Tessa kaplan

Tessa studies Psychology on the pre-med track at Georgetown University in the United States. She joined VAC in May 2026 and completed a medical internship at a South African community healthcare facility, where she gained hands-on experience with patients, learned directly from doctors, and developed insight into how healthcare and medical training in South Africa differ from the United States.

I had an amazing experience in Cape Town and really loved getting to live in the city and spend so much time here. I think four to six weeks is a great amount of time to fully experience everything, although staying longer would also be amazing if you have the opportunity. I especially loved my medical internship and am so grateful for everything I learned from it. It was such a unique experience getting to see a different healthcare environment and learn from so many incredible people.

I enjoyed being hands-on with the patients and talking to the doctors. I also really enjoyed seeing how South African healthcare and training are different from the US. The organization provides free healthcare to people who really need it.

For future interns, be prepared to handle blood and intense injuries. It’s an intense internship, but you can also do as much as you want to.

I also met so many amazing people during my time here, and everyone was genuinely so welcoming and kind, which made the experience even more special. I really appreciated the internship placement, the weekly activities, the Culture Series, and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything.