My Journey with Elective International: Training the Next Generation of Global Health Leaders

In 2014, I founded Elective International with a simple yet ambitious vision: to give medical and health sciences students the opportunity to gain hands-on global health experience in developing countries. What started as a passion project grew into a transformative program that served more than 10,000 students across six countries before we closed in 2019 due to COVID-19 and global travel restrictions.

The Vision Behind Elective International

As a healthcare professional, I had seen firsthand the challenges faced by health systems in resource-limited settings. I believed that if medical students from around the world could immerse themselves in these environments—learning from local doctors, supporting hospitals, and engaging in communities—they would not only gain invaluable clinical exposure but also become more compassionate, adaptable, and globally-minded health leaders.

Elective International partnered with hospitals, universities, and NGOs in India, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal, formalized through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). Programs were structured to align with international universities’ requirements so that students could receive official credit toward their graduation.

The Student Experience

Our placements were more than just hospital rotations—they were immersive journeys. Students lived together in secure Elective houses, received cultural orientations, and worked in hospitals ranging from community clinics to tertiary referral centers.

A typical day might include morning ward rounds at Coast General Hospital in Mombasa, assisting with emergency cases, or shadowing specialized consultants. Many also joined night shifts and on-call duties, witnessing the realities of healthcare delivery in contexts very different from their own.

We ensured structured support: airport pickups, orientation briefings, accommodation, meals, local staff support, and continuous guidance. Beyond the clinical experience, students engaged in community outreach, health camps, and even contributed to donations that uplifted schools and medical centres in underserved areas.

Impact and Growth

Between 2014 and 2019, Elective International successfully placed over 10,000 students in accredited healthcare settings across Africa and Asia. Many of them described the program as life-changing, influencing their career paths in global health, public health policy, or humanitarian medicine.

The program also strengthened local hospitals by providing financial support for supervision, medical supplies, and infrastructure. This way, the host institutions benefitted directly while students gained hands-on experience.

Closure in 2019

Despite its impact, the journey was not without challenges. In 2019, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel came to a halt. Hospitals worldwide redirected their focus to frontline response, and elective programs were no longer feasible. For the safety of our students and the communities we served, we made the difficult decision to close Elective International in 2019.

Lessons Learned

1. Global exposure shapes better doctors — students who train in resource-limited settings develop resilience, creativity, and empathy.

2. Partnerships matter — MOUs with Ministries of Health, universities, and hospitals ensured credibility and sustainability.

3. Community benefit is key — beyond training students, the program uplifted local health systems and schools through donations and engagement.

4. Flexibility is vital — adapting placements to student needs and host hospital realities kept the program strong for five years.

Closing Reflection

Looking back, I am proud of what Elective International achieved. We built bridges between countries, cultures, and healthcare systems. We gave over 10,000 students the chance to see the world through a different lens, and in the process, we helped communities gain much-needed support.

Though the program ended in 2019, its impact lives on in the global health leaders it

helped to shape.

Elective International was not just about placements—it was about creating a movement for compassionate, globally-aware healthcare.

References

• WHO. (2016). Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030.

• World Bank. (2019). Improving Health Service Delivery in Developing Countries.

• The Lancet. (2018). Experiential Learning in Global Health: Benefits for Students and Communities.

• Ministry of Health, Kenya. (2014–2019). Clinical Training and Partnerships Reports.