By Adam, Dental Student at Parkside University and a participant in Elective Africa's Summer 2026 program.
I thought I was coming to Kenya to learn dentistry.
I left with so much more than that.
As someone coming from Chicago, I was used to a very different healthcare environment. From the moment I arrived at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, I realized this placement would be unlike any hospital I had experienced before. On my way to the dental department on my first day, I saw a monkey casually walking up the hospital stairs. Patients and visitors moved freely throughout the compound, and everything felt completely different from what I was used to back home in the United States.
I was placed in the Dental Department, which had nine different specialty sections. That meant every day brought something new to observe, whether it was oral surgery, restorative dentistry, or another procedure I had never seen before. The dentists welcomed me warmly, answered my questions, and made me feel like part of the team. I learned a tremendous amount simply by watching experienced clinicians approach each case.
One thing that stood out immediately was how different healthcare looked in a resource-limited setting. Patient records were handwritten in booklets rather than stored digitally. Equipment wasn't always readily available. During one procedure, the lights went out in the middle of treatment, and someone simply pulled out a phone and used its flashlight so the procedure could continue.
It was a reminder that good healthcare isn't always about having the newest technology. Sometimes it's about being creative, adapting quickly, and making the best decisions with the resources you have.
That lesson stayed with me throughout my placement.
One patient, in particular, changed the way I think about healthcare.
He arrived with a tumor on his gum that had grown to nearly the size of a softball. He had lived with it for almost ten years. Friends had convinced him it was caused by witchcraft, and he delayed seeking treatment while hoping for government assistance. Seeing something that could have been addressed much earlier develop into such a severe condition was difficult to witness.
It made me realize how much health outcomes are shaped not only by medicine, but also by education, affordability, and cultural beliefs. Some conditions can often be managed or treated early, but only if people understand the warning signs and have access to care.
That experience is one I'll carry with me for the rest of my career.
Throughout my rotation, I learned to persevere, adapt, and respectfully insert myself into the clinical environment. My dental training at Parkside prepared me to stand for long procedures and stay mentally focused, but Kenya taught me something different: not every case follows the textbook, and not every solution comes from a manual. Sometimes you have to think on your feet, ask questions, and stay open to learning from every situation.
One of the highlights of my placement came unexpectedly. At the end of my rotation, the dental team gave me several extracted wisdom teeth to take home for practice in dental school. In the U.S., dental students often have to purchase teeth for training, but the hospital had teeth that would otherwise have been discarded. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and one that meant a great deal to me.
Some of my most meaningful memories happened outside the hospital.
Visiting a local orphanage with fellow participants was incredibly humbling. We brought milk, sugar, and diapers, and spent time playing with the children. It reminded me how fortunate I have been to grow up with a loving family and a strong support system. It gave me a renewed sense of gratitude for opportunities I had often taken for granted.
I also loved exploring Kenya beyond the clinics. Haller Park was unlike any wildlife park I had visited before. Animals roamed freely through the lush greenery, and feeding giraffes by hand was unforgettable, although one mischievous monkey decided my giraffe food looked better in its own hands.
Looking back, this experience changed the way I think about healthcare.
It showed me that the biggest challenges aren't always medical. Sometimes they're about access, education, affordability, or cultural perceptions that prevent people from seeking care early. Those are gaps worth closing; not only in Kenya, but in America too.
If I could give one piece of advice to any student considering an elective abroad, it would be this: come with an open mind. Learn everything you can in the hospital, try the local food, explore the community, ask questions, and embrace experiences that are different from what you're used to.
You'll leave with more than clinical knowledge.
You'll leave with a new perspective.
If I had to summarize my summer in Kenya in one sentence, it would be simple:
"Sunshine every day, and some of the most enjoyable people I've ever met."