Join Atlantis: Pre-Health Shadowing 60+ Hrs w/ Top Doctors

My time in Trieste, Italy with the Atlantis was definitely one for the books. Before departure the Atlantis staff made sure we were prepared and had all the information we needed for our arrival there. They sent weekly email updates and reminders and held a pre-departure conference call. When I arrived at the airport my site coordinators were there to help us get to the residence hall. The residence was a nice and safe place for us to stay, although our rooms were a bit cold at first. Everything was organized from our first day to the last one; to and from the hospital, the group dinners and the excursions. The hospital staff were also very nice and welcoming. Trieste was a new site when I interned so there was a small, somewhat expected hiccup in one department where the staff was not quite sure of our [students from US] role there but this was not a big deal. Overall my experience was one that I will always remember and look back upon with a smile. I loved Trieste, the people I met and the time I spent there. I highly recommend the Atlantis project to premed students.

Being apart of Atlantis was one of the best the decisions of my life. I spent 2 weeks in Horta, Portugal where I was able to shadow in the departments of cardiology, radiology, emergency room, and general surgery. The best part of this experience was being able to interact directly with the doctors and learn from them. In addition, the other fellow and I were able to go on a hike, visit an aquarium, visit an neighboring island, and explore the island of Horta which allowed us to learn more the Portuguese culture.

On this trip to Spain to shadow medical doctors in a hospital, I gained a sense of self-awareness as well as cultural appreciation. I was humbled and forced to recognize that my view of the world and health and healthcare is only as wide as my experiences. It was easy for me, at first, to compare what I was used to seeing and doing in the United States to what was done in Spain, but it didn’t help anyone to compare what was in Spain to what I was used to. I decided to pay attention to how things were done in Spain and to learn about their culture and way of life. I learned not to compare and judge, but to investigate and appreciate the culture I was in, and by doing so, I gained a tolerance of difference as well.
I moved around through the specialties and was able to see so much more than expected. I shadowed in neurology, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, and hospital pharmacy. Although I am not interested in pursuing pharmacy as a future career, it was interesting to see how a hospital pharmacy operates. Additionally, within the pharmacy department, I spent a few days learning how the pharmacists research new drugs that are not yet in their system and determine if they are okay to be prescribed by the doctors in the hospital. I got one-on-one experience with the pharmacist learning how to use a medical database and properly perform my own research on any medical related subject through the PubMed database. This experience itself was extremely valuable to me and is something that I will likely use in my future, both in school and my work in the medical field.
The shadowing experience at the hospital was extremely impactful. I was able to see multiple surgeries and operations, simple check-ups and consultations, as well as the research and investigating done by the doctors like examining MRIs or ultra-sound data. The information that I learned from the doctors and everything that I was able to watch and see in the hospital has helped me to better understand patient-doctor interactions, discussing medical professions, discussing the pros and cons of government-run healthcare, describing how a hospital works, and aided me in determining the areas of medicine I am, and am not, interested in pursuing. Every doctor there impacted me in one way or another, and a handful made lasting impressions. I am thankful for all of the doctors that took the time to stop what they were doing and explain to me exactly what they were doing and why it was being done. This made my shadowing experience worthwhile and helped me to better understand and gain more knowledge in that area.
The Atlantis Project gave me exposure to many themes associated with modern medicine. Compassion, global health, the importance of a patient-centered workplace... all of these concepts can be directly experienced while on hospital rounds; the lessons learned about such topics are directly applicable to questions I may be asked throughout the medical school application process. The social components I encountered in the hospital in Alcázar de San Juan have led to me embracing this medical journey. Moreover, the chance to shadow physicians of multiple specialties, from multiple nationalities, and operating under a different healthcare system served to truly enhance my view of medicine. I have truly been “forever touched” by this experience, the people I have met, the knowledge that I have gained, and places I have seen and I will carry this with me throughout my entire life. This was an experience of a lifetime.

A 3-week shadow abroad internship in Athens, Greece changed my view on international healthcare and strengthen my passion for medicine. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to learn about a different health care system and culture by shadowing doctors there. I got over 70 shadowing hours and I got to explore the country! The program can range between 3-9 weeks, the beauty about that is that you get to choose the number of weeks you want the program to last. I was in two different hospitals in Athens, at the private hospital I shadowed the ICU director for 2 weeks and at the public hospital I rotated through many different specialities ranging from cardiothoracic to neurosurgery. If you have the opportunity to participate in this program, 100% take it! Once in a lifetime chance.

While everyone's initial determining factor is the price tag that they see for the program location of their desire, let me tell you something, it's absolutely worth it. In the US, there are few and far in between of hospitals that allow shadowing of surgeons and physicians, and even fewer that allow you to be in the operating room seeing everything the medical providers see. You will never forget the first time you see an emergency C-section or the first time you actually know what the burning of human flesh from an electrocauterizer smells like. For those unsure of their career path in medicine, this is the best thing to figure out if the hospital life is for you. Follow physicians on their pt. care routines day in, day out for 20+ hours a week. I've worked as an EMT for almost 3 years and I still got more experience from 5 weeks at la Hospital del Río. Outside of the hospital, I got to experience a whole new world; sight-seeing, tourist attractions, restaurants, and cultural events that I will always remember. I even met people over there that I still talk to to this day to help keep my Spanish going and honestly, I intend to go back to go see them next year. Atlantis fulfilled their part of the deal in providing me the best pre-med fellowship experience I could have asked for.

During Summer 2017 I had the opportunity to go on my Atlantis trip to Milan, Italy! As apart of the program, we enjoyed long hours in the hospital from (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) and Excursions to different areas of Italy! I learned a lot more than I thought from the doctors my partner and I were placed with and really was happy to be connected to professionals in the hospital even months afterward! I would recommend this experience to any Pre-Med or Pre-Health major who wants a more in-depth understanding of the day to day inner workings of a physicians schedule.

Through the opportunities that were provided by Atlantis, I was able to shadow doctors of different specialties each week, watch surgeries, and learn some Spanish medical terminology. It was a challenging yet enriching experience for me, as I was able to learn more about myself and be reminded why I want to become a doctor. I was also able to connect with health professionals cross culturally through teaching in an English language tutoring program. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to expand their perspective globally, both in their personal lives and in the health care field!

I did a 4-week program in Budapest, Hungary and it was the highlight of my summer. It was my first time going abroad and shadowing. The hospital shadowing was very beneficial, although some departments were better than others. It was hard at times because of the language barriers and that no explanations were given during some shadowing shifts but its all part of the experience abroad. One day I was randomly placed in General surgery and got to shadow an anesthetist and he was very helpful in explaining his job, what he does at the hospital, and the schooling he had to accomplish. I felt that my site manager always had my best interest in mind when assigning me to my shifts. As much as i valued my shadowing time, I also enjoyed exploring the culture of Budapest. I felt that being in the same place for a month allowed me to get a feel for the the Hungarian way of life. Overall, this program rekindled my passion to work in medicine and I think it is a great experience for anyone pursing a career in the field!