Volunteer in Thailand with Friends for Asia

A Rewarding Medical Internship in Bangkok or Chiang Mai

This project is available in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

FFA’s medical internship in Bangkok and Chiang Mai is an incredible experience, characterized by an unrivaled level of access that is simply not available in most foreign countries. As an intern on one of these specialized assignments, you’ll join internationally trained healthcare providers on the front lines of healthcare in Thailand.

We understand that anyone travelling to a foreign country as an intern is going to have specific concerns about the quality of the facility in which they’ll be working as well as the safety of the patients with whom they come in contact. That’s why we maintain close ties to each of the hospitals we work with. Patient safety and comfort is the top priority for each of the hospitals that accept interns from FFA, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chiang Mai Medical Intern Video #1

Medical Internship in Thailand – A day in the life

Volunteer and Intern in Thailand

There’s a growing awareness in the West regarding Thailand’s prowess as a medical depot. These days, the country leads Asia in terms of attracting medical tourists. In fact, a well-known private hospital in Bangkok attracts more international patients than any other hospital in the world. Hundreds of thousands of international patients seek treatment in Thailand every year.

As part of this medical internship in Thailand, you’ll be paired with a full-time doctor or nurse and will shadow this person on daily rounds from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. These are highly qualified professionals, many of whom have been educated in the US or UK. Interns are only placed with doctors with an exceptional command of English.

Tasks of Medical Interns

During this medical internship for undergraduates, those who apply through Friends for Asia enjoy unparalleled access to hospital facilities, doctors and the patients they treat. Each assignment takes place in an international-standard hospital in either Bangkok or Chiang Mai, where interns are paired with a full-time doctor or nurse. This is the person they will shadow for the duration of their medical internship in Thailand.

All of the doctors with whom our interns work are highly qualified. Many received their credentials overseas in the United States or United Kingdom. In every case, interns will only be paired with a healthcare professional that possesses an excellent command of the English language.

This assignment during your medical internship in Thailand is primarily observation based. You’ll follow your doctor or nurse on daily rounds while they consult with patients, administer treatment, and perform operations. Each stage of observation is carefully monitored and regulated to ensure the safety and comfort of the patients involved.

The extent to which a medical intern can get involved in the treatment depends upon their background and skill level. For example, those who have completed significant pre-medical training, or have worked with patients in another capacity, may be granted a higher level of access.

However, even those interns who have little (if any) background in healthcare still enjoy a much higher level of access to the goings-on in an international hospital than they would back in the West. With this in mind, the FFA medical internship in Thailand offers an outstanding opportunity for students interested in exploring a career in healthcare. The time they spend on assignment will look incredible on their resume or CV.

Bangkok Medical Intern Video

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Medical Intern Facilities

Observing an operation

We carefully vet each of the hospitals to which we send interns in Thailand. As mentioned, these include facilities in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai, all of which are keen to work with interns that have an express interest in the healthcare field.

These are full-service private and public hospitals that feature state-of-the-art infrastructure. In most cases, the hospitals we partner with include each of the following departments:

  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Ear, Nose and Throat
  • General Surgery
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Neurosurgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery

Some of the hospitals we work with are also quite historic. For example, one of the main private hospitals in Chiang Mai that accepts interns from FFA was founded in the 19th century as a humble, eight-bed clinic. Today it has grown into a much larger, more sophisticated facility that can accommodate up to 400 patients at once.

The Value of Medical Internship in Thailand

Thai culture is relatively laid-back – especially when compared to cultures in the West – and this is part of the reason that high-profile hospitals are willing to take on interns interested in gaining experience in healthcare. As such, a foreign intern in Thailand is able to see and experience much more than someone in the same position back home.

American Medical Interns

Whether applying for a medical internship in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, you’ll find that the hours you log on assignment offer invaluable insight into 21st century medical practices. You’ll develop new-found respect for healthcare providers and gain experience that can contribute directly to a career in medicine. Contact us today to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Volunteer Stories

I can still vividly remember seeing my first surgery ever – a hysterectomy. Standing only 2-3 feet away from where the operation was being performed was a dream that I had longed to come true for many years.” – Connor Champion, Louisiana, USA

I have learned so much about medicine, myself, and this part of the world from my experience here with Friends for Asia.” – Hanna King, Alaska, USA

Click Here to View all the Volunteer Stories from the Medical Intern Project.

Medical Internship Project Fees

Volunteer and Intern in Thailand

Participation in the Medical Intern Project starts at $850 for one week, $1199 for two weeks. Each additional week (over the two week minimum) is $299. for Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

Project Fee Includes

  • Comprehensive Pre-Departure Information
  • Visa paperwork (for projects over 8 weeks)
  • Airport pick up
  • Accommodation during orientation and entire project time
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Lunch every work day
  • 2 day Orientation
  • Onsite Coordinator
  • 24 hour emergency assistance
  • Written record of internship completion (for interns that successfully complete their project).

Project Fee Does Not Include

  • Travel to/from Home and Thailand (airfare, train tickets, etc.)
  • Thailand visa costs (if applicable)
  • International Medical Insurance
  • Cost of transportation to and from Project site and and accommodation (roughly $5 per day)
  • Lunches on weekends.
  • Dinner

Thailand Medical Internship Project Start Dates for 2024

  • the 8th of January – arriving on Friday, the 6th of January
  • the 22nd of January – arriving on Friday, the 19th of January
  • the 5th of February – arriving on Friday, the 2nd of February
  • the 19th of February – arriving on Friday, the 16th of February
  • the 4th of March – arriving on Friday, the 1st of March
  • the 18th of March – arriving on Friday, the 15th of March (two week maximum before April break)
  • Closed for the April Break
  • the 6th of May – arriving on Friday, the 3rd of May
  • the 20th of May – arriving on Friday, the 17th of May
  • the 3rd of June – arriving on Friday, the 31st of May
  • the 17th of June – arriving on Friday, the 14th of June
  • the 1st of July – arriving on Friday, the 28th of June
  • the 15th of July – arriving on Friday, the 12th of July
  • the 5th of August – arriving on Friday, the 3rd of August
  • the 19th of August – arriving on Friday, the 16th of August
  • the 2nd of September – arriving on Friday, the 30th of August
  • the 16th of September – arriving on Friday, the 13th of September
  • the 7th of October – arriving on Friday, the 3rd of October
  • the 21st of October – arriving on Friday, the 18th of October
  • the 4th of November – arriving on Friday, the 1st of November
  • the 18th of November – arriving on Friday, the 15th of November
  • the 2nd of December – arriving on Friday, the 29th of November
  • the 16th of December – arriving on Friday, the 13th of December

Thailand Medical Internship Project Start Dates for 2025

  • the 6th of January – arriving on Friday, the 3rd of January
  • the 20th of January – arriving on Friday, the 17th of January
  • the 3rd of February – arriving on Friday, the 31st of January
  • the 17th of February – arriving on Friday, the 14th of February
  • the 3rd of March – arriving on Friday, the 28th of February
  • the 17th of March – arriving on Friday, the 14th of March (two week maximum before April break)
  • All Projects Closed in April, 2021
  • the 5th of May, – arriving on Friday, the 2nd of May
  • the 19th of May, – arriving on Friday, the 16th of May
  • the 2nd of June, – arriving on Friday, the 30th of May
  • the 16th of June, – arriving on Friday, the 13th of June
  • the 7th of July, – arriving on Friday, the 4th of July
  • the 21st of July, – arriving on Friday, the 18th of July
  • the 4th of August, – arriving on Friday, the 1st of August
  • the 18th of August, – arriving on Friday, the 15th of August
  • the 1st of September, – arriving on Friday, the 29th of August
  • the 15th of September, – arriving on Friday, the 12th of September
  • the 6th of October, – arriving on Friday, the 3rd of October
  • the 20th of October, – arriving on Friday, the 17th of October
  • the 3rd of November, – arriving on Friday, the 31st of October
  • the 17th of November, – arriving on Friday, the 14th of November
  • the 1st of December, – arriving on Friday, the 28th of November
  • the 15th of December, – arriving on Friday, the 12th of December

View additional information about the Medical Internship

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