Medical / Dental / PA / Nurse / Physiotherapy Shadowing in Greece
Medical / Dental / PA / Nurse / Physiotherapy Shadowing in Greece
Location
  • Greece
    • Athens
    • Thessaloniki
Length
2 to 12 weeks
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility, Work study, Work exchange, Sliding scale fees, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment
Language
English
Weekly Hours
40
Age Min.
18
Age Max
80
Qualifications
  • Must be 18 years old or over and preferably with least one year of undergraduate study completed, with a relevant scientific major

Pricing

$2,000
Price Details
Fees:
2-weeks $2,000
3-weeks $2,680
4-weeks $3,350
Programs are available for up to 12-weeks

Deposit (non-refundable): $350 paid upon acceptance to the program. The remaining fees are paid not less than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the internship start date

Fees include:
– 24/7 in-country support
– Airport pick-up
– Customized internship plan
– Fully furnished shared accommodation
– Local English speaking coordinator
– International reference letter
– Sourcing and securing your internship placement

The program cost does not include:
Travel to/from Greece, meals, major medical insurance, and all personal expenses and anything else not mentioned.
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Wifi
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
What's Not Included (Extra)

Fees do not Include:
– Airport drop-off
– Local activities, meals/drinks (of any sort)
– International/local travel costs (incl public transport)
– Visa (if required), vaccinations
– Travel Insurance (mandatory), background check (mandatory)
– Any other service not mentioned

Oct 17, 2026
49 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

About Program

If you have a passion for medicine and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the chance of exploring Greece, then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the chance to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Shadow practice:
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy

Join our supervised medical observation programs for a chance to shadow doctors for up to 40hours/week in Greek hospitals/clinics. You will rotate through different specialties and witness medical procedures & operations that will help you decide on your studies.

Program Highlights

  • Shadow doctors and healthcare professionals in real clinical settings.
  • Shadow doctors for up to 40 hours/week
  • Observe diverse medical procedures, from diagnostics to treatments.
  • Experience Greek culture and explore iconic cities during your free time.
  • Ethical medical and surgical shadowing, compliant with AAMC guidelines

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Each participant’s identity may present challenges and questions, in addition to opportunities, when immersing in a new and different culture. Exploring a new culture can sometimes lead to experiencing a cultural shock as some places have different cultural norms, ranging levels of racial/ ethnic diversity, and are less aware or not so “politically correct” as your home country might be. Cerca Abroad strictly adheres to a non-discrimination policy of not denying any person access to, or participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical condition or developmental disability.
All our staff & local host teams are welcoming and inclusive of the LGBTQAI+ community, making our programs LGBTQAI+ friendly. Cerca Abroad strictly adheres to a non-discrimination policy of not denying any person access to, or participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical condition or developmental disability.
Cerca Abroad welcomes and supports participants that are Differently-abled/neurodivergent and offers a range of internship abroad programs that are specifically adapted to host interns. Although participants with neurodivergency have successfully participated in our programs, due to the nature of the abroad programs, the degree of access varies based on the activities, location and available infrastructure. Hence, at the application stage it is important to discuss with your Cerca Abroad program manager the program’s accessibility aspects and requirements. Cerca Abroad strictly adheres to a non-discrimination policy of not denying any person access to, or participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical condition or developmental disability.
Cerca Abroad welcomes and supports participants that have limited mobility conditions (including wheelchair users) and offers a range of internship abroad programs that are specifically adapted to host interns. Although participants with limited mobility have successfully participated in our programs, due to the nature of the abroad programs, the degree of access varies based on the activities, location and available infrastructure. Hence, at the application stage it is important to discuss with your Cerca Abroad program manager the program’s accessibility aspects and requirements. Cerca Abroad strictly adheres to a non-discrimination policy of not denying any person access to, or participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, physical condition or developmental disability.

Impact 🌎

Our steps towards creating a responsible experience

- We only work with registered organizations that have proven record of sustainable & ethical practices and long-term expertise in their field
- We collect feedback from all our participants and our host sites to continuously improve our participant’s experience
- We regularly visit our host sites to offer support/training, to evaluate processes/costs and provide transparent and affordable programs
- We review and evaluate each intern application and check their qualifications, criminal background and medical status for eligibility and suitability
- We ensure that our participants’ work does not impact the employment opportunities of the local community
- We refrain from overcrowding our host sites with participants and allocating only those that are needed
- All participants are requested to sign a Code of Conduct prior to arrival, which is designed to protect all stakeholders from inappropriate behavior or abuse
- Participants that breach ours or the host site’s Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct will be removed without refund
- We take extra care allocating participants in sites that involve the care of others as well as animals

We are committed to support our participants to create a positive impact on the local communities in parallel to their learning and developing activities abroad. Recognizing and evaluating ethical issues promotes responsible traveling which translates to a positive impact on the host communities and our interns. The relationships that are formed, the exchanged ideas, the local economy that is revived, the hands-on project that our participants contribute on, all leave a lasting a sustainable impact in each host site.

Our aim is to present realistic expectations to our participants, be honest and transparent on how we operate and use feedback from our interns and host sites to improve our processes and services. We remain committed to create a positive impact, whether it is with our stance for the environment (by becoming carbon neutral) up to working with hosts with similar values.

Popular Programs

Ingrid

If you have a passion for dentistry and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career. You will see different specialties and witness medical procedures & operations that will help you decide on your studies.

Jackson

If you have a passion for physical therapy and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career. You will rotate through different specialties and witness medical procedures & physical therapy operations that will help you decide on your studies.

Zoe

If you have a passion for becoming a physician assistant or nurse and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

 Medical Internships

If you have a passion for medicine and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career. You will rotate through different specialties and witness medical procedures & operations that will help you decide on your studies.

Biomedical Labs Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for microbiology and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Dermatology Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for dermatology and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

ENT (Otolaryngology) Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for ENT and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Nuclear Medicine & Radiology Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for nuclear medicine & radiology and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Obstetrician & Gynecologist (OB/GYN) Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for OB/GYN and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Oncology Internships in Greece

If you have a passion for oncology and are interested in gaining valuable & intense observation experience coupled with the change of exploring Greece then this program is designed for you. Our programs offer the change to gain experience & skills to fortify your medical school application and help you evolve your professional career.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 117 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 117 reviews
Taylorann
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Exploring Different Placements Safely

Hello, my name is Taylorann, I am from Utah and I attend Utah Tech University. Here, Athens is very safe, I feel very good traveling to the hospital every day and being here at the hospital has been really great because doctors explain everything and are very kind. I’ve had the opportunity to sub for two different placements, which is something I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do elsewhere. In terms of the program, it’s been really great. They gave us a place to stay which is very safe and they gave you places to go and recommendations. Overall, I’ve had a great experience.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was surprised by how welcoming the doctors were and how much I could learn from observing two different hospital placements.
Pros
  • Friendly doctors
  • Varied placements
  • Safe accommodation
What other participants should know
  • Learn a few Greek phrases
  • Explore Athens beyond the tourist areas
  • Use the metro to get around Athens easily
7 people found this review helpful.
Elizabeth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Confirming My Future in Surgery

Hello, my name is Elisabeth and I am from California and I study at San Diego State University. I picked this program because in the future I want to become either a nurse, surgeon or a plastic surgeon, which was solidified while doing this program. I got to witness tons of surgeries in the operating room and it really helped me along the decision of what I want to do when I am older, which is something I’ve been pondering for a little bit. With Cerca Abroad, they’ve been really responsive, so quick and great at communicating for anything I need- from directions to any issues, if there was anything with the apartment. Athens overall has been a great experience. There’s so much to do here and I would definitely recommend doing this program to anyone who is interested in healthcare. It’s extremely flexible and will help you figure out your decision on what you want to do in the future.

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was getting completely lost in Athens and accidentally discovering some of its most charming hidden corners!
Pros
  • Valuable surgical observations
  • Greater career clarity
  • Flexible program structure
What other participants should know
  • Stay curious and ask questions
  • Be open to new experiences
  • Make time to explore Athens
12 people found this review helpful.
Braylei
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Physiotherapy Meets Travel Fun

Hi, my name is Brylee, I am from Utah in the USA and I study at Utah Tech University and I found this program online. I chose to do it because I wanted some clinical experience with physiotherapy and also I wanted to travel. I really enjoyed my experience here and getting to work with the physiotherapists. They have been so nice and welcoming and I have loved working with the patients. Even though I don’t speak any Greek, I’ve learned a few terms and it’s been really fun to interact with people here. It’s also been very fun to travel. If you get the chance, I would really recommend sightseeing if you can after the internship, when going out and having some fun. The coordination with the program has been fantastic- great communication. You can always message them anytime and it’s really a great program. I would recommend it a lot.

What was your funniest moment?
Trying to communicate with patients in Greek using the few words I had learned. It was a fun experience that often made us laugh.
Pros
  • Valuable exposure to clinical phsiotherapy practices
  • Meaningful interactions with patients
  • Excellent program coordination and communication
What other participants should know
  • Warm and sunny weather, especially during summer
  • Some basic Greek ohrases can be useful
  • Comfortable shoes are recommended for exploring Athens
15 people found this review helpful.
Greta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

PA Goals and Island Adventures

Hi, my name is Greta and I am from Minnesota, USA. I am currently applying to a PA school position in the U.S. and I decided to come here so that I can get some experience shadowing doctors and other medical professionals to kind of engage with what interests me the most. I’ve had a really great experience not only at the hospital but in Athens too. I really loved Athens and being able to travel to the islands has been also great. Overall, in my experience I found Greece supportive not only by the program but by the medical professionals here. I have learned so much and definitely I have a better understanding of the cultural differences as well as of myself and what I want to do in the future.

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was getting a little lost while exploring Athens with other students. We ended up discovering some lovely places and laughing about it afterwards.
Pros
  • Supportive medical professionals
  • Valuable clinic shadowing experience
  • Oportunities for cultural exploration
What other participants should know
  • N/A
11 people found this review helpful.
Jeremy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Dreaming and Learning in Athens

Hello, my name is Jeremy, I am from Wisconsin, America, I went to the University of Wisconsin- Parkside and it is my hope that one day- hopefully- I will become a physician. I chose this program because, one, I wanted to get experience in the healthcare field in a different or foreign country and, second of all, Greece has always been one of my dream destinations to visit. So, the answer is simple, I came to Greece. Athens has been wonderful so far, actually when I first came here I was very surprised as it was different from what I thought it would be, but it was absolutely wonderful. I also had some chances to visit some of the islands, which are absolutely gorgeous. I loved my time sightseeing here, having fun. I absolutely enjoyed all the surgeries and clinics I was able to follow and watch. It has been so insightful. I sometimes go home and write some summaries for myself about the day, my feelings and experience and I think that I genuinely learned a lot. When I first got here Cerca Abroad was so helpful and very informative and I was very welcomed. I appreciate everything that I have been going through. Like I said, I absolutely loved it.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising experience was observing real surgeries and seeing how doctors work in a hospital environment. It was fascinating and helped me understand what being a physician truly involves.
Pros
  • Opportunities to observe real surgeries
  • Valuable insights into medical practice
  • Friendly and supporting programme staff
What other participants should know
  • Nothing
17 people found this review helpful.
Faidra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seeing Surgery Through a Future Doctor’s Eyes

Hello, I am Faidra, I am a medical student, I am in the first year of my studies. I study in Malta but I am half Greek- half Latin American. I decided to come to this program to see how hospitals here in Greece work, how surgeries are performed, because I am interested in plastic surgery. I also saw a lot of surgeries. Plastic surgeries like laparoscopic ones with robotic machines. I saw spine surgeries, reconstructive ones, a lot of things, and also clinical experience. We saw how doctors go and see patients, how they talk to them and how they make them feel here. I am very grateful to have been here; it was a very good experience. Athens is also beautiful. Coming here, home again, was a great idea. All the team behind the program are very good people and they can answer all your questions. Thank you.

What was your funniest moment?
Sharing laughs with the medical team and discovering the lively atmosphere of Athens.
Pros
  • Meeting the hospital staff
  • Exploring Athens
  • Enjoying Greek food
What other participants should know
  • No real complaints
14 people found this review helpful.
Ashley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learning Dentistry Across Cultures

Hello there, my name is Ashley, I am from Ontario, Canada. I recently graduated from my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University. I decided to join this program with Cerca for dental shadowing to get more familiarized with the procedures and what is done in the dental profession here in Athens. I recently got a broad knowledge in Canada for dental shadowing but I wanted to get more familiarized and get more hands-on here in Europe. So, what I’ve been doing here in the last couple of weeks is shadowing Dr Costas and watched a diverse run of procedures, from tooth extractions to crumpled crown treatments as well as dental fittings, to name a few. Overall, it’s been a really great experience. From the team here with Cerca Abroad as well as the Athens area this is a very good opportunity to gain experience both in the medical field as well as get outside and learn about the cultural history that Athens has to offer. So, everything went smoothly transitioning our travels from Canada to here and I would really recommend this program to anyone who wishes to gain experience in a medical setting.

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was trying to understand some Greek expressions and getting completely lost in translation!
Pros
  • Observing dental procedures
  • Exploring Athens
  • Laughing with the team
What other participants should know
  • N/A
12 people found this review helpful.
Allison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Witnessing Medicine Up Close

Hello, my name is Allison. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, I am twenty years old, and I am in my third year of undergraduate studies in California. I chose a medical internship because I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future. I really wanted to get a taste of medicine and be involved in that environment. I was offered this opportunity through my school, and it seemed like a great way to go abroad and see a part of the world I had never seen before. Some of the most exciting things I’ve seen specifically in the hospital include patient interaction, which was super cool, as well as some incredible surgeries. My favorite experience was seeing an open-heart surgery, which was one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed. The doctors were amazing—they really explained everything. Coordination was smooth. I think, as much as it is well-coordinated, you also have to take initiative to see what you want to see. Athens is beautiful. The people are super nice and helpful if you need anything. The food was amazing—I had so much gyros! I also got to visit some of the islands and learn about the history of the region, which was very enriching.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw was how smoothly everything operated behind the scenes, especially during complex medical procedures.
Pros
  • Smooth workflow and clear expectations
  • Friendly atmosphere that makes participation easy
  • Consistent support whenever you need it
What other participants should know
  • N/A
27 people found this review helpful.

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