For the summer prior to my MS2 year at Drexel, I spent two months working for the Centre for Global Surgery with Stellenbosch University at Groote Schuur, a government hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Here I spoke with patients, physicians and other health care providers to collect data in order to help to identify barriers in access to care that exist in developing countries. I also assisted working in the trauma and orthopedic departments, where I had the opportunity to witness and participate in trauma triage as well as the surgery department, under the supervision of an attending.

I am very grateful to have had this experience and I learned so much.

Juliette van Heerden presented "Experience of an American Medical Student in a LMIC's Healthcare System" at Discovery Day 2023.