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International Medical Aid - IMA

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International Medical Aid - IMA

International Medical Aid provides students and institutions community-based global health education. What if the necessary medicine isn't available?

Founded by Johns Hopkins alumni, International Medical Aid works with pre-health students across multiple disciplines, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, mental health and physical therapy, to provide experiences that will further your preparation for medical school and graduate healthcare programs. IMA partners with leading academic institutions in the United States, Canada, and Europe to fa

cilitate study abroad trips and internship opportunities. Our healthcare internship programs provide pre-health students hands-on experience through intensive clinical shadowing, service learning, didactic experiences, and expert admissions support. Combined, these elements build the foundation that medical and related healthcare programs are looking for in applicants. International Medical Aid works with underserved communities in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. We bring healthcare where it otherwise might not go, improving lives and providing valuable shadowing experiences to pre-health students. We focus our efforts in areas where there is the greatest need. Our programs impact the lives of everyone involved--patients, providers and students. Early exposure to these settings is critical for students who might not otherwise consider providing medicine to rural communities. Plus, opportunities like this are once-in-a-lifetime and will provide content for your medical school essays and a competitive edge for some of the best medical programs in the country. You'll also form lifelong friendships and connections that can prove vital to your long-term success in the medical field. IMA also partners with local communities and professionals to develop grass-roots initiatives that are led by individuals in the community. Through local engagement, IMA helps improve the quality of the healthcare that is provided to specific regions. Our Global Health Lecture Series helps pre-med students understand the differences that run throughout the healthcare system and affect how treatments are delivered to patients. Our Clinical Simulation Sessions teach interns basic healthcare through simulated experiences. Interns practice suturing, drawing blood, managing airways, and injecting medications on mannequins. Normally, this kind of experience doesn't come until much later during a medical student's education. Finally, our Community Outreach Program educates and gives resources to members of the community, allowing individuals to take better control of their health. This includes field medical clinics and hygiene education sessions that cover topics like hand and oral hygiene. Providing medicine to remote areas and underserved communities has allowed IMA, our doctors, and our pre-health students to make an impact in the lives of individuals who need medical treatment or who need to improve their health through simple measures. You'll have first-hand experiences with conditions that most doctors don't get to treat in remote areas. You'll work in settings where instruments need to be sterilized before surgery. Having experience in the developing world will prepare you for a career in medicine like nothing else. Getting into medical school is a difficult and complex process. You're competing with other highly qualified candidates who have the same dreams you do. Displaying your passion for science through working with IMA will prove just how much you love medicine. While EMTs, nurse's aids and ER techs gain valuable experience that will help them in medical school, IMA interns get more. Remote medicine stretches you and allows you to grow in ways you wouldn't otherwise experience. What if a clinic runs out of a life-saving medicine before treatment has been completed? What if the right tests can't be run to confirm a suspected diagnosis? These are issues that medical doctors face on a daily basis. Your unique experiences will put you in a very small group of applicants that stand out to medical schools and other graduate healthcare programs. Our alumni have been accepted to programs at Harvard University, Stanford University, UCSF, and the Mayo Clinic. So, are you looking for a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime experience shadowing doctors in remote areas of the world? Consider going on an internship with International Medical Aid.

08/06/2026

Health education has the power to create lasting change, especially when it begins with a conversation. Recently, at our Flagship Site in South America—Cusco, Peru—our interns led Women's Health Education Sessions at the public schools Comercio 41 and Santa Rosa Revolucionaria. Through meaningful discussions on feminine hygiene and menstrual health, they engaged directly with students in an environment that encouraged curiosity, learning, and open dialogue.

Serving as the primary facilitators, our interns guided age-appropriate conversations, answered questions, and addressed common misconceptions while helping students build confidence in managing their health. By creating a safe and supportive space, they encouraged young women to seek accurate information and make informed decisions about their well-being.

Experiences like these remind us that healthcare is not only practiced in hospitals and clinics. It is also strengthened through education, prevention, and meaningful community engagement.

At International Medical Aid, we are proud to prepare future healthcare professionals to make an impact both inside and outside the clinical setting.

Learn more about our Healthcare Internship Programs at medicalaid.org!

08/06/2026

Health education has the power to create lasting change, especially when it begins with an open conversation.

Recently, at our Flagship Site in South America—Cusco, Peru—IMA interns facilitated Women’s Health Education Sessions at Comercio 41 and Santa Rosa Revolucionaria public schools. Through age-appropriate discussions on feminine hygiene and menstrual health, they engaged directly with students in an environment that encouraged curiosity, learning, and open dialogue.

Serving as the primary facilitators, our interns guided conversations, answered questions, and addressed common misconceptions while helping students build confidence in managing their health and well-being. By creating a safe and supportive space, they encouraged students to seek accurate information and make informed decisions about their health.

Experiences like these remind us that healthcare extends beyond hospitals and clinics. It is also strengthened through education, prevention, and meaningful community engagement.

At International Medical Aid, we are proud to prepare future healthcare professionals to make an impact both inside and outside the clinical setting.

Learn more about our award-winning Healthcare Internship Programs at medicalaid.org!

08/01/2026

📸 Here’s another look at our recent Community Medical Clinic in La Rinconada, Pisac, Peru. 🇵🇪

These photos capture more meaningful moments as our interns worked alongside local physicians, connected with community members, and experienced healthcare delivery in the Peruvian Andes. 🩺⛰️

07/31/2026

Many of the illnesses that affect children can be prevented through something as simple as proper handwashing and toothbrushing. Yet these everyday habits are often overlooked, despite their profound impact on long-term health. By teaching children how and why these practices matter, we are not only preventing disease today but also empowering them to build healthier futures for themselves and their communities.

During our recent Hygiene Education Session at Sparki Comprehensive School, located at our flagship site in East Africa—Mombasa, Kenya—students participated in engaging demonstrations focused on proper handwashing and toothbrushing techniques. Through interactive activities led by our interns, the session transformed essential health lessons into practical skills that children can confidently apply in their daily lives.

Health education is one of the most effective tools for addressing the root causes of preventable illnesses. By helping children understand how germs spread, why oral hygiene matters, and how simple daily routines protect their health, we encourage lifelong habits that extend far beyond the classroom. As students share these lessons with their families and peers, the impact of prevention reaches entire communities.

At International Medical Aid, we believe that improving global health begins with education. Through our community health initiatives, healthcare internships, and preventive outreach programs, our interns gain meaningful public health experience while helping communities build the knowledge and confidence needed to make healthier choices.

Because every healthy habit learned today is an investment in a healthier tomorrow.

07/29/2026

Healthcare looks different in every community—and understanding those differences is an essential part of becoming a physician who's compassionate and ready to work in a global healthcare setting.

At our flagship site in South America—Cusco, Peru—our interns recently participated in a Community Medical Clinic in La Rinconada, Pisac, working alongside local physicians to provide screenings and medical consultations to a rural population in the Peruvian Andes. Throughout the clinic, our interns discussed each patient's case with the physicians, gaining valuable clinical insight while observing firsthand how healthcare is delivered in rural settings.

One of the most meaningful lessons came from understanding the cultural context of healthcare. In many Andean communities, traditional medicine has been practiced for generations and remains the primary source of care for many families. Because of these deeply rooted traditions—and, in some cases, limited access to healthcare services—community participation in medical outreach may vary. This experience encouraged our interns to approach every patient with cultural humility, recognizing that effective healthcare begins with listening, respecting local beliefs, and building trust.

At International Medical Aid, we believe that global health is not only about expanding clinical knowledge but also about learning to provide culturally respectful, patient-centered care. By embracing different perspectives on health and healing, our interns develop the empathy and patience needed to serve diverse communities around the world.

07/28/2026

Some afternoons are best spent exploring.

At our flagship site in East Africa—Mombasa, Kenya—interns enjoy free time outside their clinical rotations to explore the city, connect with fellow participants, and discover everything the region has to offer. Structured tours and cultural activities are also integrated into the program, giving interns meaningful opportunities to experience life beyond the clinical setting.

Recently, our interns spent the afternoon at Haller Park, one of the region’s most unique nature reserves. From walking through the park’s lush surroundings to the unforgettable experience of feeding giraffes, the visit offered plenty of memorable moments and an opportunity to experience another side of the Kenyan coast.

Whether exploring local attractions, participating in organized excursions, trying something new, or simply spending time with fellow interns, these shared experiences quickly become a memorable part of the program. Afternoons like these are just one of the many experiences that make time in Kenya unforgettable.

Ready to experience healthcare, culture, and adventure at our flagship site in Mombasa, Kenya? Learn more at medicalaid.org!

07/26/2026

For many students, school is a place filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and build lasting friendships. It is also where they encounter academic expectations, social pressures, family responsibilities, and the everyday challenges that shape their lives. Having a safe space to talk through those experiences can make a meaningful difference.

During our most recent Mental Health Awareness Clinic at Changamwe Girls Secondary School, located at our flagship site in East Africa—Mombasa, Kenya—students participated in open, interactive discussions focused on emotional well-being, healthy communication, and positive ways to navigate life's challenges. The session provided a supportive environment where students could openly discuss the pressures and frustrations they face while exploring constructive approaches to managing stress, resolving conflict, and expressing their emotions in ways that support both themselves and those around them.

Beyond the discussions themselves, the clinic fostered an environment where students felt comfortable asking questions, sharing perspectives, and learning from one another. These conversations reinforced the importance of empathy, resilience, and seeking guidance from trusted individuals when faced with difficult situations. In a region where cultural barriers and stigma can make open conversations about mental health less common, creating safe spaces where young people feel comfortable speaking openly is especially important.

Mental Health Awareness begins by creating opportunities for young people to feel heard, understood, and equipped with practical tools they can carry into their daily lives. By encouraging open dialogue and promoting emotional well-being, we are helping cultivate school communities where students are empowered to care for themselves, support one another, and contribute positively to their learning environment.

Learn more about our Healthcare Internships and Community Outreach Initiatives at medicalaid.org!

07/23/2026

The questions young women ask today have the power to shape the decisions they make tomorrow. Whether seeking to understand the changes occurring during adolescence or looking for trustworthy health information, every question reflects curiosity, self-advocacy, and a desire to make informed choices. Creating an environment where those questions are welcomed is an important step toward improving health literacy and lifelong well-being.

During our Women's Health Education Session at Frere Town Secondary School, located at our flagship site in East Africa—Mombasa, Kenya—students participated in open and interactive discussions designed to encourage curiosity and meaningful dialogue around women's health. The session provided a supportive space where every question was valued, every perspective was respected, and every discussion became an opportunity to learn from qualified healthcare professionals and one another.

When young women feel comfortable asking questions, they are better equipped to recognize reliable health information, make informed decisions, and approach their health with greater awareness. Those conversations extend beyond the classroom, reaching families, friendships, and communities, where shared knowledge continues to create positive change.

At International Medical Aid, we believe that meaningful health education begins by creating spaces where curiosity is encouraged and learning is rooted in trust. Through our ongoing, well-established Women's Health Education Sessions, healthcare internships, and community outreach initiatives, we are helping foster informed, empowered communities across East Africa, one question at a time.

The questions we encourage today become the knowledge, confidence, and healthier futures of tomorrow.

07/18/2026

Many illnesses that contribute to missed school days, clinic visits, and preventable hospitalizations begin with the spread of germs through everyday activities. In schools where hundreds of students share classrooms, washrooms, desks, and learning materials each day, hygiene education plays an important role in protecting both individual and community health.

When children understand how infections spread—and how simple daily habits can interrupt that cycle—they gain practical skills that support healthier lives both inside and outside the classroom.

As part of International Medical Aid’s Community Health Initiatives, our interns recently facilitated a Hygiene Education Session at Tudor Comprehensive School, located at our flagship site in East Africa—Mombasa, Kenya.

Through interactive discussions, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities, students learned proper handwashing techniques using soap and clean water, effective toothbrushing practices, and the important role personal hygiene plays in preventing common infectious diseases. Students actively participated in each demonstration, creating an engaging environment where learning was both practical and memorable while reinforcing healthy habits they can apply every day.

Preventive healthcare begins long before a patient enters a clinic. It begins with knowledge, healthy habits, and the confidence to make informed decisions each day.

By equipping young people with practical health education, we help build healthier schools, support improved well-being, and empower students to carry these lessons into their homes, families, and communities—where small actions can create a lasting public health impact.

Address

1629 K Street NW Suite 300
Washington D.C., DC
20006

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm
Sunday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://www.medicalaid.org/

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