International School Student Medical Group Internship Program
2023 December Doctor Follows Program Dates are as follows:
– Bangkok Program: 16th-23rd of December, 2023 (Full – Waitlist Available)
– Chiang Mai Program: 23rd-30th of December, 2023
*Students may participate in one or both programs.
Make the most of your December break and shadow doctors and nurses treating patients at some of Bangkok and/or Chiang Mai’s Thailand’s best hospitals. Learn more about medical practices in Thailand, what it’s like to be a medical professional and boost your resume of experiences at the same time. This program is conducted in English.
The Doctor Follows Program offers 20 hours of clinical observation in different hospital departments at hospitals in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, perfect for eager students willing to learn more about the medical world first-hand.
All observation hours are recorded and provided in written form at the end of the program, signed by both the director of the Friends for Asia Foundation and the directors, or assistant directors of each hospital. Find our Application Form at the bottom of this page.
*Group Maximum: 16 students – To ensure a well organized and supervised program, we keep the number of interns in our projects to a maximum of 16 students for each session. This ensures high-quality experiences for students and the highest standard of safety for all.
Student to Staff Ratio: 4 to 1
Our Doctor Follows Group Medical Internship is designed for international high school students and offers unparalleled access to hospital facilities, doctors and the patients they work with.
Each day, explore the workings of different international-standard hospitals in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, shadowing doctors and nurses with supervision and translation provided by Friends for Asia coordinating staff.
Expand your medical knowledge as you learn from highly qualified doctors, many of which have qualifications from international medical institutions in the United States or United Kingdom.
In every case, students will only be grouped with a healthcare professional that possesses a high command of the English language. This course allows students to rotate through departments and hospital venues with ease, spending two hour blocks in each department in small groups.
Departments include:
- General Surgery
- Dental
- Emergency Room
- Hemodialysis
- Out-patient
- Pediatrics
- Physical Therapy
- OBGYN (Female Students only)
- Thai Traditional Medicine
Groups will always be accompanied by Friends for Asia staff who will help supervise the course and translate where necessary. This program is conducted in English, and complete participation is necessary for all students.
We try hard to place students in departments that align most with their interests. Just let us know what you’re most interested in and we’ll try our best to keep you in that area.
This Doctors Follows Week Program is a first-hand observation experience, focused on following professionals in the hospital setting such as daily rounds, consultations, treatment administration and surgery.
Each stage of observation is carefully monitored and regulated to ensure the safety and comfort of both the patients and students involved.
Bangkok Program Outline
*Dates: The 16th – 23rd of December, 2023 (Full – Waitlist Available)
Saturday, the 16th of December – 8am to 6pm – Arrive into Bangkok or be dropped off at accommodation. Check-in at hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner with other students and staff.
Sunday, the 17th of December – Morning Orientation and an afternoon visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Monday, the 18th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a large, public, training hospital, followed by a late afternoon visit to a large shopping center for dinner.
Tuesday, the 19th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a large, public, training hospital, followed by a late afternoon online Session with current medical students in the UK. This session is designed to offer advice and recommendations for attendees looking to follow a university pathway in medicine.
Wednesday, the 20th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a mid-sized private, for profit hospital, followed by a late afternoon pool and pizza party at hotel.
Thursday, the 21st of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a large public hospital located in the city center. Late afternoon visit to dental museum, followed by a visit to Jim Thompson House Museum.
Friday, the 22nd of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a mid-sized private, for profit hospital, followed by a delicious farewell dinner.
Saturday, the 23rd of December – Goodbyes and pick ups or departure from Bangkok between 8am and 6pm. Staff will escort students to the airport, help them check-in for their flights and see them through to security. Students on Chiang Mai extension are welcomed to fly to Chiang Mai on a chaperoned flight with FFA staff mid-day.
Chiang Mai Program Outline
*Dates: The 23rd – 30th of December, 2023
Saturday, the 23rd of December – 8am to 6pm – Arrive at Chiang Mai. Pick-up and check-in at a resort accommodation destination and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Sunday, the 24th of December – Morning Orientation and an afternoon tour of the ancient city of Chiang Mai.
Monday, the 25th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a large public hospital, followed by a late afternoon Thai cooking course.
Tuesday, the 26th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a private, for-profit hospital, followed by a late afternoon tour of Warorot Market – Chiang Mai’s largest market.
Wednesday, the 27th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a mid-sized public hospital, followed by an online Session with current medical students in the UK. This session is designed to offer advice and recommendations for attendees looking to follow a university pathway in medicine.
Thursday, the 28th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at a small rural hospital, followed by a late afternoon visit to a natural hot spring (bring your bathing suit!).
Friday, the 29th of December – Morning and afternoon hospital rounds at large public hospital, followed by a delicious farewell dinner.
Saturday, the 30th of December – Goodbyes and departure from Chiang Mai between 8am and 6pm. Staff will escort students to the airport, help them check-in for their flights and see them through to security.
*Program Plans may vary and change slightly depending on scheduled availability and unforeseen changes.
Student Intern Qualifications
Participation age for this program is 14-18, male, female, non-binary students are all welcome.
All participating students will need a reference letter (or email) from a current or previous teacher or school representative.
Students need to speak and understand English fluently (English is the language of communication for the program).
Students should have an interest in following medicine as a career in the future and be able to deal with various medical scenarios they may encounter.
Student Accommodation
All shared room assignments will be made based on gender, with two students of the same gender per room. Due to two students per room, the program will need to have an even number of male and female students.
After the day’s programming is complete, students are free to enjoy time at the hotel swimming pools. Although only 1.2m deep, we do require students to show proficiency in swimming and water safety before using the pool, as no lifeguard is present. Students will only be able to use the pool in pairs, groups, or under staff supervision. Individual use, with no staff or other students present is not allowed.
*Due to the sensitive timing of hospital rotations, we do require all students in the accommodation spots below with the group.
Student Accommodation – Bangkok
Students will stay two to a room at Vic3 Hotel, a modern hotel across the street from our Bangkok based office. The hotel has meeting facilities, swimming pool, and fitness center.
Although located near the city center of Bangkok, Vic3 is just off the main road and in a rather quiet and safe area. It’s easily accessible with the Sanampao BTS station just a few minute walk away.
Student Accommodation – Chiang Mai
Students will stay two to a room at the Chotana Villa, a lovely boutique hotel inspired by Northern Thai architecture and just a few minutes from the city center.
A breakfast buffet is provided daily. Lunch and dinner will be held at the different program sites and other local restaurants and cafes. Special dietary needs are easily accommodated during the course of the project.
Program Coordination and Supervision
Friends for Asia has been hosting students and international volunteers and interns in our Bangkok and Chiang Mai programs since 2007. Our bilingual coordinating staff will be on hand to translate for student groups at the hospitals when needed and will accompany the group 24 hours a day.
During the program, the group will visit open air markets and shopping centers. At these times students will be free to walk and shop in small groups without programming staff directly at their side. During these moments students will be required to follow our rules of conduct, outlined in our terms and conditions agreement.
Meals and Dining
We eat at good places, because food in Thailand is plentiful and delicious! For Chiang Mai, a vegan breakfast buffet is provided daily to students at the resort. As the program is health-care related, we highly encourage students to engage in a healthy diet and overall physical well-being to fit this narrative.
All students can enjoy a two hour break midday during observations. We like to take students to a variety of different restaurants and cafes to allow them to relax, talk about what they observed in the morning, and enjoy the lovely ambiance of the unique restaurants we take them. We want to make sure that all students eat well, sleep well, and are prepared well for the program.
Vegetarian, vegan, and students with other special dietary needs can be accommodated during the program. let us know about any dietary requirements when signing up.
Our farewell dinner is always something special. Our two late 2022 groups enjoyed their farewell dinner on the Riverside Dinner Cruise boat!
Afternoon Activities
AAside from medical and health care related time, our Doctor Follows Groups also engage in other fun activities, including a cooking course, visit to a local hot springs, visit to Doi Suthep Temple, market visits, and much more depending on season and interest.
These activities help provide students with other activities to better get to know their surroundings while also having fun together as a group. Not everything in a medical program has to be about medicine. Sometimes teenagers just need to relax and have fun.
Visit to Doi Suthep – Northern Thailand’s most iconic temple, with panoramic views of the city below.
Strict Rules of Student Engagement
SWe have a strictly enforced set of rules for all attendees, outlined in our terms and conditions agreement. These include regulations against student possession and usage of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis products, along with rules banning male and female students from visiting each other’s rooms.
Breaking our terms and conditions rules will result in immediate administrative separation from the program. These items are reviewed and discussed during orientation. We want all students to have a successful program.
Participation Fees
1 Week Program: Participation in the Doctor Follows Week for both local and international school students is 37,950 Thai Baht per student for either Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
2 Week Program: Participation in the two week program (both Bangkok and Chiang Mai) is 69,950 Thai Baht per student. This fee does not include the domestic flight(s) between the two cities. A chaperoned flight will be arranged and families will be welcomed to purchase their student’s own tickets on that flight.
Project Fee Includes
- Airport pick up and drop off (if applicable)
- Shared Hotel Accommodation, based upon gender.
- All transportation during program in safe, professionally driven vans
- All meals
- Orientation Day (including half day city tour or visit to Chatchuak Market)
- 24 hour Onsite Bilingual Coordinator Support
- Use of two of our FFA lab coats.
- Written record of program completion and total number of hours of observation at hospitals, along with signed certificates of observation participation from each hospital director of program placements.
Project Fee Does Not Include
- Travel to/from Home and Chiang Mai (airfare, train tickets, etc.)
- International Medical Insurance
- Domestic flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and back for extension students.
Doctor Follows Program Application Form
Please complete the application form below or contact us for questions.
