At a glance
- Your chance to stand out from other medical school applicants
- Gain a guaranteed 40+ physician shadowing hours in an international clinical setting
- Participate in 15+ hours of community volunteer service hours
- Learn from expert medical professionals in the ancient city of Kathmandu
- Discover your career path whether that’s in primary care or a specialized field
- Join other pre-med students on a curated itinerary for the adventure of a lifetime
- Download a sample itinerary for this project
Start Dates:
June and July
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Ages:
College student or recent graduate
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Is a Pre-Med Program in Nepal right for me?
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to gain clinical exposure, then this program is for you. This immersive Pre-Med Program in Nepal is the perfect way to elevate your medical school application.
You’ll benefit from a Pre-Med Program if you’re looking for guaranteed physician shadowing hours as well as community service hours. Whatever you need to succeed, our programs are tailored for pre-med students like you.
This is the perfect opportunity to embrace the spiritual culture of Nepal as you develop the competency requirements set out by the AAMC.
By engaging with medical professionals and patients overseas, you’ll gain valuable skills. These will set you apart from other medical school candidates.
This program follows a set itinerary with a group of like-minded students. This offers a balance of clinical exposure and leisure time. Take this chance to network with other passionate medical students and forge lifelong bonds.
“Each applicant needs to be as sure as possible that this is what they want to do with their life. That motivation can be demonstrated through academic achievement and also through exposure to clinical medicine and community service.
MCAT scores do not guarantee that an applicant will be invited to interview. Just as important are extracurricular activities and life experiences.”
- Mickey Foxwell MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine
What will I do on a Medicine Program for pre-med students?
Join a program with unparalleled practical opportunities to propel your medical school application.
Here’s what to expect:
- Experience the realities of healthcare in Nepal.
- Shadow physicians in a busy Kathmandu medical facility, observing how they operate and interact with patients.
- Level up your medical school application as you cultivate AAMC competencies like empathy and communication.
- Visit Kathmandu’s poorer areas to complete medical outreaches, gaining community volunteer service hours.
- Join lectures and workshops to increase your knowledge beyond your college curriculum.
- Study diseases and medical practices unique to Nepal, providing material for a stand-out medical school interview.
- Become immersed in the culture of Nepal, from visiting ancient temples to exploring the mountain lifestyle.
- Outside of your placement, view the majestic Himalayas from the Chandragiri Hill station.
- If you stay more than three weeks, you’ll also visit the scenic city of Pokhara.
Where in Nepal will I be working?
Kathmandu
You’ll be based in Kathmandu, Nepal’s colorful capital. Here, you’ll gain world-class clinical exposure by shadowing qualified medical staff in bustling city hospitals.
Kathmandu is a sprawling city where Himalayan adventurers rub shoulders with ascetic holy men. Every day will be an adventure – you’ll never run out of things to do.
With a population of over three million, hospitals in Kathmandu are often overcrowded, with resources thinly spread. You’ll learn quickly by observing how medical staff manage in such difficult conditions.
Nepal also has problems with many diseases rarely found in the USA, such as tuberculosis, dengue fever, and cyclosporiasis.
There will be plenty of practical cases for you to observe, such as:
- Cleaning wounds
- Putting in stitches
- Giving injections
By traveling to Nepal, you’ll see how healthcare operates in a different cultural setting. This will help you develop a more empathetic bedside manner. Imagine being able to bring up this experience in your medical school interview!
Outside of your placement, you can explore city markets, travel to Pokhara, or hike in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas.
What are the aims and impact of this Pre-Med Program in Nepal?
The aims of this program for pre-med students are to:
- Facilitate first-class medical exposure, broadening your knowledge.
- Provide extra-curricular service hours, freeing your college time to focus on your GPA and MCAT grades.
- Build AAMC competencies, including cultural awareness, communication, and compassion.
- Ensure you stand out from other medical school applicants.
At the same time, you’ll visit Nepal to leave a positive impact, treating disadvantaged community members. Up to 25% of the population in Nepal falls beneath the poverty line, meaning access to basic healthcare is limited for vulnerable groups.
The health concerns facing Nepal include:
- Diarrheal disease, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, and cyclosporiasis.
- Dengue fever, which reached a new peak in 2022.
- Malnutrition, especially among children living in poverty.
- Injuries caused by natural disasters, particularly floods and earthquakes.
- Overburdened and understaffed hospitals.
- A lack of education in poverty-stricken and remote areas.
You’ll help to treat vulnerable community members in Nepal while raising awareness of healthy living. Not only will this provide the community service hours you need, but it’ll also form part of our long-term aim of addressing health needs worldwide.
Food and accommodation
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay: You’ll stay in a hotel in Kathmandu. This will be close to the hospital or clinic where you’ll work. Our staff will show you how to get to your placement during your induction.
Comfort level: Your accommodation in Kathmandu will be modest, but comfortable, with hot showers and Wi-Fi. It’ll be clean and in a safe area.
Who you’ll live with: We’ll try to ensure you share a room with at least one other volunteer or intern, who may even be a pre-med student themselves. The number of people you live with depends on when you travel. Whoever you meet, they’ll become a friend to explore Nepal with.
Learn more about our accommodation.
Food
Daily meals: Three meals a day are included in the project fee. We'll ensure you eat well and can enjoy all that Nepali cuisine has to offer.
Dietary requirements: Our projects cater to a wide range of dietary preferences. We can provide vegetarian, vegan, and halal food. In fact, vegetarianism is widespread in Nepal! You’ll have access to a wide variety of delicious food, no matter what diet you follow.
Nepali cuisine: You’ll eat like a local as you sample traditional food from Nepal. The national dish of Nepal is Dal Bhat, which combines lentil curry, steamed rice, and countless spices. There will be plenty of fresh local vegetables to try as well as endless restaurants for a broad range of meals to choose from.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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