Doctors in Italy Fellowship

My experience shadowing abroad in Bologna, Italy for 5 weeks was incredible. We got to see several different specialties such as dermatology, cardiology, oncology, etc. After shadowing for about six hours in the morning, we would go out to group meals or activities, like cooking classes, where we got to be fully immersed in the Italian culture. On Fridays, we went on group excursions outside of Bologna to other Italian cities like Ferrara, Modena, and Parma where we got to see different parts of Italy and learn even more. On the weekends, my other fellows and I would plan our own trips to different cities, such as Venice and Florence, and spend time having fun together. Overall, the experience not only helped me gain exposure to the medical field by allowing me to gain 100 clinical shadowing hours but also fostered lasting friendships and lifetime memories.

I absolutely adored my time in Genoa with Doctors in Italy. The city managers and accommodations were phenomenal! I even tested positive for asymptomatic COVID-19 upon arrival and the staff at Shadow Doctors in Italy and our hotel were so helpful and caring. They made sure that I was well taken care of and even reimbursed me for the meals I had delivered while in quarantine!
Our hotel was within a short walking distance of the bus we needed to take to the hospital each day and to the city's train station.
Each rotation we shadowed had at least one doctor who spoke English proficiently and was willing to take on and guide a student for the day. Because we had a smaller shadowing group, we were even able to choose what specialties we wished to shadow each day. Each rotation, I was met with friendly and helpful faces who were happy to meet us and teach us more about their work. I always felt welcome and accepted by all.
The city managers, Denise and Matteo, were so helpful! They showed us around the hospital as well as the city. We had such a great time with them, and they were always a phone call or text away if we needed them. Our group excursions with them on Wednesday and Friday nights were so fun!
After shadowing and on the weekends, we were free to travel on our own! We received great advice from Denise and Matteo on where to visit, shop, and eat. During my time in Italy, I was even able to travel to Rome for the weekend before returning to shadowing on Monday morning.
Overall, I miss my time in the Doctors in Italy program immensely, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in entering into the healthcare profession!

Doctors in Italy was an amazing and immersive experience for aspiring young medical students/pre-med students, which not only was immersive into the field of medicine but into the Italian culture. From shadowing in heart surgeries to seeing how the local general practitioner ran, the program allowed me to gain insight into international medicine and solidified my desire in the healthcare field. The staff are supportive and ensure you have an enjoyable time, and the friends that you make are some you will keep for your whole life!

I was a part of the first group in the pre-vet Doctor's in Italy program. Although Rome was still under covid restrictions the experience was amazing. We gained hands on experience throughout the week at the two rescue sanctuaries we visited and still had time to explore the city on our own. There was a perfect mix of independence and support granted from the team. Living in Rome for 2 weeks while also ganging veterinary experience was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Using the metro to travel around Rome seemed daunting, but it was actually very easy. Additionally, the trains are super affordable and make traveling all around Italy possible.

Being a part of this program has been a great way for me as a pre-vet student to get a foot in the door of my career. I learned a lot about animal care, management and treatments through this two week journey, and it has given me the confidence to start getting more involved in the field outside of academics before I graduate. Housing was great and the itinerary provided at the beginning of every week made it very easy to plan accordingly. The only issue I had was regarding food allergies, but even then the problems were remedied very quickly and did not affect my enjoyment for the program at all. Overall this experience was one I'll never forget, and would certainly do again if I had the chance!