Discover the Advantages of Our Dental Program in Greece

I was looking for a volunteer program. The accommodation was secure, comfortable, and had all the essentials, allowing us to focus fully on our work with the kids. Shadowing a local dentist was a fantastic learning opportunity. I got to observe root canal procedures, learn about different tools, and see firsthand the dentist’s patience when treating children who were initially nervous. The shelter was just a short walk away, which meant we could spend more time with the children and less time commuting. Stavros is hilarious—he once tried to teach us Greek slang, only for us to find out later that half of it was completely made up! We had a great time bonding over our shared confusion.The kids’ smiles were worth every second, and I truly felt like I was making a difference. I’ll miss the group dinners, where we shared not just food, but stories, laughter, and new friendships.

I joined Philotimo Med hoping to gain experience in psychology, but I left with so much more, including a deep appreciation for dentistry. Shadowing a dentist in Larissa was one of the unexpected highlights. I learned about the differences in dental practices between Greece and my home country and even observed how cultural factors influence patient comfort and care. The accommodation was safe, spacious, and filled with natural light—perfect for relaxing after a day at the shelter. It was comforting to know that the shelter was close by, which made for easy mornings. Stavros had us all laughing when he dressed up as Zeus for a holiday event and declared that we were his 'Olympian volunteers'—the kids absolutely loved it! Working with the children taught me so much about resilience and joy, even in challenging situations. If I did it again, I’d spend more time learning Greek—it would’ve helped me connect even more with the kids and understand their stories better. The community dinners, often with traditional Greek dishes, brought us all closer and were some of the best moments of my time in Greece. It was hard to leave such a warm, welcoming environment.

I couldn’t have asked for a better volunteer program. Philotimo Med gave me the perfect balance of structured volunteering and the freedom to explore Greece. The accommodation felt like home, super secure, with friendly neighbors, and the shelter was just down the road, making our daily routines stress-free. Stavros’s humor made every meeting a joy—especially the time he brought in a goat he found wandering near the shelter and joked that it was our new mascot! The meals together with fellow volunteers were delicious, and we shared stories from all over the world while savoring Greek cuisine. If I could change anything, I’d have stayed longer because two months felt too short. I’ll never forget the impact we had on those kids’ lives, and seeing their smiles every day is something I’ll carry with me always. Greece truly became a second home, thanks to this experience

The Pharmacy shadowing experience at pharmacy of Larissa was such a great experience for me, I always feel free to ask some questions to Chysanthi the pharmacist. My best example of that is a story my preceptor told me of one of her previous patients who had their sodium replenished far too quickly which led to irreversible brain damage, now when I see a hyponatremic patient I immediately check how fast their sodium is being replaced among all fluids administer.
The Philotimo experience helps me understand better my future career. I had the opportunity to travel to beautiful destinations like Meteora and Mount Olympus.

this experience was phenomenal. Stavros did an amazing job of helping us plan everything from start to finish, he was a great director.
With the time change & language barrier, there were a few moments when the communication barrier was difficult, but overall it was swift & beneficial. Greece is an amazing country! The community received us with open arms and we will forever be grateful! I am so thankful we were able to explore Thessaly in our free time, The Philotimo experience overall was very educative.

In the Summer of 2023, I participated in a 3-week medical program with Philotimo. This program was incredible! After my first year of college, made the switch to the pre-med track. My academic advisor brought me the Philotimo Med Abroad shadow abroad in Greece and I jumped on the opportunity. In this experience. I got to see even more than 2 specialties, the doctors invited us to see more operations and diagnostics My experience opened my eyes to the various healthcare systems and has allowed me to better understand the different ways of approaching health.

I spent 3 weeks in Greece. I had the opportunity to shadow in the ER / ICU, Surgery, and Immunohematology. I was shadowing on average 7 hours per day. Many surgeries to observed and the doctors explained all the details to us in English.
You do have to wake up early and be punctual for breakfast and to go to the Hospital. We took the shuttle to the University and when I had to shadow at the local pharmacy I walked for no even 2 minutes away.
During the Philotimo Excursions, we had the best time ever! Greece is a paradise. The beaches, the food, and the people are amazing.

I participated in a 3-weeks pharmacy program with Philotimo. I was able to shadow and partake in different lab projects and lectures. I also shadowed at a community pharmacy.
The professor explained all of the procedures to us in English and was very welcoming. I discovered my passion for pharmacy through working at the University, and this experience helped me confirm my desire to pursue a career in Pharmacy.
I had a roommate. We shared the bathroom. WIFI was surprisingly fast for Europe. We gathered to grab breakfast early morning and then we took the shuttle to the University or I walked to the pharmacy.
I love the Philotimo Program and the city of Larissa.