Introduction to ISL Gap Year Programs

Every year, more students, parents, and educators are beginning to see a gap year as an important part of the transition to graduate school. Taking a gap year is a big step. While it’s a decision that requires a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone, it can provide an opportunity to experience different cultures, build autonomy and confidence, and grow as an individual before making the transition. At ISL we are dedicated to helping set the foundation for our future leaders. We want to invite you to challenge yourself and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

The ISL Gap Year experiences are designed for college graduates who are planning to take off a year or two before they either start Medical School or PA School.

To accomodate the needs and interest of those students ISL has developed 3 Gap Year Student models as follows:

Gap Year Student – Short Term

This program can range from a week to a month

Gap Year Student – Long Term

This program can be considered to be similar to a residency/internship program and can be months in length.

Medical Student / Gap Year Student Experience

This program is quite unique as it invloves a cohort of Medical Students who will mentor Gap Year Students throughout the trip

All of the gap year experiences will vary dependent on program selected, country, language spoken in chosen country, timeline, etc., but the common denominator of all 3 are the opportunities to meet, shadow, and collaborate with a variety of healthcare practitioners which we hope will help to solidify their choice of study in graduate school. Additionally, another common denominator is the opportunity to have more hospital or clinical site time with a goal of 75% clinical hospital rotations and 25% rural/urban community clinic rotations. Due to the existing rules and regulations of the healthcare systems in the countries where ISL serves, we are limited in where we can create the Gap Year Student experience that includes a hospital rotation … to date the countres that will allow us to provide this experience are: Belize / Mexico / Tanzania

 

Gap Year Student – Short Term Trips 2026

               

 

Gap Year Student – Short Term – Belize 2026

Ava Svatos is the Trip Leader for Belize 2026.

Ava graduated from the University of South Carolina (USC) in December 2025 with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Neuroscience. While at USC Ava excelled academically and Graduated with Leadership Distinction in Professional & Civic Engagement.

On campus Ava held positions as President of Women in Health Care, Historian/Secretary for MedElem (pediatric focused student organization), and was a Member of AED. Ava was also involved in research (investigating psychological and physical health in older African Americans) and worked part-time as a Medical Assistant in an allergists office. Ava had many highlights during her undergraduate years, but it was post graduation (February 2026) that really stands out as she was a participant in ISL’s inaugural Medical Student / Gap Year Student trip to Belize. This trip was so life changing that she now wants to lead a trip of Gap Year students to have the same experience that she had.

When not studying for the MCAT, Ava spends her free time as a competive equestrian.

               Ava Svatos

Dates, costs, and more specifics on the experience will be posted here soon!

          

 

Gap Year Student – Short Term – Tanzania 2026

Brice Cannon is the Trip Leader for Tanzania 2026.

Brice graduated from the University of South Carolina (USC) in December 2025 with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Neuroscience. While at USC Brice excelled academically.

On campus Brice was a member of many student organizations to include PhiDE,  MedElem (pediatric focused student organization), and Tri Beta National Honors Society. Brice was also involved in research (focus on athletic training students’ knowledge and skills related to managing drug overdose) and worked part-time as a Medical Scribe for a Cardiologist. In March 2025 Brice joined a cohort of PhiDE students to render much needed care to an underserviced group of people in need in Costa Rica, and in February 2026 Brice was a participant in ISL’s inaugural Medical Student / Gap Year Student trip to Belize. This trip was so life changing that he now wants to lead a trip of Gap Year students to have the same experience that he had.

When not studying for the MCAT, Brice spends his free time training to compete in an Ironman Triathlon.

               Brice Cannon

Dates, costs, and more specifics on the experience will be posted here soon!