Length: 3 weeks
Dates: July 6-26, 2025
Program fee: $4,995 (covers housing, some meals, 24/7 staff, etc)
For our Kenya programs, you'll have the opportunity to shadow physicians in Nairobi and rural Kenya, seeing medicine in an African context.
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Our Kenya program is packed with nuance and adventure. You will have the opportunity to observe medicine in urban and rural settings and reflect on global health with intentional debriefs.
Apply now >We want students who complete Firsthand to get the maximum value possible out of the program. Every day is packed from start to finish with fun, learning, speakers, tours and more.
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The Firsthand Italy program is 3-weeks long and you will be with a group of 10-15 other pre-med students from across the United States.
You will have the opportunity to shadow physicians in multiple specialties in both rural and urban partner hospitals in Kenya.
Gain a firsthand understanding of medicine in Kenya's top hospitals, prepare for medical school applications and broaden your horizons.
Firsthand staff will arrange all meals and housing as part of your Kenya program and this is included in your program fee, as well as local transport.
Firsthand prides itself in a safety-first mindset. All our staff are trained in leading global safety procedures and we have 24/7 staff support during your program.
All Firsthand programs include excursions and activities each week to introduce you to the local culture where your program takes place!
As of today, all our programs in Kenya, Italy, and Spain are still open!
There is no deadline! We have rolling Admissions. We have a simple 4-step Admissions process. You can learn more how it works by clicking here.
Outset is for students currently enrolled in a US university on the pre-med track.
Applying online is easy. Within 2 business days from starting your application you will hear from our team about next steps.
Program fees range from $3995 to $5995, but if you apply soon you can get a $1000 flight discount to help cover your flight costs. Our fees cover housing, 3 dinners a week, excursions, staffing, all programming, and travel insurance.
Yes, if you need financial aid please indicate this on your application and fill out the aid request information. We are not able to guarantee aid but we do take every aid request seriously.
Each day is packed - if you are in a clinical shadowing program (Italy or Kenya) you will spend 6 hours a day in the hospital. If you are in a clinical skills and simulation program (Barcelona) your day will be a mix of lectures and hands-on skills trainings. Evenings and weekends our team organizes great meals at local restaurants and exciting excursions. You also have free time to explore!
At this time, there is no academic credit for Firsthand programs. You may be able to get credit through your school.
We partner with student residence halls (dorms), hotels, or other local accommodations. Most students will have to share a room and bathroom, but we try to find reasonable comfortable housing that is convenient.
In the Kenya program, our staff are nearby 24 hours a day. In Spain and Italy there is some free time where students are not monitored (weekends).
Firsthand is a new program, so we do not have reviews yet!
No problem! Shoot us an email and we'll be glad to help out: admissions@joinfirsthand.com
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The Firsthand team has operated global programs for thousands of students over the past decade.
We believe in providing high-quality pre-med global experiences. Dive deeper this summer during your path to medical school.
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