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

I participated in one of Atlantis Project's five week programs. I spent 3 weeks in Toledo, Spain and 2 weeks in Albacete. We spent five days per week shadowing doctors of various specialties. In addition to this we usually went on one or two cultural adventures each week. One day per weekend we would embark on group trips to nearby cities where activities would be planned for us. These trips were always a great time!! I highly encourage anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of global healthcare or anyone looking for a fun and unique opportunity to check out Atlantis Project!!!

I was lucky enough to participate in the Atlantis Project European Shadowing Program this past summer in A Coruña, Spain. I would HIGHLY encourage students to look into applying for the program. I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life and made friends that will last a lifetime. Each day was spent shadowing phenomenal doctors and teaching english to both residents and attending physicians. Over the summer I gained a better sense of what the daily life of a physician is like and what I may want to pursue a career in in the future. The doctors were wonderful and always willing to teach. Cultural Excursions are also provided each week allowing the Fellows to learn about their new home country during their time abroad. We were also able to teach English to give back to the hospital a few days a week, which was amazing. I know that going forward with my medical school applications in the next year I will be able to discuss both medical and ethical aspects of what I learned in essays and interviews as well have several great anecdotes to share.

I took part in a two-week session of the Atlantis Project last June. I always wanted to go abroad but knew that I would not be able to during the school year due to my double major and extra curricular activities. When I first heard about the Atlantis Project I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to not only go abroad to a country I have never visited before but also to get more hospital experience. The application for the program was very straightforward and easy to fill out. I was also happy to see how many options there were to choose from in terms of dates, lengths of the program, and places to travel. I chose to go to the Canary Islands in Spain (the island of Tenerife) because I have studied Spanish for a long time and knew that it would be a great opportunity to practice the language.
When I first got to Tenerife, I was happy to see that everyone in the program got their own room and bathroom at the Residencia. There were three directors which helped us figure out where everything was and how to get places such as the hospital. It was very easy to get to the hospital and it was quite close to the Residencia. One of my favorite parts of the program was that we got to give our preferences for fields that we wanted to shadow doctors in. This let me explore multiple fields and helped me confirm what fields I want to go into in the future. The doctors were also extremely nice and even though a lot of doctor-patient conversations were in Spanish, they still translated what was happening especially when they were using medical terms that I could not understand. The hospital itself was also very nice and it was so exciting to wake up every morning and go there.
After our hospital hours, some students took part in a volunteer opportunity during which they taught English to Spanish speakers. Other students went out to the town to have lunch together, explored new places, went to shops, or played sports outside the Residencia. A lot of days we were taken to have group dinners together and go on excursions. The excursions were truly amazing and included activities such as whale watching, hiking, exploring a cave, a tour of a vineyard, a flamenco show, and visiting beaches on the island.
The Atlantis Project is honestly the perfect pre-health summer program. It was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had while also learning so much about medicine. I highly encourage everyone I know to apply and am going again myself this summer!

Every morning we woke up early and grabbed the bus to the hospital. Once there we met up with our doctors, we shadowed them for the rest of the day till late afternoon. We were able to change specialties every week and got to see a multitude of surgeries. I personally got to shadow in Hematology, Thoracic surgery, Endocrinology, Ophthalmology and nephrology. The doctors were amazing! Most of them spoke some english but either way we were able to practice our language skills with them or with patients. They were also very patient and explained the procedures to us in detail. They were allowed us to scrub in on their surgeries which allowed us to see some amazing procedures. We were only allowed to watched for patient safety. The doctors even allowed us to shadow them when they were consulting patients which was very interesting to see how these two interacted. The residents were very friendly and helpful too.
At night we had time to explore the city, see the major cities on the islands and visit the major tourist areas. Some nights there were group dinners or activities which was a good opportunity to bond and swap stories about the surgeries or other exciting events we experienced that day.
During the weekends we had group activities planned which usually included hikes and visits to other cities and tourist activities.

I absolutely fell in love with this internship. I learned and got to see so much! I saw numerous surgeries each day, was immersed in the culture, experienced wonderful food, amazing warmth and hospitality within the Portuguese culture, and made a few wonderful friendships.
I loved that we were introduced to aspects of the Portuguese culture (parades, festas, etc.) as well as able to participate in beautiful nature hikes and leisure time at the beach. I also love that we had the opportunity to not only teach English, but also to learn Portuguese through the available classes. It was an awesome once in a life time experience I would be crazy to have passed up.

This was a summer unlike any other! I met some of the best doctors and of course I made some great friends! I would recommend this internship to anyone. The only con is the cost of the internship. I was in the Azores for 1 month and the Canary Islands fof another month. I had a blast and I plan on going back very soon!

The healthcare exposure was outstanding. Being able to view surgeries in the surgical theater is an experience that is hard to come by in the United States. You also get to observe a different health care system than that of the United States, and this itself is insightful.

The excursions were beautiful and very diverse in nature. They ranged from hiking to whale watching. You will not be bored from the activities.

This internship was a reminder that even though opportunities can come your way, it is up to you in terms of how much you learn and receive from these opportunities. A little timid in terms of asking and creating opportunities for myself, I was challenged during the shadowing portion to really be proactive and develop further opportunities myself, a crucial skill that is necessary as we enter the professional field.
Language Barrier:
Even though a language barrier existed, the warm atmosphere and the help of the staff and locals helped me fully receive the Tenerife culture in all aspects. With a weaker Spanish background, I was motivated to study and learn Spanish more because I wanted to embrace the culture quickly.
Shadowing:
Most of the days included visits to the hospital with the opportunity to shadow many different types of specialities that may be harder to shadow back in the United States. My shadowing experiences helped me realize the caliber of programs or experiences I will experience as I further my field in pre-medicine and medicine. With exposure and interaction with real patients, the level of professionalism and expectations are clearly higher than any previous program. I was able to realize and/or remember the reasons why I chose this field as I met the different doctors and patients.
Excursions:
Excursions were good and kept us busy. I would have liked to have at least one free day every two weeks or so to relax. (Everyday is scheduled) I loved the excursions but wished it also included a trip to Siam Park (Best Water park in Europe).

Overall, with the right people and experiences, I think this internship could really teach and effect a lot of students interested in this field. Not only are you able to meet fellow peers, you can experience a realistic view of the medical field.