Matt Campbell

Matt is a third-year honors student at the University of Georgia, majoring in Biomedical Physiology on the pre-medicine track. He joined the VAC program in May 2024 and participated in an internship at a public clinic.

My time in Cape Town has been nothing short of incredible. The mix of unforgettable adventures and valuable medical experience was exactly what I was hoping for when I came here. I worked at a public day clinic, and I feel like I’ve gained a real understanding of how medicine operates differently in South Africa, with plenty of hands-on patient exposure. I’ve learned how doctors here adapt to limited resources and how the community faces the challenges of infectious diseases and the high prevalence of trauma.

The doctors were always more than willing to teach us about their treatment approaches, and they gave us many opportunities to help out where appropriate. I’ve gained a new perspective on how medicine works in a developing area and how communities find ways to cope with limited resources. I’ll take this experience back to the States, as it’s really broadened my overall understanding of the field.

As for my experiences in Cape Town itself, VAC provided amazing opportunities to explore and learn about the city in ways I couldn’t have done on my own. Kus and Kholi have been incredible directors, and I’ll miss them and the program so much. Thank you all again for this amazing opportunity!