Meet Sam and Jason
Jason and Sam are twin brothers from Toronto, Canada. In December 2024, they completed a two-week Medical Program for Pre-Med Students in Peru.
They both attend John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. which is one of the best medical schools in the United States.
Sam studies Molecular and Cellular Biology with Public Health and Jason studies Neuroscience.
Settling in and subtle differences
“The city is great,” said Jason, describing their first impression of Cusco as they settled into their new home for the next two-weeks.
Sam adds: “We were lucky to live with the people there, seeing the real side of the city and learning a lot about what life is like there. It provided some valuable context for our later experience in the hospital, which was especially valuable for me as I’m pursuing a public health minor.”
The experience itself was like nothing they could get back at home in the US. Sam explains: “The exposure is different. We got to see a lot more. The difference in technology was really interesting, we got to see the ‘old school’ way of doing things. This gave us some really valuable, what I like to think of as, foundational knowledge on procedures.
“This is combined with a different risk outside of the hospital. For example, some of the emergency procedures I saw were of a magnitude worse than you might see in the US, because of things like accidents happening in older cars.”
Jason adds: “There were some days where I got to watch four or five surgeries, which was very interesting. We got to see a variety of different practices too, not just the technology like Sam has mentioned, but the different specialisms within the hospital as well. We even saw a C-Section, which was wild. I’ve never seen a baby being born before.
“There was also much less focus on insurance, compared to home. It was discussed but not in the same terms. It was less about what was included, or not, and more about what they could actually provide in hospital on that day.”
Confirming a career path
The brothers actively sought out learning opportunities.
Sam says: “The more you seek out additional opportunities, which we did, the more you are going to get out of your experience. Myself, Jason, and Lucas, who was another volunteer, would stay late to continue observing and learning.
“We were able to develop some personal connections with the doctors too. The combination of workshops, observation, and the conversations we had with experienced staff was very valuable.”
Jason adds: “The doctors were really nice. They even let us help out with some very basic tasks, like simple wound care. The shadowing was definitely the best part, talking to doctors and patients. We were able to learn a lot about the healthcare system in Peru.”
Sam continues: “For me personally, it solidified what I want to do in the medical field. Like, the type of doctor I want to become. It was a great time in terms of my stage, experience, and academics. After watching lots of surgeries, I now think I don’t want to do that. I’d prefer to be a non-surgical orthopaedic doctor.
“I saw the differences but it also reinforced some of the things that are the same, like the fundamentals of medicine and the importance of good relationships. It was also great to speak to Lucas, who was on the same program as us. He is at a different stage though, he’s a senior, so applying very soon. He had a really different and useful perspective to us.”
“Unlike Sam,” Jason begins. “It actually solidified my desire to become a surgeon. That was an important outcome from this pre-med program, for me. Going to Peru also helped me to think about healthcare in a global sense too.
“As well as experiencing Peru, we met a Scottish medical intern, also with Projects Abroad, who was already a doctor. It was interesting to talk about healthcare in the US, Canada, the UK, Peru, and other South American countries. We even met other Projects Abroad volunteers who were there doing a teaching project.”
Life outside of the hospital
Life outside of the hospital was equally enriching.
“The accommodation was really nice, very spacious,” Jason says. “Cusco was a bit colder than we expected, despite being summer, due to the altitude.”
Sam smiles, and adds: “We got good ‘local family vibes’ from Patrick, our host and his family. We were near a supermarket, and things like that. Everything was really cheap! It was a very cool process, and having our own rooms was good. We got some good recommendations of places to eat, which you’d never know about as a tourist.”
Sam continues: “We went to a lot of restaurants as well as eating with our host family. Even the ‘expensive’ restaurants were cheaper than the US. We hiked up to a view point, to look out over Cusco, which was really cool.
“The trip to Machu Picchu was obviously a highlight. Our guide explained a lot of stuff to us that we would not have known if we had gone there ourselves. We saw a lot of other things too, like Inca ruins. The whole experience was really smooth.”
Jason interrupts excitedly to say: “I’d do the whole thing again!”. Sam laughs and agrees: “It’s a trip but also a career exploration. I’d encourage anyone to do it if you’re a pre-med. I found it all really unique and helpful. It’s a great way to spend your winter break.
A typical day
A typical day for Sam and Jason:
- Go to the hospital in the morning, getting picked up by Uriel, a local doctor they met or a driver organised by Patrick, their host.
- After arrival, watch surgeries or follow doctors on their rounds in the morning.
- This is followed by more surgeries or workshops, things like suturing but also a “brain workshop” run by Uriel, who is a neurosurgeon.
One bonus, on top of the structured learning in the workshops, says Sam: “Was the genuine enthusiasm of Uriel, the doctor, to share his personal stories from working in medicine. We had some really good discussions and learned so much that way.”
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