Connect-123 Medical and Healthcare Internships

My time in Cape Town was truly memorable. I had the opportunity to complete an observership/internship at the hospital where I was able to learn from the Department of Neurosurgery. My healthcare experience was a well-rounded one as I also had the opportunity to observe other scopes of practice, such as anesthesia, child life, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy. Not only was I able to observe surgeries, clinics, and ward rounds, but I was also given the opportunity to assist with data entry to help transfer the department over to an electronic note system. This experience was incredibly helpful for me to gain more exposure to healthcare and to become more confident in the career path that I want to follow. Cape Town itself is a beautiful city to be in and I met a lot of great people from all over the world. The coordinators were always happy to help with anything and they played a key role in making my experience as memorable as it was!

I was able to experience Child Life in a different culture, working with various patients and their families in a healthcare setting different than I was used to. It helped me to step out of my comfort zone and realize how important the power of play is for all kids! I made so many memories and lifelong friends while studying in Cape Town ( the views are just breathtaking) that I will cherish forever! It was truly the best experience I’ve ever been given and thank you Connect123 for being there every step of the way!

I knew I needed medical research experience for the field I want to go into, but I also have quite the travel bug. I did a lot of research trying to find out who could give me exactly what I wanted. Honestly, most of my time was spent figuring out which company was the most credible. I stumbled upon Connect 123 and contacted them right away. After a few conversations, I knew that they were the right choice. From there the process was so simple. They found me a healthcare research position and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve never been afraid to go somewhere far on my own, so I didn’t have any initial reservations. I arrived in Dublin and felt right at home. Within an hour of being there, my program coordinator, Nikki, was at my doorstep and welcomed me with open arms. I think that made the transition easier than expected. She checked in with me every few weeks to make sure things were going smoothly and even arranged trips and meet-ups for everyone to get to know each other. My boss and coworkers were the greatest, most helpful people I probably could’ve worked with. They taught me so much about everything that goes into medical research and included me in everything they did. I was always made to feel like I was a part of the team, despite the fact that I was only going to be there for a short amount of time. Three months seems like an eternity, but even now it wasn’t enough time for me to explore the beautiful country that is Ireland. I now feel as though it is my second home. Nothing will ever compare to the time I spent living in Dublin, what I learned during my internship, and every person I met along the way.

I had been in many hospitals, volunteering and shadowing but never actually participating. Connect 1-2-3 gave me the opportunity to participate which in my opinion is the best way to learn something. One day I was working in orthopedics and a common thing that would occur would be replacing the bandage on hip implant patients. As I finished putting the bandage on the woman started to cry and gave me a huge hug. I will never forget that moment solely because even though we didn't speak the same language, there are some things that are universal. I have never felt more helpful than in that moment. Experiences similar to this one make this program so unique because it gives you the ability to experience and form connections that would've been impossible in other ways.

My internship at Shanghai was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my life. Firstly, a big thank you to Connect-123 for speedily setting everything up and allowing me to not have to worry about anything. At my request, Connect-123 arranged this internship for me within the short duration of 2 weeks. Everything was very satisfactory and they constantly kept in touch with me and checked in to see how I was doing (they still do now).

My internship was at an international private hospital in Shanghai. At first, I assumed this internship would just be a long shadowing experience with just shadowing day after day. However, at the hospital, they arranged for me jobs according to my skill and allowed me to learn a lot more than I would have in any other hospital. Everyone was so welcoming and open, and the doctors were all very patient with me (they would explain every case and have a discussion with me after every visit). I also was able to shadow some surgeries while I was there, which were also great to watch. But most of all, I think what is great about this hospital is that as long as you're eager to learn and show them your passion to learn more, they definitely will accommodate your desires. (Lunch was also super cheap, filling, and delicious.)

Outside of work, the Connect-123 team was also very helpful and would set up weekly trips and dinners. I got to know some of the other interns, and you would be surprised at the variety of people and internships you'll see there. Shanghai is a very vibrant and exhilarating city with lots to explore (and eat), so you definitely won't be bored as long as you're willing to get out there.

Thanks again for this invaluable opportunity, Connect-123!