Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Costa Rica

During this trip I have not only learned many new skills about veterinary medicine but I have also felt a great level of accomplishment and what it feels like to make a difference in local communities who need it. After clinic days, i went home feeling incredibly proud of what I had done that day. The staff members are incredibly nice and will go out of their way to help you always. I have also had the opportunity to learn spanish and make toms of new friends including my homestay family who were extremely welcoming. I loved the recreational days as they allowed us to see the beauty of the country (horseback riding, beaches, hot springs). I would definitely say that this trip has changed me for the better and i am going home feeling like i have made a small difference in the world.

Overall super amazing trip! If you’re social and like to make friends then this trip is good for you. It was very hands on and educational. Within the matter of 6 clinic days I learned more than I ever would in Canada. This trip allowed us to have so many new experiences and try new things that we would’ve never imagined before. Although we do get freedom on this trip to go to restaurants etc. There was never a time I felt concerned about my safety on this trip. All the staff members are super fun, helpful and, will never make you feel dumb for asking any questions. Not only that but the homestays were my favourite part of this whole trip. Although I speak no Spanish, my Spanish mom made me feel welcomed and had amazing food (and wifi). I can honestly say this has been such an amazing experience.

The Veterinary Program through Vida is absolutely phenomenal! I learned a bunch through hands on experience with veterinarians and program directors. The veterinarians I worked with were very patient and kind while teaching me how to place catheters and ET tubes in our patients. Caring for my patients from registration through recovery allowed me to provide quality services and comfort for the animal. Over the course of the trip I experienced a variety of aspects of veterinary medicine including surgery and working with owners. I really enjoyed immersing myself in the culture and having the opportunity to travel around a large portion of the country. I would recommend a Vida trip to anyone seeking new adventures and leaning while having a good time!

This was the best experience. I had no previous experience being a veterinarian, and I learned so much from these two clinical days. The first day was hard trying to figure out everything, but the staff was always there to help. We were busy, but the work was so fulfilling that no one wanted the day to be over. I would definitely recommend this, and I am considering doing this program again another year.

the most difficult part of the trip were the long days of travel, however we took frequent breaks and for the most part it was nice to relax. All the staff were really friendly and interactive with us, very willing to help us learn any skills.

The hardest part with the clinics was that there ended up being 5 doctors so we rarely repeated sx with the same doctor. This was difficult because even if we had done the same sx several times, if we'd never done it with that doctor before, they didn't really know our experience level.

I had a wonderful time on this trip and am definitely thinking about going back next year. Getting real hands on experience in my field was wonderful. The homestays were a great experience as well. I felt that I learned about Costa Rican culture as well as made a difference.

Very well organized and executed trip. I especially enjoyed the home stay portion. The clinics were well run. There was a good mix of clinic days and recreation days and the recreation events were fun.

I really enjoyed the efforts that VIDA makes to immerse us in the culture while we were traveling. The home stays and night activities were wonderful and very genuine, which was great!

The clinic days were excellent learning experiences and the local vets we worked with were very helpful and patient.

Overall, a solid international learning program. VIDA has some wonderful relationships with communities around the country and that is priceless.