Programs

If you are a pre-med who is looking to gain clinical experience while immersing yourself into a very fascinating culture, this trip is perfect for you. I joined not knowing what to expect outside of the clinical experience, and was completely caught off guard with how much I enjoyed my time here. I knew I would get to try a lot of foods I had never had before, but the simplicity and friendly people were a great surprise.

I made few expectations before leaving for the trip. My decision to go was relatively spontaneous and I had not known anyone that had gone before. I found it to be an incredibly memorable and enriching experience. I met so many amazingly kind people and made many new friends. It gave me an opportunity to experience a country and culture in a way which I likely never would have been able to.

Overall, i really enjoyed this program. I learned so much about thai culture and benefitted so much while observing in the hospitals. I would definitely say this trip was life changing, I don’t think i could have gained such a great experience in any other study abroad trip. I didn’t know anyone going into this trip but made great friends quickly. The balance of excursions and shadowing was perfect. I would highly recommended this trip to anyone else going pre-med because it is worth it and so beneficial.

This was a very beneficial program that gave me memories for life! It was a very humbling experience that provided insight to the medical field in different countries and the diversity between cultures! It was a very educational program that I believe will help me in my future endeavors towards becoming a doctor! I met friends for life while in Thailand and am so happy I chose to participate!

“Thailand was an amazing experience, it taught me a lot about myself and about working in a medical profession. I learned many things and was able to partake in a variety of things that I would not have been subject to in the US health care system. The Thai medical system is very different from the US’s, from the government hospital to the use of holistic health care.  I enjoyed getting to see a different culture than I had ever seen before. The Thai people were very welcoming and eager to teach and learn from all of the students in the program. The hospital staff and patients were open to letting us see every aspect of what goes on in the hospital. I will carry what I learned from my month in Thailand with me for the rest of my life. It was a life changing month.”

“Before I went on the shadowing trip to Thailand, I had spent 10 months consecutively outside of the US in Europe. For me, my expectation was that the medical shadowing program was just going to be a nice way to end my year abroad, a last hurrah. However, the program was so much more than what I expected. Obviously, the shadowing aspect was phenomenal: we got to spend two weeks in a Thai hospital. If you did not know already, Thailand has universal healthcare, and most of the hospitals are run by the government. This means that shadowing there is completely different than shadowing in the United States; it really gave me a whole new perspective on healthcare and truly a deeper appreciation for the system we have here. Aside from this, I also made tons of friends and had lots of other unique experiences. Whether it was in the middle of big-city Bangkok, on the campus of a Thai university, or on a beach-side paradise, every moment of this trip was truly unforgettable. If you are the adventurous type and are trying to work with medicine, this program is something you should at the very least seriously consider.”

“The month I spent in Thailand with Red Star International Education was one of the best experiences of my life thus far. The opportunity to be immersed in a different culture and be educated on another country’s healthcare system, all while gaining valuable shadowing exposure, is something few other programs can offer. Our trip was a great combination of professional activities and incredible excursions, such as hiking to waterfalls at Khao Yai National Park, exploring the bustling city of Bangkok, snorkeling off of Ko Kut island, and so many other adventures. Shadowing in the hospital at SUT provided me with valuable experience that will be relevant for the rest of my professional career, as well as the rest of my life. Getting to know the doctors and nurses at the hospital gave me an inside look at the path that these professionals took to get to the position they are in today. Learning about the different system of healthcare in Thailand, as well as the differing opinions on healthcare practices, gave me a new perspective on tackling the problems we face in our world today. After all that we did and all that we saw, the one thing that stood out to me was the people of Thailand. Everyone I encountered over the course of our program was incredibly kind, helpful, and eager to assist us in any way possible. When deciding to study abroad, there are many different factors that go into which program is the best fit for you. For me, this trip met the mark in every area; timing, value for the cost, group size, and location. Looking back on my life, I am confident that my decision to participate in this program will stand out as one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

“This trip changed my life. I cannot express the kindness and compassion that I witnessed from the hosts, hospital employees, and fellow participants. It was amazing to see how welcomed we were. I was expecting to really struggle with the language barrier but thanks to modern technology and the patience of the doctors and nurses this turned out to not be a problem. With respect to the excursions to khao Yai and Koh Kood, I have never witnessed such beauty. It was incredible to be able to swim in waterfalls, hike through the jungle, and experience the vastness that is the gulf of Thailand. I can say without a doubt that anyone who keeps an open mind and a receptive attitude will walk away from this trip changed forever.”