Internships Abroad in South Africa

I wanted to intern in a dental clinic abroad to gain real hands-on experience—not only for my dental school applications, but also to grow personally and expand my knowledge. I had always wanted to travel to Africa, so I knew I’d be interning somewhere on the continent. South Africa, and Cape Town specifically, offered the perfect mix of vibrance and serenity—mountains and beaches, a lively college-town feel, and countless places to explore! While here, I worked at the Khayelitsha Site B CHC Hospital, specifically in the dental department. During my internship, I gained valuable shadowing hours for my dental school applications, and the experience also fulfilled the global engagement requirement for my degree. I even had the chance to work as a dental assistant, which was incredible. What I’ll remember most, though, are the people. Every doctor, hygienist, assistant, receptionist, and security guard was kind, respectful, and welcoming. I’m so grateful for the amazing connections I made through this experience and proud to call Dr. Sukha and his team part of my dental family. One of my favorite parts of the internship was comforting patients. While shadowing, I was often the hand they reached for when they felt nervous, and being able to help calm their fears—even in small ways—was truly heartwarming. Experiences like these reminded me why I want to pursue a career in dentistry and deepened my appreciation for the human side of care. What I’ll miss most about Cape Town is always having something to do! Whether it was a beach day at Camps Bay, exploring a local market, or hiking a mountain, there was always an adventure waiting. I stayed for just about a month, but I’d recommend five weeks—after orientation week, you’ll still have a full month to work and explore the city, giving you plenty of time to experience everything Cape Town has to offer. One tip for living in Observatory: just like anywhere else, stay aware of your surroundings and make use of all the resources available to you—better safe than sorry. Everyone at VAC was wonderful and clearly cared deeply about their students. The weekly activities were fun and a great way to connect with other interns, especially those living in different houses. I’m so thankful for VAC, particularly for the orientation week—it provided such a thoughtful introduction to Cape Town, covering both its historical and tourist highlights.

Spending the summer in Cape Town with VAC was the best decision I’ve ever made. I can say that without hesitation. I was able to shadow psychiatrists for over 300 hours—an opportunity that simply doesn’t exist where I’m from. Building relationships with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers taught me how to apply the concepts I’ve studied throughout my life. I learned that providing care is as much an art as it is a science, and I gained so much wisdom from the Sisters, physicians, and managers I worked with. A special thank you to Sister Hendricks, who deserves recognition for not only making me feel like family, but for doing the work of an entire mental health department. I heard countless stories and rediscovered my love for piecing them together—thank you, Sister. I realized that the majority of patient treatment depends on the relationship you build with them—not just the medication. It may seem obvious, but if a patient doesn’t trust you or feel comfortable enough to open up, they won’t share the information that leads to healing. Without trust, even the most effective treatment on paper won’t work in practice. I also came to appreciate how exceptional South Africa’s medical training is. Practitioners there encounter nearly every type of illness imaginable, offering a level of exposure rarely seen in the U.S. That experience, so early in my career, was incredibly valuable. Beyond the hospital, I met people from all walks of life and learned about the social realities of Cape Town—gang violence, racism, and politics in the townships that often prevent access to care. I witnessed intense trauma cases, from stab and gunshot wounds to emergency births, and I even had the privilege of helping three beautiful children enter the world. As if that weren’t enough of a life-changing experience, Cape Town itself is the most beautiful and diverse place I’ve ever been. The people, food, music, art, city life, hiking trails, countryside, and beaches—it’s everything I love in one place. My highlights outside of my internship include bungee jumping, Broke Klubhouse, hugging elephants on the Garden Route, meeting monkeys at World of Birds, Chapman’s Peak, getting a tattoo and piercing in Obs, trying every restaurant and vintage store I could find, braving the winds on Table Mountain, exploring farmer’s markets, and watching the sunset from a cruise. There’s so much to do—you’ll feel you’ve seen it all, but you’ve only just begun. My advice? Be open, but stay cautious. Cape Town is breathtaking, but it also requires awareness. Stay for 1.5–2 months if you can—you’ll experience so much more. Don’t waste time at the mall; there’s too much to see. Write everything down—you’ll want to look back and relive it. Build meaningful connections at your internship site and cherish them; they’re what make the experience unforgettable. Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention the wonderful people and fellow interns I met. Everyone was so funny, open, and ready for adventure. I was lucky to live at 73 Arnold—thank you all for the memories and for making every moment outside the internship unforgettable. A special thank you to the VAC staff, especially Loyiso, Kholi, and Kus—you made Cape Town feel like home, even thousands of miles away. I miss all of you already.