They include learning to rely on one s own clinical skills, being introduced to an array of infectious diseases, and acquiring an interest in rural medicine. Unfortunately, this has led to lax clinical skills. Compared with the Ugandan intern, I was far behind in my abilities to draw conclusions based only on clinical skills. An elective in a developing country obliges you to rely on your own history taking and physical examination skills. This is a vital component in medical education for all physicians.
International medicine shows a striking and disturbing pattern.
The main medical issues in developing countries, especially tropical countries, are infectious diseases. Tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and streptococcal meningitis are rampant in the pediatric, adult, and surgical wards at Mulago Hospital. Many drug-resistant infections do not respect international borders, and their habitat is likely to change with increasing international travel and global warming. Therefore, as future physicians, we should know the array of presentations of these common illnesses. Finally, medical experience in the developing world can help address some challenges unique to the Canadian health system.