Synopsis
This book will be a must for any medical student planning a medical elective or to junior doctors wanting to travel or work abroad. Covering approximately 100 destinations (including the UK), the guide offers a unique insight into what it is like to study and practise medicine in different countries. The author gives useful unformation on which hospitals to visit, their general ambience, areas of specialism and practical information such as when to go, accomodation, who to contact, etc. As well as the country information, the book opens with some general chapters covering health and safety issues such as vaccinations and information on blood borne viruses such as HIV. Information is also provided concerning visas and embassies, funding an elective (including details of grant making organisations) and career advice related to taking a sabbatical. The book is the same size as the Rough Guides and Lonely Planet books, designed to fit into a rucksack. Country and city maps will be included throughout.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Kathleen G. Nelson, MD(University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine)
Description:This is a compendium of information designed to assist medical or nursing students contemplating or planning an international elective.
Purpose:This is a very handy book for health profession trainees.
Audience:The author is British and the intended primary audience is U.K. trainees. Some of the language is difficult to interpret and some of the advice seems uniquely suited for the U.K. medical training situation. It is particularly interesting to read the section on electives in the U.S. for the perspective the author has on American medicine.
Features:The book is quite user-friendly, with three sections that cover general information such as health precautions, packing, funding, and general safety; descriptions of over 100 countries with contact sites for the electives, general information about the country and a map identifying the largest cities or contact sites; and an appendix that lists addresses of Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) that sponsor electives, vaccine requirements, and embassy addresses. What is missing is any substantial attention to cross-cultural preparation that should take place before the elective experience; suggestions for language instruction; implications of religious or social policies of particular regions; and problems of traveling and living in a less developed country that often discourage and frustrate trainees who are not well prepared (e.g., the concept of time).
Assessment:The upbeat and positive tone of the book and the wealth of information make this a handy reference for those who are contemplating electives abroad and for the offices of those who are advising students about these possibilities.