The road to becoming a physician is a long one with many years of learning. A part of medical students’ education is the ability to choose electives in areas of interest. Many international students seek to build their skills and make themselves more attractive to graduate medical education programs by doing rotations in America.

Those who chose Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital do so for many reasons, however there is a common thread bringing them to the hospital–a reputation for excellence, the Johns Hopkins name and the ability to observe high-level specialty care.

To learn from providers at Johns Hopkins All Children’s is something that fewer than 20 international undergraduate students a year get to experience. During the month-long stay, these students train under physicians and other members of patient care teams for an inside look at what it means to provide advanced care in the fields of pediatric surgery, neonatology, hematology/oncology and neurology.

It’s a highly selective process requiring each applicant to undergo a transcript review and a Skype interview with Pattie Quigley, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and director of undergraduate medical education. Together, they determine if the student is a good fit for the program and what the best area of study will be.

“If we give them a good experience here," Quigley says on the importance of a good match, "they take that wherever they go.”

No matter their place of origin, students find their way to HopkinsAllChildrens.org through online forums, friends, mentors or visits from Johns Hopkins All Children’s physicians. Students are welcomed from everywhere, commonly including Brazil, Malaysia, India, the Middle East, and most recently the United Kingdom.

“I wanted to experience what it is like in the United States because it is a very different health care system from the UK,” explains Celine Goh. She is in her final year of medical school at University College London and opted to complete a neurology rotation here because of the medical community’s high regard for John’s Hopkins All Children’s neurologists.

During her month on campus, Goh had the opportunity to train in both outpatient and inpatient settings with clinical teams that specialize in various areas of neurological conditions ranging from epilepsy to stroke.

“The United States is at the forefront of medical innovation,” Goh adds. “It has been interesting to witness firsthand the use of new treatment options that are making a difference in the lives of individuals with complex conditions. We can learn a lot from the United States.”

Like many students before, Goh looks forward to sharing the information she has gained with her colleagues in London. As this knowledge is shared among students, it advances Johns Hopkins All Children’s commitment to excellence spreading across the globe.

“There are many physicians within our hospital who really love to teach and make a great experience for our international learners,” Quigley adds. “It’s an amazing way to pay it forward.”