Program Reviews

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.

I'm a first-generation college student, my parents are not fluent in English, and I'm Latina, among other factors. I think some people are surprised to see someone who looks like me in the lab or hospital and their notions of what a researcher is might be questioned–and I'm fine with that. Finding and creating the space to be myself has allowed me to support others as well. I always tell people, it doesn't matter if they think you're not good enough, I'm certain you are. The Philotimo Internship and Volunteering program empowers me to go out there and pursue things that are difficult or uncomfortable. Thank you so much for this experience and for teaching the principles of what is to have Philotimo. The Internships are stunning, and the classes, the trips, and the food are just the best.

I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor, but I’ve been thinking about who I was when I first got to the Philotimo Internship, how much I've grown, and how much I've changed in 3 weeks of being abroad in Greece.
I shadowed at the Lab, where we were working on developing an anti-cancer, antibacterial agent. Typically, we run different chemical reactions in the lab. We read literature about the procedure, decided on the scale, set the conditions, and used nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the structure of molecules. the Philotimo Med Abroad experience has been about more than just chemistry or volunteering. I feel empowered to go out there and pursue things that are difficult or uncomfortable.
I enjoyed working with doctors for long hours and learning new techniques. I got few letters of recommendation which will help me when I apply to medical school.

I spoke to my advisor about preparing for a future in public health and he suggested that I take part in Philotimo Med Abroad DataLab. At that point, I didn’t know much about it. I had no idea what data analysis even involved. But he told me about the program’s focus on social good and that there was an emergency room overuse project. When I heard that I thought, “I need to check this out.” I started doing my research into what ER overuse is and I realized that this was an opportunity to help a community partner, the Shelter Network, advocate for many refugee minors.
We got our 2 week project, and let’s just say it was intense. I appreciate the fact that Larissa residents receive primary care in a fantastic hospital with a great group of doctors ready to care for them. During my time there, I shadowed and rotated 3 clinics and on Fridays we had a cultural excursions to Meteroa and to Mount Olympus.

I had a 3-week internship in Larissa, Greece with Philotimo, I shadowed a couple of physicians. I worked in a research lab and shadowed within the University and at a community clinic, which helped me see how their work with patients complemented thier research studies.
There is so much research happening here and there are so many ways for students to get involved. That isn't something that every college student gets to do. So I’m grateful because I’ve been able to do more than figure out what I want to do for a future career—I’ve had the chance to already start doing it.
I really want to become a research physician like the professors I shadowed, it was great to be able to talk to them about the path they took to get where they are. The really became a mentor who could give advice and have conversations about what's next.
The Philotimo excursions are also fun and help you to forget all the stress we have during our school time and at practice.

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.

Choosing Philotimo Med Abroad was the best decision I could've made! All of my classes were super intriguing (I was excited to go shadowing), the organized trips were fun and convenient, and everyone I met was super nice and supportive. Living in Larissa was also much more convenient than I thought it would be -- access to other cities in Greece, as well as access to other countries in Europe, was super easy. The food, the culture, the Director's support system, and all of the fun activities that happened in Larissa made my trip super worth it. You won't regret it if you choose Philotimo!