For your upcoming clinical elective there are many options available. AMSA can help you organise an elective through IFMSA, and can provide you with information to help you organise your own exchange.
IFMSA Exchanges
IFMSA stands for International Federation of Medical Student Associations. AMSA is lucky to be part of the IFMSA exchange program that coordinates 8000+ exchanges every year. The electives are usually bilateral. This means your medical school welcomes a student just as you are looked after overseas. The IFMSA electives are 4 weeks long. By participating you will be supporting global health equality through the bilateral nature of the exchange. Please click here for more information.
Do It Yourself
Most students organise their own elective through personal contacts. Your medical faculty may have a database of previous elective placements. Please talk to your local medical society or university electives officer for advice. Some companies organise elective programs. These are generally costly.
As well as your medical schools contacts and elective programs you might consider the following agencies:
- Child family health international
- Cross cultural solutions.org
- Teaching-hyphen abroad .co.uk
- TEN - The Electives Network
- Calcutta village project - preference to Aussie students
- MDA national database
AMSA also provides this electives survival guide to help you better prepare for your trip at http://www.ihealthnet.net/electives
MDA National - "The Electives Network (TEN)"
If you're thinking of planning your own overseas elective don't forget to check out MDA National's electives database to get an idea of which countries would suit you and contact details for hundreds of hospitals around the globe. Click here to be taken to the electives network.
