Most, if not all, pre-health and medical students pursue an internship. It’s seen as a necessary rite of passage for future healthcare professionals. And while some complete their internships locally, others pursue theirs abroad, which provides many advantages.
Physician assistant internships abroad might be the right move for you. Not convinced? Read on to learn how they benefit you.
1. Helps You See if the Career Path Is Right for You
Being a physician assistant isn’t a walk in the park, making it essential to understand its realities. And one of the best ways to see if it’s the right role for you is through international internships.
International internships offer invaluable insight by immersing you in medical environments and clinical simulations. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, you’ll gain hands-on healthcare experience and exposure to diverse patient care settings.
In a physician assistant internship abroad, you’ll also get to understand crucial aspects of the role, such as managing clinical responsibilities and interacting with patients. This can help you confidently assess if this challenging career aligns with your aspirations.
2. Helps You Transition Between School and Work Easier
One edge interns have over those without internship experience is the ability to transition from school to work easily. School environments are vastly different from the real world. While they teach you theoretical lessons on medical practices, internships allow you to put those lessons into practice.
Pre-PA students with experience in the field can usually adapt better to their workplaces. Physician assistant internships teach them most of what they need to do once they begin their careers. Instead of doing tasks within four walls, typically a controlled place, you get to feel what it’s truly like to work in an environment that constantly changes.
3. Boosts Your Resume
Employers in the healthcare field often receive a lot of applications from medical school graduates. So, to stand out, you need to bump up your resume. And you can do that by completing physician assistant internships.
Many internships include shadowing experience, where you’ll follow and observe a professional on duty. Besides expanding your knowledge, employers would also want to see this involvement in your curriculum vitae.
Most employers also actively seek physician assistant candidates with a strong foundation of both soft and hard skills, which pre-PA internships help build. Through these experiences, you can develop and showcase excellent communication, problem-solving abilities, and solid medical skills—all paramount qualities in the field. Additionally, possessing cultural competence and proficiency in other languages can be a significant advantage, especially if you’re interested in international healthcare environments.
4. Expands Professional Networks
Ever wondered how medical professionals know so many others in the field? Internships are one of the reasons why. Completing physician assistant internships abroad often lets you end up with a wider network than before.
Being an intern in another country introduces you to interns from around the globe and local medical workers. So, build strong connections with these people for personal or professional purposes. You never know when you’ll need a helping hand once you obtain your license or seek employment opportunities.
For example, you need letters of recommendation to apply to a physician assistant program. The network of medical professionals and mentors you built during your internship could provide them for you.
5. Broadens Your Knowledge of International Healthcare
Medicine is constantly evolving with discoveries and new trends in clinical research. As a future professional in healthcare, you should also keep up with developing tech and information. And healthcare itself has varying models depending on the country.
Pursuing physician assistant internships could open your eyes to these systems. Participating in health-related programs and clinical tasks abroad brings to light differences and similarities. The experience uncovers the field’s flaws and strengths, which teaches you how to be a better healthcare provider.
6. Opens Doors to International Positions
Medical centers worldwide increasingly need licensed professionals, creating global opportunities. By pursuing physician internships abroad, you can simultaneously explore these possibilities and determine if working overseas aligns with your career goals.
This international experience becomes particularly valuable when applying for positions in countries where you’ve interned. Employers recognize that you’ve already navigated their healthcare system and understand the local work culture, making your transition significantly smoother—almost as if you were a local yourself.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to improve your skills and build a thriving career in healthcare, consider pursuing physician assistant internships abroad. The experience is unlike what you’ll go through in school or local internships. Hence, the benefits are tenfold.
So, seek international internship opportunities, preferably from trusted sources. Checking reputable non-profit organizations or consulting your school career center or your professors could be a great start. Lastly, be open to new things. Your future physician assistant career could benefit significantly from all the lessons you’ll encounter.
