learn more about global challenges and maybe provide fresh outlooks and solutions to old problems. With so many opportunities available, you can be part of the cause for equal healthcare for all.