Medicine & Dentistry in Cambodia with Projects Abroad

  Cambodia

Phnom Penh

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end date)

Description: Interning in Cambodia on a medical internship with Projects Abroad is an excellent way to become involved in some of the poorest medical institutions in the developing world. As a medical intern in Cambodia, you will have the opportunity to observe medical work in a variety of departments.

Most Medicine interns in Cambodia work in Phnom Penh in a large State Hospital. We also have internships in a pediatric hospital and in an international private clinic. The State hospital originally opened in 1960. It was forced to close for five years during the Pol Pot regime from 1975 to 1980 and sadly, during this time, many doctors and educated medical professionals were killed.

Since its reopening, the State Hospital has become the largest medical facility in Phnom Penh and admits over 17,000 patients annually. The hospital employs 140 doctors almost 200 nurses.

Your Role as a Medical Intern in Cambodia

All medical interns in Cambodia must have completed at least one year of medical related studies or training by the time they join this project or at least three years to work at the pediatric hospital. Each internship is tailored to your level of experience and interests.

We will ask you which departments you would like to specialize in from the following options: General Medicine, Gynecology/Maternity, Infectious Diseases, ENT, Obstetrics, Psychiatric ward, Neurology, Pneumology, Oncology, Urology, ICU, Ophthalmology, Stomatology, Emergency (requires at least 6 years medical training) and Surgery (requires at least 3 years medical training).

The hospital staff request that you spend a minimum of two weeks in each department. Your supervisor at the hospital, the Director General, will then assign you to work with the specialist doctors within the different departments. We will do our best to place you according to your preferences, but cannot guarantee every department will be available all of the time.

Your role at the hospital will vary depending on your education and experience level. Usually, you will shadow the local staff upon arrival before switching departments. If you show enthusiasm and develop a good relationship with the medical staff, you may find that you gain enough trust to be given more to do. As with any job  and especially in the field of medicine - you must prove yourself to be trustworthy before you are given responsibilities.

The hospitals facilities are basic and the treatment standards will probably be different from what youre used to. You should be prepared to see some shocking cases and try not to get emotionally involved with the patients. Normal working hours are from Monday to Friday from 8am to 12pm. Many of the doctors do not work in the afternoons though it is sometimes possible to arrange extra hours from 2pm to 5pm to help the nurses or do additional work with patients. Some interns have even arranged to work the occasional night shift.

Many of the doctors speak French rather than English, so if you speak some French it will be useful. There are usually some English speaking staff or student doctors in each department who can also communicate in English.

Dentistry Internships in Cambodia

Dentistry students and graduates can also join us in Cambodia. Dentistry interns work in the dentistry department of the State Hospital in Phnom Penh. The department deals with the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of dental problems as well as the investigation and treatment of mouth disorders and surgical treatment of deformities of the mouth and jaw. As with all medical related internships, your role will depend on your level of experience and skill. Showing initiative and developing a good relationship with the local dentistry staff is essential and may lead to you gaining a more hands-on role.