Medical Volunteering in South Africa

I am applying to Physician Assistant school and wanted to have a better perspective of global healthcare. I fell in love with medicine while volunteering in Cape Town, South Africa. There, I was fortunate enough to volunteer at Green Point Clinic, where I was able to gain more than just the skills to diagnose and treat patients; I left feeling reassured that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Tasting the rawness of medicine from rotating between the different fast-paced environments, seeing a patient’s face light up, and having them even wish me luck on my future career, has made this journey worthwhile. I found joy in serving others, interacting with patients, and in helping them with their conditions. The PAs and nurses welcomed me apart of their team and communication to direct patients to diagnosis and treatment options. Being exposed to this environment has given me a better perspective on healthcare. Experiencing this rich cultural immersion has allowed me to be a witness of the plight and struggles of these developing countries. I became apart of their community, and they have enabled me to have personal growth from being a volunteer. In this journey abroad, I was able to reflect on wanting to show my gratitude towards the healthcare community since I was given a second chance at life from my open-heart surgery. One of the moments which have been the greatest things I have been able to cross off my bucket list has been hiking Lion's head because before my heart surgery, this would have been impossible. I had the privilege to visit the Sacred Heart Museum where the first human heart transplant took place. I fell in love with this country from its beauty in the mountains to the views of the sea, and the food. I have traveled as a mission trip volunteer before to many countries, but South Africa is the place where I have wanted to stay forever. I cried leaving because I felt that I have experienced a peace of heaven in this beautiful land. I have to return soon.