For the purposes of our program, we describe senior medical students as students in their 3rd and 4th years in the United States and Canada; and 4th, 5th, and 6th year medical students in 5 or 6-year medical programs. We are also flexible in accommodating elective placements for medical students looking for extended programs like the 10-month electives for Switzerland. Check out our blogs and testimonials for the different learning experiences by our past students.

Elective Africa’s senior medical program is chiefly geared to offer an immense level of hands-on experience and knowledge in various clinical specialties. In these instances, the student has the option of carrying out their elective in one hospital for the entire period or may choose to have a more diversified experience in Kenya or Tanzania by carrying out chosen periods of their elective in diverse hospitals hosted by Elective Africa, hence the split program placement option. This enables the student to formulate a realistic comparison of healthcare in different settings. For example rural versus urban healthcare system. 

Our medical students placement programs has additional benefits such as to be able to see diseases at advanced stage cases not encountered in the developed world and also have an exposure to see management of tropical diseases such as malaria. It is also important to note that you will find the hospitals are under resources and the medical professionals have to work with limited resources to treat patients.

Let us know the department or medical area of your interest to enable us do a tailored placement; encompassing anything from the clinical fields of

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Peadiatrics
• Clinical Medicine
• Emergency Medicine and Critical care
• General and Orthopeadic Surgery to the specialities of E.N.T
• Ophthalmology and Radiology

The student is also guided and refreshed on the application of theoretical knowledge attained in junior years of his/her learning process e.g. in the subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Community Health, Pharmacology and Pathology.

Students have the opportunity of selecting various hospitals that host Elective Africa in our various destinations. The students may contact us at info@electiveafrica.com for further details on various locations. The medical program most suited for senior medical students is based in Arusha Tanzania, and in Kenya in Mombasa, Malindi & Nairobi.

Student rotations and ward work are organized in a manner that most benefits the student, both in attaining practical experience and integrating knowledge and also in an approach that serves to benefit patient care.

Students are directed by the supervising doctors and other mentors to enable them to draw an understanding of diverse aspects relating to the care of the patient e.g.

·      Relevant history taking in various body systems

·      Physical examination

·      Relevant laboratory investigations and their interpretation

·      Arriving at pertinent diagnoses and appropriate treatment measures

·      Various procedures in the clinical medicine and pediatric rotations may be viewed or carried out, under supervision and may include: administration of various types of injections, lumbar punctures, insertion of intravenous cannulae, nasogastric intubation, lymph node biopsies etc

·      The student may be allowed to observe and assist in various general and orthopedic surgeries, under supervision

·      Within the obstetric and gynecology department, the student is required to take relevant history, carry out physical examination and formulate a pertinent diagnosis and management scheme. He/she may be permitted to view or assist in various procedures, under supervision. These may include: Normal deliveries, Caesarean sections, Tubal ligations and several others.

In any given rotation, a proactive liaison with the hospital staff and senior consultants is recommended.

The hospital may allow senior medical students the opportunity to assess and interact with patients and formulate their own clinical impressions based on these evaluations under supervision of the hospital's medical officers (an equivalent of senior House officer) and consultants in various clinical specialties. Various procedures may be performed under supervision and depend on the clinical rotation the student is engaged in at the time.

A variety of disease entities and medical conditions will be encountered in various systems and fields of medicine. A proactive liaison with the hospital staff and senior consultants is recommended

We also organise for the students safari add ons at the end of the program to parks in either Kenya or Tanzania, including a hike to Mt. Kilimanjaro. See the safari link at http://electiveafrica.com/safari