Gap Medics: Pre-medicine programs

I am very pleased with my experience in Thailand. I was very pleasantly surprised with the house I stayed. My hospital placements were very well organised and I managed to see various procedures. I am a, so very happy that I managed to make friends from different countries.

This was one of the best medical placements i have been on, not only was I able to get hands on experience, but the medical staff were so informative and helpful. It's a real eye opener and defiantly gives you an insight of the medical world, if that is what you want to go in to. Accommodation was good, rooms were cleaned daily and provided with AC. The gap medics team were very friendly and helpful and you go away from all this with experience and meeting great students from all over the world.

There are way more programs that would actually allow you to gain experience. When I visited Thailand for three weeks, Gap Medics over booked the houses where the students stayed. This caused confusion and trouble for some of the students and their placements in the hospital. One week while I was there, there were 13 students who did not receive a placement in the hospital because there were too many students. For one whole week, students were required to stay at home and gained no hospital experience. When the students complained and asked for their money back, the program replied "sorry its not our fault". This is completely a fallacious company who is trying to scam students for their money. I would not recommend this program to anyone. Also the program is mostly full of 16 year old. You will not be hands on in this program I can guarantee you that!!!

From the moment I arrived in Tanzania, Gap Medics supported me 100%. They picked me up from the airport, looked after me in the hotel before the bus journey to Iringa, and all the time were more than willing to answer any questions and help out with anything. Akiba in rock house is the most amazing cook, and he is helpful with any dietary requirements you have. Baptista, Mdoe, Nzoni, Stapher and everyone else are all amazing staff from Gap Medics and look after you so well, they are really fun to be around too. The hospital experience is good it exposes you to things you would never see back home. Tanzania is very different, but lovely, and there is nothing more that I want than to go back. (Also, go on the safari in Ruaha national park- AMAZING!)

I cannot put how amazing and insightful this experience was.

I'll begin with the town: a little but busy place with not only beautiful buildings and atmosphere but also beautiful people. The locals were always smiling, dancing and singing. The children were laughing, waving and eager to learn English. It was a stunning place.

The Hospital: I saw and experienced things that would never have been possible in Australia. At the age of only 16, I was worried it would be too confronting but it was actually the perfect situation. The mentors are amazing people and taught me no only medical but life lessons as well. It has completely confirmed my hopes and dream of doing medicine in the future.

The House: It was so cosy and loving, I felt so accepted and everyone learns so much about each other. The showers were a bit dodgy as many people have mentioned but the reality is that your in Africa, it wouldn't be the same with the luxury of a 5 star shower! As for the staff at the house, they really are the most beautiful and inspiration people i have ever met and i will never forget a single one of them.
Jerry, because of his caring nature and continuous need for everyone to be happy and safe.
Mdoe, for always putting smiles on each of our faces.
Akiba, for filling our bellies with amazing food and brighting the day with his singing and dancing.
Queenie, for her motherly love and unforgettable sayings, and Baptista, for the forever smiling, forever laughing and forever positive person that he is.
Basically they were my Tanzanian family, they made me safe, happy, secure and confident.

Sorry about the length but I could honestly go on for days, this program is the most amazing thing I've heard of and you wont regret a single moment of it.

My GapMedics trip to Tanzania was the most incredible experience of my life. I'm currently in medical school back in Australia and I'm constantly finding links to what I saw and did on my trip. It was an invaluable experience. I got to see and do things that I won't see again for years, if at all! Jerry, Baptista and Mdoe were the most beautiful and hilarious program managers/directors in the world and I miss them every day. Akiba's food was wonderful and Katie gave the best hugs. I wish I was back in my Tanzania home.

Going to Tanzania with GapMedics was one of the best things I have ever done. I met amazing people, saw amazing things, went to local markets and little local restaurants hidden away from the tourists, went to safari and on top of all of this I learnt so much. It's difficult to be able to capture how amazing the trip was in just a few words, but it was simply amazing and I would recommend it to everyone. Before going I was scared about my safety, but as long as you are careful it isn't a problem, and the staff are super helpful and sweet. I'm still in contact with the people I met there, and some have turned into great friends. At the end of my trip I spent 3 nights in Zanzibar which was the perfect end to an amazing trip. I definitely recommend doing the full weekend safari, and going to Zanzibar if you get the chance. The food was great, and once a week there was a big bbq night after which we would go out for a bit. Sometimes we would also go into the village in the afternoon after we were done at the hospital for late lunch or a snack.

Going on this trip was honestly the best decision I have made in my life.
A typical day involved waking up and attending ward rounds or watching operations in close proximity. This ended at about 1pm usually, leaving the rest of the day for sightseeing, visiting orphanages, going to nightclubs, having meals out or the weekly football games/BBQ nights! Everyday was completely different. Experiences here will not be matched anywhere else.
Do not miss out on the Safari!