Medical Students Urged to Look Beyond Exams, Embrace Outreach
The organisation began its international work in Haiti and has been associated with the Mare Brignol community since 2011.
Hyderabad:Medical students should look beyond postgraduate entrance examinations and textbooks by gaining exposure to community healthcare, medical outreach and international student exchanges, said Dr Tirumal Yerragunta of the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims), following his recent visit to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the United States.
Dr Yerragunta said his interaction with medical students involved in International Medical Outreach (IMO), a student‑led, pre‑health professional organisation at UCF, made him reflect on the need to provide Indian medical students with opportunities to understand healthcare beyond the conventional classroom and hospital environment.
IMO, a nonprofit organisation based at UCF in Orlando, Florida, works with communities that have limited access to healthcare. Founded in 2006, its mission combines volunteer service, education and cultural exchange, while encouraging medical students to develop compassion, cultural awareness and a long‑term commitment to service, said Julia De Sousa, president of International Medical Outreach, UCF Florida.
The organisation began its international work in Haiti and has been associated with the Mare Brignol community since 2011. Although political instability has prevented recent in‑person visits, IMO continues to support a clinic, pharmacy, water cistern and a radio education station providing health information to the community.
Its international programmes have since expanded to several countries, including India. In December 2025, IMO conducted its third annual India trip, bringing eight UCF students to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, for 14 days of medical observation and cultural immersion. The students were hosted by doctors and staff at Dr Hedgewar Rugnalaya, where they observed obstetrics, cardiology and anaesthesiology. Their exposure included natural deliveries, Caesarean sections, hysterectomies, open‑heart surgeries, valve replacements, bypass procedures and various other surgical procedures.
Dr Yerragunta said such programmes should not become an international medical tourism club. Instead, travel should be a by‑product of service and education, with students learning from different healthcare systems while contributing to communities.
He said such experiences could improve students’ communication, leadership, confidence, research abilities and understanding of cultural differences. Indian students, he added, also have much to contribute through their own experiences of working in a diverse healthcare system.
“Your MBBS degree can take you into a hospital. But your curiosity, service and initiative can take you around the world,” Dr Yerragunta said.
“I am deeply fascinated by the Indian medical system and the way its doctors and students combine clinical excellence with compassion, resilience and service to diverse communities. Our experience through International Medical Outreach has shown us how powerful it can be when students learn not only from healthcare systems, but also from one another and from the communities they serve. I hope we can build a meaningful collaboration with Indian medical students sharing knowledge and experiences,” added Julia De Sousa.