Joanna Chorazeczewski

Joanna completed an internship in Shanghai, China focusing on medical lab work and neurology. We asked her to tell us about what she discovered as an international intern!

Why did you choose to intern abroad and specifically in China?

I chose to intern abroad because of my interest in cultures different from my own. I love to learn about the different perspectives people have about life and the variety of traditions they have. One day I hope to dedicate some time in the future to work abroad. As a premedical student, I also wanted to learn about similarities and differences of science and medicine abroad.

I chose an internship in Shanghai, China because it was a nontraditional country to intern in. It had all the perks of being a large city, like Chicago, which is where I am from, yet it had a completely different culture associated with it. I have always wanted to travel to an Asian country, and after looking up all the different internships online, I found that Shanghai had the best internship which focused on research and medicine.

What did you do at your internship?

I did my internship at the Shanghai Instutut Pasteur, and St. Michael Hospital. Monday through Thursday I worked at the research center at the institute. I began my time there by learning about the various lab techniques used in molecular biology, which was soon followed by actually performing them myself. I would work from 9 to 5 in the lab running PCRs, gel electrophoresis, and growing bacterial colonies.

On Fridays I was working from 8 to 4 at an International Hospital in the neurology department. Here I would shadow doctors, nurses and physical therapists who practices both Western medicine and Chinese traditional medicine. I also got to scrub into a few procedures including multiple lumbar punctures and an emergency surgery for a ruptured tendon. A few of the procedures here were also related to stem cell therapy, which I learned a great deal about.

Tell us about your favorite trip in China.

My favorite place I traveled to in China was by far, the Great Wall of China. One weekend in Beijing, a group of interns and I climbed to the highest point of the Great Wall. It was an unforgettable experience. I would recommend all travelers who go to China to visit and climb it.

What are the outcomes of your internship?

This internship has given me a multitude of skills both in the Mandarin culture, language and traditions. It has also taught me a variety of lab techniques, which I plan to use back in my lab. In addition to lab techniques I have learned the value of both Western, and Chinese traditional medicine. My future as a scientist and as a doctor was benefited greatly by my experience abroad in China. My knowledge that I gained abroad also helped me diversify myself and have a greater appreciation for cultures different form my own.

What would you say to a student thinking about interning abroad?

I would say if you are thinking about interning abroad, you should do it. Interning abroad is beneficial in so many ways including experiencing a foreign culture, language, geography, and of course the food!