International Internship

NAAMA NextGen International Internship Opportunities
International Internship

The NAAMA NextGen–Amel Association internship began as a shared commitment to expanding global health access and supporting underserved communities in Lebanon. Over the past three years, this partnership has grown into a sustained program that connects students with Amel’s longstanding humanitarian work, offering hands-on exposure to clinical care, community programming, and public health practice. Through our added collaboration with the American University of Beirut, NAAMA NextGen medical student members also gain the unique opportunity to shadow in the AUB Emergency Department and learn directly from leading physicians.

By learning directly within humanitarian and clinical settings, students strengthen their understanding of social determinants of health, develop confidence in their professional roles, and gain real-world insight that shapes them into thoughtful, community-minded future physicians and leaders.

- Our Partners​ -

The American University of Beirut (AUB) is one of the Middle East’s premier academic and medical institutions, recognized globally for its rigorous education, research excellence, and regional impact. Through its faculty of medicine and the AUB Medical Center (AUBMC) — a leading tertiary care facility and major teaching hospital — AUB provides advanced clinical training, world-class patient care, and innovative public health leadership. AUB continues to shape future physicians and health professionals committed to improving health outcomes across the region.

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Amel Association International is a non-governmental, non-sectarian organization founded in 1979 to address the most pressing needs of marginalized communities across Lebanon. For over four decades, Amel has operated through 30 community centers, 6 mobile medical units, 2 mobile education units, and 1 protection unit. Amel provides dignified and accessible services in health, psychosocial support, professional training, women’s empowerment, rural development, migrant support, protection, and human rights, continuing its mission to uphold dignity and justice for all.

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The Program

Overview of trip

NAAMA NextGen students will have the opportunity to:

  1. Spend two weeks in Lebanon visiting Amel Association’s diverse community programs while volunteering and shadowing Lebanese physicians at Amel’s clinics.
  2. Contribute to ongoing research projects.
  3. Shadow physicians at the American University of Beirut (AUB) Medical Center.
  4. Participate in weekend sightseeing trips and other social activities.

Amel Association International Experience

Participants will gain firsthand exposure to Amel’s humanitarian work across its various dimensions, from project planning and preparation to direct service delivery. During the first week of the internship, Amel will provide an orientation period, allowing participants to familiarize themselves with different departments and ongoing projects. In the second week, participants will have the opportunity to shadow physicians in primary health care centers, with specific site placements subject to security clearance. Additionally, participants will accompany Amel headquarters staff on visits to rural areas to observe and support the implementation of ongoing community services.

American University of Beirut (AUB) Shadowing Experience

Participants will be able to shadow Dr. Eveline Hitti, Chair and Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at AUB (if available and approved). Through this experience, students will observe clinical practices in a high-acuity emergency department setting, gain insight into the healthcare system in Lebanon, and learn from Dr. Hitti’s expertise in patient care, medical education, and healthcare leadership. 

Requirements

To apply to the internship, you must:

  • Be an undergraduate or graduate student in the United States of America pursuing a health-related field
  • Be a registered dues-paying member of NAAMA NextGen
  • Have a cumulative GPA greater than 3.5
    • Pass/Fail graduate students should not have any course repeats on their transcripts.
  • Have a minimum of 1 month of patient care experience
  • Have health insurance that can cover overseas
  • Cover personal travel expenses (i.e. airfare, accommodation, and food)
  • Be fluent in Arabic

Estimated costs (for 2 weeks)

  • Airfare: around $1,300+
  • Food: around $600 (around $25/day)
  • Transportation: around $200
  • Rent: around $500 (around $40-$60/day)

Timeline

  • Application closes: January 4th Extended to January 18th!
  • Interviews: Starting End of January February
  • Notice of acceptance: March 31, 2025
  • Meetings with the Amel team: Late March/Early April
  • Start date: Mid-May/Early June
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