Global lessons in medicine: Notre Dame’s GPE program takes pre-med student to Mumbai | News | Notre Dame Global

A smiling young woman in a light graphic tee and blue jeans stands next to a large red anatomical heart sculpture framed by a red and blue ring. The sculpture is on a black base, with an "How to Use AED" sign and palm trees and buildings in the background.

Katie Ford ’28 has always known her path would lead to medicine. A science-preprofessional major and peace studies minor, she hopes to become a heart transplant surgeon who brings both skill and compassion to her work. When a summer plan unexpectedly fell through, she decided to turn the setback into something meaningful, discovering Notre Dame Global’s seven-week Global Professional Experience (GPE) program and a life-changing opportunity in Mumbai.

“None of the other sites really offered something geared toward pre-med,” Katie said. “I wanted to be in a hospital setting and see a different health system compared to the US. Plus, I’d always wanted to go to India, so Mumbai made sense.”

Hosted by Notre Dame Mumbai, the program begins with a local orientation and pairs students with mentors and placements that match their academic and professional goals. While Katie focused on medicine, the Mumbai GPE also opens doors in public health, NGOs, business, and marketing, supported by Notre Dame’s strong alumni network across India.

Immersed in the hospital setting

Katie was placed at the SRCC, a private children’s hospital, where she quickly learned that initiative was key. “At the beginning, it was ambiguous,” she recalled. “But once we connected with a few surgeons who wanted us to learn, everything changed.”

A young woman in blue scrubs, a blue surgical cap, and a light blue mask stands in a modern operating room. She wears a "Nanyang Health" lanyard and looks toward the camera with smiling eyes. Surgical lights, a green-draped table, and various medical equipment are visible.

From that point, the experience became entirely student-driven. “We checked the OR board each morning and chose what to observe. In the US, even shadowing one surgery can be a feat. In India, we had so much freedom. I saw open-heart surgeries, neurosurgeries, orthopedic cases, laparoscopic surgeries, C-sections—so many different things.”

Two moments stood out most. “Walking into the OR for the first time and seeing someone’s heart beating was unreal. Dr. Pradeep invited us closer and pointed out the anatomy and where the hole was.” The second was equally memorable. “Childbirth is such a beautiful thing, but C-sections were intense. I realized that isn’t the area for me.”

Across the summer, she logged roughly 120 to 150 hours of clinical observation. More than the hours, it was the mentorship that mattered most. “The anesthesiologist and surgeons were friendly and human. They took time to teach and answer questions about training pathways in India and the UK. It made the profession feel tangible.”

Living and learning in Mumbai

A person's hands display intricate dark brown henna. The left hand shows a floral design and wristbands; the right has a large, detailed floral pattern.

Outside the hospital, Mumbai itself became a classroom. “I wanted to be somewhere that made me uncomfortable so I could grow,” Katie said. Learning local customs, navigating the busy streets, and exploring menus where she had to Google various dishes all became part of the adventure.

The Notre Dame presence made the transition easier. “The Notre Dame team in Mumbai was so helpful. And the India Summer students who were also there at the same time gave us recommendations. Even simple things like, ‘Who do I eat dinner with?’ went away because there was a community.”

And of course, the food left an impression. “Butter chicken became a favorite. Half the fun was opening a menu and trying something new every time.”

A lasting impact

The experience confirmed Katie’s career goals. “There was never a question that I wanted to be a doctor, but seeing cardiac surgery up close sealed it. There is no question this is what I want to do.” She also discovered a new possibility. “I hadn’t had a pediatric perspective before. Watching kids pre-op and post-op made me consider pediatric cardiac surgery.”

Three smiling young women pose in front of the towering red brick Qutub Minar and a domed building at the Qutb Complex in Delhi. The women wear colorful dresses and sunglasses.

She values how the summer broadened her outlook. “I’m a more well-rounded person because of it. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable is a skill.”

Katie believes the cultural awareness she gained will shape her future as a physician. “People often treat shadowing like a box to check. Going abroad shows you can interact with different cultures in a respectful, holistic way. That matters for patients and for teams.”

Mumbai offers an unmatched blend of world-class hospitals, vibrant city life, and a welcoming Notre Dame network that helps every student find their place. While Katie came for medicine, the program’s structure also fits those interested in public health, business, or community development.

Looking back, she says the decision to go was one of the best she’s made. “You don’t have to have it all figured out before you apply,” Katie said. “Just go with an open mind. India will surprise you in the best way.”

Interested in exploring the GPE program in Mumbai? Visit the Notre Dame Global’s GPE website for more information.

Originally published by Hayden Mascarenhas at mumbai.nd.edu on October 20, 2025.