VIA has over 60 years of experience connecting Asia and the US, and has facilitated programs for students from Asia in Silicon Valley since 1977. Our participants are able to stay connected to an international community of peers throughout their careers. VIA’s extensive alumni network allows past and present participants to strengthen their personal and professional development. VIA also provides opportunities to contribute to meaningful impact with local organizations that serve a diverse range of communities and needs.

VIA’s first program for medical students, Exploring Health Care (EHC) was first launched in partnership with Tokyo Medical University (TMU) and Tokyo Women’ Medical University (TWMU) in 1996 as a two-week program for students to join during the break between Japanese academic years in mid-March. It quickly grew to include students from other medical universities in Japan.

From 2013-2018, VIA offered the Medical Exchange & Discovery (MED) Program, a three-week program based at Stanford University. The timing of the MED program made it possible for students from mainland China, Taiwan, and other regions to participate during the academic summer break. Starting in 2019, VIA decided to replace MED with EHC, moving the program up to San Francisco, with visits to the Stanford campus and other Silicon Valley locations.

In 2024, VIA replaced the spring EHC program with Discovering Culture & Health Care (DCH), to provide a shorter spring program tailored to 1st and 2nd year medical students who are interested in an introduction to health care and social issues from diverse perspectives.

Each day will be unique and filled with a variety of activities to help you broaden your horizons, sharpen your skills, build strong relationships and deepen your understanding of culturally competent medicine. The program will typically offer activities during the day, including shadowing, medical organization visits, guest speakers, and discussions. Evenings include time for reflection activities, movie screenings, cultural and social events as well as personal time. The program is fast-paced and intensive. Please come rested, full of energy and ready to learn!

Silicon Valley and San Francisco rank among the world’s strongest centers for innovation, and are home to premier institutions of biomedical research such as the Stanford University School of Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. The San Francisco Bay Area is also home to numerous healthcare startups and nonprofit organizations working to solve many of society’s most pressing medical challenges. The region is culturally and socioeconomically diverse, and provides a unique opportunity for you to deepen your understanding of what it takes to become a culturally competent health care professional.

VIA does not have minimum English test score requirements (e.g., TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, etc), but all programs are conducted in English. You should have at least intermediate English listening, speaking and writing skills. However, our priority is your passion and motivation rather than your English ability. By challenging yourself to use English during our programs, such as asking more questions or sharing your feelings with others, your communication skills will improve and be refined.

It depends. The personal information section should only take 5-10 minutes to fill out. The second part of the application asks you to write several short answers (in English) about yourself and your motivations for joining. The short answer section should be no more than 250 words each and it will help us get to know you better. Depending on your English level and writing ability, it may take 1-2 hours.

The application is designed to help us get to know you better, but is also intended for you to reflect on what is really important to you and what you want to get most out of this experience. We encourage you to spend some extra time to think deeply about your answers. The application questions are posted to each program homepage, so you can review them and prepare your responses in advance before you fill out the application form.

For the first part of the application, you will need to provide personal information (name, nationality, year in school) and contact information (email, phone number, etc). For the essay questions you will be asked to provide information about yourself and why you are interested in joining the program. The final step will be an online interview with the Program Director. If your application is selected, the Program Director will follow up with you to confirm the interview time.

• Review the answers to your essay questions and be prepared to speak about them in more depth.
• Double-check your interview time and plan to be ready a few minutes early in a quiet place where you will be free from distraction.
• Test your internet connection, run any updates on your device and apps, and make sure your microphone, headphones, and camera are working properly. Of course, we realize there are technical difficulties sometimes, so we will work with you to make sure these are resolved.
• Finally, do not worry about making mistakes in English. It is more important to get your message across and we are not going to deny you acceptance because of minor grammatical errors.

We will send out results approximately one week after your interview.

You will receive information about the next steps – how to apply for travel authorization, arrange flights, etc. You will also be invited to join an online group with other participants, so that you can get to know each other better. In addition, you will receive some materials to help you prepare for the program.

We recommend that you pack one small suitcase and one small bag only. You should be able to carry your own luggage around one city block and up and down stairs. California is often shown as a warm, sunny place with beaches and palm trees. San Francisco, however, is usually cool, often cloudy and windy – even in summertime. It’s important to bring cold-weather clothing, like sweatshirts, jackets and umbrellas. We will also be walking around the city a lot, so comfortable shoes are important.

Other important things to bring are: a cell phone, laptop or tablet, prescription medication, copies of your travel and insurance documents, adapters to charge your electronic devices, and a set of formal clothes. Once you are accepted you will receive a detailed packing list to aid you as you prepare for your travels.

Safety is always a concern for VIA. Program staff make participants’ safety and well-being their highest priority at all times. VIA will arrange or plan transportation routes and accompany participants to all organization visits. VIA staff also stay at the same hotel as participants for the duration of the program and are available 24/7 in case of emergencies.

Violent crime is not common or prevalent in the San Francisco Bay Area, and university campuses are usually very safe. However, as is true for most major cities, you should take a common-sense approach to safety as you would anywhere else. Tourists may be targets for scams and theft, so it’s important to take precautions with your bags and valuables. Additionally, it is best to walk in pairs or groups and pay attention to your surroundings.

VIA staff will review safety and emergency response procedures during the program orientation.

If you hold a passport from mainland China (PRC), Macau, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, or any other region that is NOT part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) you are required to have a valid visa to enter the US. You will need to apply for a B1 or B2 nonimmigrant visitor visa, unless you already have a visa* that will be valid during your dates of travel and permits multiple entries. VIA will provide a visa invitation letter addressed to the US embassy or consulate where you plan to apply.

*If you hold a passport from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with a valid 10-year B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, you can’t reapply for a visa, but you will need to enroll in EVUS (Electronic Visa Update System).

If you hold a passport from Japan, Taiwan (ROC), South Korea, or any other region included in theVisa Waiver Program (VWP) you do not need a visa. Instead, you must complete an application with the US Customs and Border Protection’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to receive travel authorization.

You are required to have valid medical insurance coverage during the program. Insurance plans are not very expensive, but healthcare in the US is VERY expensive. If you are sick or injured without health insurance, you may have to pay thousands of dollars in medical costs. Don’t take the risk.

If you are traveling from outside the US, you will need to purchase travel medical insurance before departing from your home country. Most insurance providers will not let you purchase insurance after you depart your home country. Some credit card companies offer travel insurance plans. If you are a current university student, you can also talk to your university’s international programs office to see if there are plans available through the university.

If you are a US citizen or resident, you will need to provide proof of insurance coverage valid for the program dates.

For minor emergencies (small injuries, illness, etc.), program staff will take care of the participants’ immediate needs and accompany them to the hospital if a hospital visit is necessary. For major emergencies (serious injury, illness, or accidents), VIA staff will ensure you receive the care that you need, and notify your emergency contacts.

For program policy violations, VIA will discuss the incident with those involved. Depending on the severity, the individual(s) will receive a warning or, if it is a very serious problem, VIA staff may notify the individual’s home university, if relevant, and potentially send the individual home early.

The program is designed to be an intensive experience in order to maximize participant impact and learning. However, we understand that proper rest and time off are also beneficial to learning, building connections, and overall well-being. Depending on the length of the program, there is usually the equivalent of a full free day per week. There will also be some breaks during activities where you will have time to rest, reflect, and explore.

During the program you will stay at a hotel in the San Francisco Bay Area with other participants and program staff. Participants will be assigned to shared rooms to enrich their program experience.

Yes! You are welcome to go somewhere before and after the program, as long as you can meet us at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) by the specified arrival date/time and stay until the last day of the program. If you are traveling with a university group, please be sure to discuss your travel arrangements with your university as well.

Program activities (orientation, workshops, reflection sessions, organization visits, etc.) are organized by VIA staff and fellows. Additionally, lectures, panel discussions, site tours, and some workshops will be facilitated by guest speakers and professionals representing a diverse range of personal and professional perspectives in medicine and health care.

We ask participants to dress in business casual attire for more formal program sessions. Here are some examples of acceptable attire:

• Top – Dress shirts with a collar, blouses, or dresses in a solid color or simple pattern (a tie is NOT necessary). T-shirts are not acceptable.
• Bottom – Slacks/trousers or skirts in a solid color or simple pattern (black, navy, charcoal, gray, or khaki are recommended). Jeans and shorts are not acceptable.
• Shoes/Belt – Should be in good condition. Recommended shoe styles include oxfords, loafers, chelsea or ankle boots, flats, low heels, etc. Keep in mind that you will be walking a lot, so make sure your dress shoes are still comfortable. Athletic shoes and sandals are not acceptable.
• Outerwear – Sweaters or plain jackets / blazers. Sweatshirts or jackets with graphics, text, ripped seams, chains, etc. are not acceptable.
• White Lab Coat – Please bring a white coat for some activities and photos.

At this time, we cannot guarantee shadowing opportunities for participants. Limited opportunities may be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Yes! There will be a certificate award ceremony and celebration at the end of the program. To receive your certificate, you will need to participate in all required program activities, complete any required assignments, contribute thoughtfully to the program, and support your peers’ learning.

Yes! We encourage you to connect individually with your peers and others you meet during the program. After the program, you can sign up to receive updates about events and opportunities from VIA. VIA organizes alumni gatherings and other events in the US and Asia several times a year. We also have online communities for participants to connect with each other and past program alumni. Finally, alumni may come back to join another program, or return as a program fellow to help facilitate another VIA program.