Welcome to Med‘oPolo International Medical Internship & Elective Programs

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
— Mark Twain

MedoPolo International Medical Elective Programs

MedoPolo offers structured, high-quality medical internships and clinical electives for international medical students. We partner with leading university hospitals in Shanghai (China), Botucatu (Brazil), Damongo (Ghana), and several locations in Sri Lanka. Our team develops additional international locations continuously.

We tailor each rotation to your academic requirements, preferred medical specialties, and schedule. This approach ensures maximum educational value and clinical flexibility.

Electives We Offer

Med’oPolo International Programs provide comprehensive Final Year rotations (PJ) lasting 2 to 4 months. We also organize 1 month long standard clinical rotations (Famulatur) for students within their core clinical education years. These shorter placements last up to 1 month.

You can apply directly to Shanghai East Hospital (China), Botucatu FMB Hospital (Brazil), or St. Anne Catholic Hospital (Ghana).

We are actively working to launch medical internships at additional operational sites. Future destinations include Botswana, Costa Rica, Nepal, or Malaysia – just to name a few. We will publish these expansion sites as soon as details are finalized. If you want a placement in Botswana or Malaysia, please contact to us to inquire early.

MedoPolo processes your application independently of rigid university partnerships! These university cooperations often limit student mobility during medical education abroad. Therefore, all international medical students in their clinical years are fully eligible to apply.

What We Do

Through MedoPolo International Medical Internship Programs, you can apply directly to the destination of your choice. You can also apply to several locations simultaneously using a single application profile. Once we receive your academic documents, our administration coordinates the entire logistical pipeline:

We provide dedicated support throughout your journey. Our advisory desk offers practical assistance regarding visas, travel preparation, and localized orientation. If problems arise during your stay abroad, our teams facilitate rapid solutions. Furthermore, we support you through the final academic acceptance of your rotation to ensure smooth credit recognition at your home faculty.

A Brief History of the Med’oPolo Medical Internship Program

The Early Beginnings

Prof. Zhao collaborated with our founding group on curriculum development and operational setup. We launched the first digital portal for the Education Office in 2009. This website received layout support from what later evolved into the independent MedoPolo Program. The web presence enabled international applicants to access elective details easily.

Professionalizing Medical Electives in Mainland China

We thoroughly revised and remodeled the entire medical rotation curriculum in 2010. We launched standardized tracks: the Final Year Program (PJ), Famulatur programs, and an International Chinese Program. Since then, our educational board constantly refines program elements to meet modern clinical demands.

During this launch, Prof. Zhao maintained close academic ties with physicians across Germany, Europe, and the United States. This cross-border cooperation ensured exceptional global training standards. The curriculum matched the strict regulatory standards mandated by European medical universities.

Curriculum Development & Milestones

These early benchmarks led to an international teaching lecture series. Renowned professors and chief consultants deliver advanced medical seminars at Shanghai East Hospital. Following these additions, we integrated English-taught student tutorial classes into ward schedules. In 2010, we formally established the MedoPolo Program on-site in Shanghai. This was our first joint project with Tongji University – School of Medicine.

Managing the Academic Exchange

MedoPolo initially managed program operations from inside the Education Office. We completely renovated residential apartments on Rushan Road for traveling students. This project ensured clean, comfortable housing options close to the wards. In 2017, changing local housing legislation closed the Rushan Road facility for international students.

Evolving Clinical Standards in China

We advanced training quality by recruiting English-speaking clinical tutors across all departments. Concurrently, new national training directives in 2017 phased out the International Chinese Program. This change allowed us to prioritize specialized clinical electives.

Prof. Zhao retired from active program management in 2019. His successor, Ms. Yiwei Luo, assumed administrative leadership of the MedoPolo International Rotation Program. She manages operations alongside her staff and coordinators from Tongji University.

Strategic Growth & Program Externalization

Significant operational growth separated Med’oPolo into a dedicated external administrative entity. This transition allowed for streamlined expansion while preserving close collaborative ties. The expansion included the addition of international training sites beyond China since 2013.

Today, MedoPolo operates independently as an external partner. We maintain close cooperation with the Shanghai East Hospital Education Office and the Tongji University School of Medicine. This ecosystem functions cohesively to preserve premium educational quality.

Navigating Global Challenges: The COVID-19 Pandemic & Beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international student mobility programs worldwide between 2020 and 2023. Despite these profound global challenges, MedoPolo preserved placement pathways. We expanded our hospital networks to meet post-pandemic student demands.

Expanding Global Placements: Brazil, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Beyond

To complement our network in China, MedoPolo established partnerships with UNESP teaching hospitals in Brazil. This cooperation delivered a premier rotation framework in South America.

The Faculty of Medicine Botucatu (FMB) integrated into our network in early 2013. Applications via MedoPolo remain open to qualifying medical candidates worldwide. Students experience acute clinical casework inside a leading Brazilian teaching hospital. Prof. Silke Weber remains actively involved in international curriculum design.

In 2026, we launched our first active clinical program in Africa. St. Anne Catholic Hospital in Damongo, Ghana, welcomed its first MedoPolo students. This placement offers a unique opportunity to observe healthcare delivery in a low-resource regional setting.

Our newest clinical pathway offers hospital internships across public and private facilities in Sri Lanka. This South Asian track accepts applications from pre-med and nursing students seeking global clinical internships.

Outlook: Future Elective Developments

MedoPolo continues to build additional avenues for clinical learning. We are evaluating upcoming sites in Asia, South America, and Africa. These evaluations will provide our applicants with a comprehensive range of global clinical environments.

Embark on Your Global Clinical Rotation

Are you ready to experience clinical daily routines abroad? Seize the opportunity to expand your diagnostic horizons and sharpen your clinical acumen. Immersing yourself in a new environment forms a vital milestone for your medical career. It reshapes your perspective on global health practice.

Our administrative team and global partners look greatly forward support you on your educational journeys.