Medical Internship in the land of Hippocrates, Summer 2024-Greece

I loved my trip to Larissa with Philotimo Med abroad, I found the activities such as horse-riding, walk tours, etc. Super fun and helpful to appreciate the culture. My director was very helpful. I stayed for 2 weeks. The majority of the internship was life-changing. I learned a lot from the psychologist and the nurses, their communication was a challenge sometimes as I don’t speak Greek.
The internship was very well organized, with the group leaders. always being on top of everything and perfectly timing activities. The volunteer work was rewarding in itself and felt productive.

Though I was highly confident in my decision to become a doctor before the program, I feel even more strongly about medicine now. Being able to shadow doctors in a system I had never encountered before was a great experience because it opened my eyes to the multitude of professional opportunities available to medical graduates. In addition to shadowing, volunteering was such a fun opportunity, and I got to know the doctors I was shadowing at a personal level. I learned so much about what it means to treat patients and how to conduct oneself in the stressful environment of a healthcare institution. Not only that but the cultural immersion and social engagement I experienced in Larissa made the trip very worthwhile. I wish I could go back during the summer and stay for 3 weeks.
The Philotimo program overall is the best experience out there for a premed student.

I really want to do more with medicine and want to get more immersed in it. I was also trying to think ahead for my future, in case medicine is not the right career for me. That’s when I started looking for the Philotimo Internship. The doctors were very helpful. I shadowed in the orthopedic and neurological clinic. I attended many surgeries and emergency cases during my two weeks. I had the most amazing accommodation ever! a balcony with an amazing view of the main square. Our daily breakfast was ok. I learned to take the shuttle from the accommodation to the University Hospital. Larissa is such an easy city to move around.
The highlight of the program was our trip to Meteora with Stefanos the tour guide.

The Philotimo internship is meaningful learning, it requires more than just shadowing, memorizing concepts, and reciting them as instructed. It involves a wider application, which produces something new and unique. I participated in the program for 2 weeks during the winter. I was able to employ the skills I've gained during the shadowing experience at the university hospital and the shelter. The doctors and mentors assist you to understand the fundamentals of medicine, they helped us to develop our ways of engaging with that material, of formulating and expressing unique perspectives. English is spoken everywhere in Greece, so you don't have to worry. During our group meals and trips to these beautiful sites, you feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of it. We stayed in a very central an clean accommodation, two students per room. Our room had a separate heating system and a great wifi signal.

Part of why I became dedicated to studying medicine was my curiosity about the world around me and other people’s perspectives. The Philotimo program's ongoing shadowing and community service projects have been a great way to explore those ideas in an immediate way. I’ve always known about Philotimo and the internship programs from friends and alumni, but now I’ve found a new place for myself here. And it’s a place of purpose. I can't wait to become a doctor like the ones I shadowed in Larissa, Greece. Thank you Philotimo and Stavros for all your help.