Physician assistant students explore global medicine in Kenya

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—This summer, five students from the College of Health and Human Services traveled to Mombasa, Kenya, for a one-month elective rotation as part of their Physician Assistant (PA) program.

PA student Mei Hauenstein shared: “I was able to see a variety of disease processes and traumas that helped solidify my clinical knowledge and decision-making processes.”

She described her time in the triage and emergency department as impactful and added about the Mombasa clinic: “They did everything manually from using a chain to amputate a leg, that because of shortage in resources availability. Comparing US has more laparoscopic and robotic tools, so its more modern and sophisticated.”

Sarah Dian reflected on the cultural differences she faced: “The Language Barrier made it hard to interact with patients, but helped strengthen my ability to use context clues and physical exam to help with the diagnosis and treatment, which boosted my confidence as provider.”

She also noted how the experience changed her professionally, strengthening her critical thinking and reliance on history, which she described as valuable skills for any practitioner.

When asked about global health, Magenta Smith responded: “I have been abroad before doing medicine, this trip further solidified my passion for rural medicine and my goal for providing international aid, once I’m certified PA. the need for healthcare is undeniable as well as health education.”

At the end of the rotation, the students said they were very satisfied and motivated by the experience. They recommend the program to other PA students interested in exploring global healthcare, different cultures and new approaches to treatment.