Join Atlantis: Pre-Health Shadowing 60+ Hrs w/ Top Doctors
Join Atlantis: Pre-Health Shadowing 60+ Hrs w/ Top Doctors
Location
Multiple Locations +7
  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Greece
  • Malta
  • Croatia
  • Italy
  • Cape Verde

Program Details

Compensation
Non-Monetary Benefits
Timeframe
J-Term Maymester Summer Winter
Housing
Apartment

Pricing

Price Details
Program cost varies based on location and length of program. Check out the "Cities" page on our website for more information.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Some Meals Transportation Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare Airport Transfers Some Meals Visa
Aug 30, 2026
217 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

About Program

Atlantis by CEA CAPA Abroad is the #1, largest, and most reputable pre-health study abroad organization for US undergraduates. With medical shadowing experiences in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Hungary and more, our programs can be combined into multi-country experiences, perfect for students that are ready to see the world! What better way to gain clinical hours than jet-setting around Europe! Students will shadow in top European hospitals with well-esteemed physicians and have the opportunity to explore the rich culture of the host cities.

As a pre-health student, we know how hard it can be to travel and balance a rigorous course load. However, professional schools are looking for students that can critically think about the world we live in and how to improve patient experience. With alumni in 40 of the top 50 MD programs, Atlantis prepares students for a future career in healthcare.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers extensive hospital shadowing across many specialties with supportive doctors and coordinators, combined with rich cultural immersion and group excursions.

Program Highlights

  • Programs run during winter and summer breaks so there is no need to take time off during your academic semesters!
  • Rotate weekly through different specialties to gain exposure to various medical practices and procedures.
  • Immerse yourself in a program abroad to understand healthcare in a global context, and embark on weekly excursions to experience European culture, sights, and food.
  • You do not need to know any European languages to have an amazing and impactful experience!
  • Start dates for summer in April, May, June, July and August, and for winter in December and January.

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating
based on 90 reviews
  • 5 rating 91.11%
  • 4 rating 8.89%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.9
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.9
  • Housing 4.75
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 90 reviews
Claire
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Atlantis - Kraków

Studying abroad in Kraków, Poland has been one of the highlights of my lifetime. I spent three weeks shadowing doctors and learning all about the healthcare system in a new country. Some of the highlights include watching C-sections, an emergency surgery, pediatric surgeries, and so much more. I also shadowed in neurology and the emergency department, both of which were very cool. Embracing the Polish culture and language was amazing, in addition to networking with other students and doctors. The Atlantis team was nothing short of incredible and I cannot recommend going abroad enough!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
One of the most nerve-racking moments for me was traveling solo for the first time. I have traveled significantly before but never completely alone and an 18-hour travel day to kick off the trip certainly was scary. That said, the Atlantis staff were wonderful and I quickly became friends with the other students in my program. The language barrier was also scary, but the Polish community is so kind and accommodating, and just putting in a little effort to say "hello" or "do you speak English?" makes all the difference.
Pros
  • Friendship
  • Inspiring
  • Confidence-building
49 people found this review helpful.
Franccesca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Perugia,Italy Atlantis

My summer abroad surgical shadowing experience in Perugia, Italy, was truly life-changing. I had the incredible opportunity to observe skilled surgeons, network with doctors, and connect with other students from around the world. Most of the main doctors spoke English, but downloading Duolingo and embracing the Italian culture made the experience even richer. Exploring the city and hospital taught me so much, not just about medicine, but about myself. This program solidified my decision to pursue surgery, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I experienced was when the anesthesiologist invited me to stand on the overhead stool right above a patient’s head during an open-heart surgery. From that view, I could see the entire procedure unfold it was absolutely incredible. Watching the surgeons work so precisely while seeing how different each patient’s heart looked was mind-blowing. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the complexity and uniqueness of the human body.
Pros
  • Networking
  • Learning
  • Community
What other participants should know
  • Language barrier
  • Being homesick
  • Time difference
158 people found this review helpful.
Claire
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Pre-Health Summer Experience

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in this program and was able to learn so much about the medical system in Europe, especially how different countries varied from each other. In doing so, I was also able to compare how the European medical system differed from the US healthcare system. Besides learning, I got to travel so much, try new foods, and immerse myself in the culture and history of the countries I stayed in. I got to meet so many amazing people throughout this trip and had lots of fun!

154 people found this review helpful.
Emma
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Atlantis - Athens Program

This was a super meaningful and memorable program! I really enjoyed meeting individuals from different backgrounds and learning more about the Greek healthcare system. Additionally, my city managers were so kind and helpful, and I hope to continue my friendships with everyone I met. Witnessing 10+ surgeries and shadowing different departments was a very unique and rewarding experience for me that made me realise how dedicated I am to providing such care to future patients. I recommend this program to everyone.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The first time watching a surgery
172 people found this review helpful.
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Budapest Shadowing

I really enjoyed shadowing in Budapest over the summer through the Atlantis pre med program. I learned a lot at the hospital I went to and became friends with all of the doctors. Some gave me letters of recommendation and some I am still in contact with. Also it was cool to see how healthcare is done in another country other than America where I live. There were a lot of cool differences. It was also cool to do excursions on our trip like taking a boat on a lake and eating at nice restaurants. This trip was the best moments of my life up to this point and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of going to become a doctor as it teaches you a lot about what it is like to be a doctor and you get to have fun doing it.

What was your funniest moment?
I got to go kayaking and I fell out of my boat for a moment but I was ok but it was funny because I was looking at my phone so of course it was my fault luckily my phone didn't fall in the water.
Pros
  • Site seeing
  • Getting to interact with real doctors
  • Making new friends (life long friends in my case) who also want to be in the medical field
What other participants should know
  • some things cost a lot of money if you want to go do something outside the group like taking a hot air ballon
  • Lots of traffic if you take a taxi although the transportation system was amazing if you take a tram or bus or train
  • Have to be up early to go to the hospital on weekdays although I enjoyed this however my roommate didn't always
302 people found this review helpful.
Luana
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

3 Week Medical Shadowing in Lisbon - Review

Over the summer, I participated in the Atlantis shadowing program in Lisbon, and I loved it! I got the chance to interact with many different medical providers which allowed me to get first-hand perspectives on what it is like to work in the medical field. One thing that pleasantly surprised me was the fact that I was not only able to interact with physicians, but I also got to interact with other professionals such as nurses, which also offer a unique perspective on the field. It was very interesting to observe how the medical system works in Portugal, as it opened my eyes to how medicine differs and is similar around the world. Additionally, I loved getting the opportunity to learn more about what life is like in Portugal. Personally, I enjoyed being able to live life as people typically do in Lisbon, such as being able to walk everywhere and take public transportation. I loved learning about the Portuguese culture, especially through my amazing city managers! Overall, this experience was incredible and allowed me to learn more about medicine while simultaneously learning more about a culture different to my own.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We got to go stand-up paddle boarding in Cascais, which was super fun and cool!
Pros
  • You get to have a bit of a taste of what it would be like to live as a local in that city
  • You got a lot of really cool exposure into various medical procedures and cases
What other participants should know
  • Sometimes certain doctors don't give a lot of attention to you, so you may not understand what is going on.
  • Some doctors don't know you are supposed to be there, so they may get frustrated until they understand
317 people found this review helpful.
Desiree
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I loved it

This experience was amazing. I finally got to travel on my own which I was nervous about but Atlantis made it very easy to navigate. I had so much fun, I got to learn so many new things from both the medical side and personal side. I got to experience a different culture and try so many new foods. I loved that we didn’t have to stay at the program location on the weekends and we could travel outside as well, we ended up going to madrid and portugal. I also made some great new friends and we still talk to this day.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to just have fun and go out as much as you can and experience the city because it is amazing.
Pros
  • Traveling outside of program destination
  • Meeting new people
  • Trying new foods
297 people found this review helpful.
Tamara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A unique experience

I really loved being in Spain to grow myself in medical field. The country was amazing, I loved the architecture, culture, and people as well. Of course the hospital experience was amazing itself as well. Everyday I learned something new which made me gain more knowledge in medicine. I was able to do more than 60 hours of shadowing and the hospital staff was very helpful and friendly. Also the fact that I shadowed in both private and public hospitals it helped me to understand how healthcare works in both sides.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was very surprised by how people were that nice.
Pros
  • Gain knowledge about healthcare
  • amazing culture
  • Great staff
What other participants should know
  • The people who attended the program
  • More shadowing hours
  • More departments to shadow
314 people found this review helpful.

Community Questions

We welcome future and current nursing students along with pre-meds on our clinical shadowing programs every year. Shadowing doctors with Atlantis is an unparalleled opportunity to experience an international healthcare system with different practices and policies alongside a new culture. Atlantis alumni go on to pursue MD, DO, PA, Nursing, PT, OT, Pharmacy, and many other health professions. Check...