Preparing for international medical service.

In many ways, preparation for medical service outside the United States is not greatly different from preparation for a self-guided vacation tour of another country. The major differences are in the rigor that one should apply to being sure all details are set, particularly if one is planning to go to a site away from a capital city. Additionally, the mental preparation is required in terms of the understanding of global health issues in a holistic sense and the personal mental preparation for working under what may be austere conditions. With solid preparation, anyone interested in IH experiences should be able to have a rewarding, trouble-free experience.