Shadow Doctors 20+ Hrs/Week w/ #1 Pre-Health Provider

Name: Shadow Doctors 20+ Hrs/Week w/ #1 Pre-Health Provider
Brand: Atlantis (Pre-Health Summer)
SKU: 229063
Rating: 4.94 (53 reviews)

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4.94 Rating

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Location

Italy

Industry

Anthropology Biology Chemistry Communications Engineering Geology Healthcare Hospitality Life Sciences Nursing Public Health Social Work +2

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Program Details

Timeframe

J-Term Maymester Spring Summer Winter

Housing

Apartment

Pricing

Price Details

Program cost varies based on location and length of program. View the Dates and Fees page on our website for more information.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Some Meals SIM cards Travel Insurance Wifi

What's Not Included

Some Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Some Meals Transportation Visa

Last Updated: Jun 07, 2024

Last Reviewed: Sep 20, 2024

Wish List

84 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Atlantis is the largest and most reputable pre-health study abroad organization for US undergraduates. With shadowing experiences in Pavia, Milan, Genoa, Venice, Como, Ferrara, Mantua and more, our Italy programs are for those who want adventure. What better way to gain 60+ clinical hours than in the country with pasta and gelato galore! Students will shadow in top European hospitals with well-esteemed physicians and have the opportunity to explore the rich culture that Italy has to offer.

Students build lasting relationships with physicians in various specialties and observe patient care from start to finish. Knowing how different healthcare teams operate and communicate is a great way for students to reflect on their own leadership skills. With alumni in 40 of the top 50 MD programs, Atlantis prepares students for a future career in healthcare.

Since summer of 2021, Atlantis has ran many safe and successful programs throughout the continuance of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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 Italian culture, sights, and food.
You do not need to know Italian to have an amazing and impactful experience!
Start dates for summer in May, June, July and August, and for winter in December and January.

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating

based on 53 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 94.34%
4 rating 5.66%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.85
Support 4.85
Fun 4.95
Housing 4.6
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Building your resume, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 53 reviews

Italy was a wonderful country with many beautiful experiences. I learned a lot during the shadowing and more about Italian healthcare which is very different from in the US. The Atlantis staff was amazing and the housing was very nice. The area where we stayed was a popular tourist are and made it very easy to navigate the language and culture barrier. The hospital staff was kind for the most part and helpful. The excursions were fun and included cultural elements to learn more about Italy's history not just of Rome but pre-Rome as well. I also enjoyed the dinner options which were very thoughtful and delicious.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I saw almost all of a man's teeth get extracted and have part of his upper mandible removed for a tumor removal all while he was awake. He was also only numbed with a local which was quite shocking.

Pros

Great staff with thoughtful provision of the excursions and meals
Prime location for housing
Amazing culture and experiences to explore

Cons

Sometimes difficult to navigate language barrier
Healthcare knowledge learned here would not help in an American healthcare system except for general medical science.

It was an amazing experience to be able to study abroad and also learn about my passion for medicine. Atlantis gave me the opportunity that I would never have to go over seas and see new culture especially concerning the medical field. Venice was an amazing city and provided me with many experiences I would never have been able to gain in the states. There is much to learn and it will also help diversify yourself and your resume. I highly recommend to anyone that is considering going through Altantis to study abroad.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Do your research and have familiarity with culture

I enjoyed my experience with Atlantis in Venice, Italy because I was a recent graduate from college wanting more experience in the medical field before going to graduate school. I had also never been out of the United States so I was able to get a cultural experience as well. There was never a dull day through my program. I was happy to wake up every morning and see more of Venice each day. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested in the medical field and wanting the unique experience of being abroad!

My shadowing experience in Italy was an experience I could’ve never imagined. I was able to gain ambiguity when it comes to analyzing similarities and differences in healthcare between the United States and a foreign country. Additionally, I was also able to experience a culture that I was very unfamiliar with, but was able to get accustomed to with my day-to-day experiences. Overall, I would recommend this program to anybody because of the long lasting friendships I developed from people who were once strangers, and because of the confirmation that this trip gives into whether or not pursuing healthcare is the career path for you.

This experience was something I believe everyone should participate in. It was not only educational but also fun and interesting. I learned a lot in the hospital and from the doctors along with being able to travel with friends. We would spend a few hours a day learning from the hospital staff and then had free time to do whatever we wanted in the city or anywhere else. It was truly something I feel like others should look into and consider doing, it's different from life in America and it's so great seeing the culture in other countries.

My time in Mestre was great! The hospital in Mestre is a great place for shadowing, there were many surgeries and lots of helpful doctors and staff. Another benefit was having a city manager that helped our group get everything in order for our stay. He also helped us find fun things to do and took us on excursions, we got to see beautiful historic sites and we even went river rafting. I would recommend the Atlantis sharpening experience to anyone looking to gain meaningful clinical shadowing as well as an experience abroad.

This was an excellent opportunity to shadow doctors and learn more about another culture and healthcare system all together! It was definitely worth the investment into my future, and the staff were amazing and super helpful! I gained over 80 hours of shadowing in neurology, thoracic surgery, cardiology, emergency medicine, neonatal pathology, radiology, and many others! I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested or on the fence about it. It was an amazing 3 weeks I will never forget!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Push yourself to get the most out of the experience as possible. Stay longer to shadow other doctors and other fields! Visit historic monument and sites! Get out of your comfort zone and ask questions!

Pros

Extensive shadowing experience
free weekends to explore and travel
helpful staff and made new friends

Cons

cost

My experience with the Atlantis program was life-changing. Not only was I able to shadow doctors in different medical specialties, but I became familiar with how the European healthcare system works and how it differs between the United States healthcare system. The staff were very friendly and patient with me and ensured that everything went smoothly. I highly recommend Atlantis to anyone seeking out a career in the medical professor to help determine if this is an appropriate career for them.

What was your funniest moment?

One of the funniest moments was when our group went to karaoke and we sang “Old Country Road” with the Italians!

Pros

People were friendly
It was well organized
I had guidance along the way

Cons

The trip was a bit expensive but manageable

Questions & Answers

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to go on an Atlantis fellowship for many reasons! I had a friend who went on a fellowship to Portugal and she absolutely loved it. When she told me about her fellowship, I was only a junior in high school.

Three years later, going on an Atlantis Fellowship was still on my mind. I knew that I wanted to become a surgeon, however I thought that going on a fellowship would help cement my career aspirations. And it did. I also wanted to experience foreign healthcare, as I have a strong interest in global health. To become a doctor, it is important to learn about health care systems in places other than the US.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The staff at Atlantis is wonderful. The program coordinators assist you with almost everything. The only thing you really have to organize on your own is purchasing flights. Throughout the enrollment process and prior to your trip, the Atlantis staff is incredibly helpful and ensures that you have all of the information you need.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Get outside of your comfort zone and become friends with everyone on your trip! You might make some of your best friends!

Travelling abroad alone can be frightening at times, but being with people who share the same interests as you makes it all the more wonderful and less overwhelming.

Aside from spending time and especially going on weekend trips with your fellow fellows, I would suggest exploring on your own at least once. Adventuring alone in a foreign country is a once in a life time experience.

I would also suggest you bring a notebook everyday to shadowing. You will have so much to learn from the doctors at the hospital you are shadowing at. The surgeries you will watch are incredible, and you should write down everything so that later in life you can refer back to your experience. I documented everything I saw so I would not forget and I am glad that I did. Also, ask your doctors as many questions as possible! They will enjoy answering them and you will learn tons. Pay attention to everything they do! Whatever specialty you shadow in, even if it is one you did not orignally "want" to shadow in, keep your eyes open and learn. Every specialty is a great specialty. It might even become your favorite.

Ask your friends questions as well! They may be closer to applying to medical school and could give you valuable advice.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

For an Atlantis fellow, days are busy but SO fun. On Monday-Thursday, you'll wake up at about 6:30 am, eat breakfast and get ready for shadowing. You will be at the hospital by 8 am (at least this is what mornings were like in Genova), and be done with shadowing by around 1 pm.

Typically, if a surgery runs long you will stay at the hospital a bit later. After shadowing, you are free to explore unless there is a group dinner! On Friday there is typically a group excursion. We went on a hike to castles and on a beach trip. Saturday-Sunday are for you to travel, and I highly recommend you do so. Neighboring countries are easy to get to!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Before going on my fellowship, I had never travelled on my own, nor had I travelled overseas. I was afraid that I would get lost. And I did get lost! However, it turned out to be a good experience. Coming home to Genova from a weekend trip, my friends and I accidentally took a train that went in the opposite direction. We ended up in the Italian mountains, in a small commune town called Mondovi. It was 12am. There were no trains that ran until the morning, so we were stuck.

Although I definitely recommend triple checking to make sure you are on the correct train, getting lost was a learning experience and it turned out to be okay! Once you learn how to read the train and bus schedules in Europe or wherever you choose to go on a fellowship, getting around becomes easy!

Is there anything you would have done differently?

If there is one thing I would have done differently, it would be to never come home from shadowing and revert to resting because I was tired. The cities that you will be in are beautiful, and you should explore and take in every sight. You could go on a waterfront run with a friend, or go out for lunch in the city center! Drink lots of coffee, and especially stay hydrated. The more awake you are, the more you can take in during surgeries and during your adventures.

Timothy Kinville

2018 Alum

Giovanna Stefanutto

2018 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

As a member of the digital promotion team, Sam works to spread the word about Atlantis' life changing programs to students across the globe. He has been a part of the Atlantis team since November 2016 and started as an Admissions Coordinator.

What is your favorite travel memory?

In high school, I did a service trip to rural El Salvador to help build multiple buildings for a small town called Rancho Grande. Through that trip, I was able to make new friends, build deeper bonds with existing friends, and make a real, tangible impact on the people I was serving. Being part of a group that has continually improved the standard of living in such an underprivileged area is something I am still proud of today.

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How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working for Atlantis has allowed me to see new parts of the world, learn about other cultures, and has given me a better vision for my future career. I have gained a much greater appreciation, understanding and interest in other cultures, and have an increased desire to travel because of my work with Atlantis. In my current role, I have grown in my problem solving, communication and time management skills.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Too many to pick one. I think one of the most amazing things to hear about is when students form relationships with doctors that go beyond just shadowing in the hospital. Atlantis is about building relationships in the medical world that go beyond country lines, and to see students and doctors making that happen is a wonderful thing.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to go on one of our programs to Greece. To experience a country with such an important history both in medicine and in civilization would be an amazing learning and growth experience. Additionally, it would put me further outside of my comfort zone than most of Atlantis' other countries between having less familiarity with the language and less knowledge of the country's geography and culture.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our team works incredibly hard to develop life changing programs and to ensure that students have the best experience possible both with Atlantis and in general while abroad. We enjoy working together and spending time together in and out of the office. From team outings to weekend gatherings, our team bonds and grows together, which shows in the way we work on our programs.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think the biggest factor in the success of a company is the people. Having people makes room for innovation and makes a company more efficient. In the service and education world, the people are even more important to make sure every student feels cared for and valued. At Atlantis we focus on making sure students have a wonderful experience with us and that comes through our amazing people.

Location

Location:

Italy

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

59 F / 37 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 46 F

Jul-Sep

88 F / 61 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 41 F

Airports:

Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino

( FCO )

Milan Malpensa

( MXP )

Venice Marco Polo

( VCE )

Italy has long been a bucket list item for people, and it's no wonder with the ancient ruins, astounding scenery, and renowned museums -- all accompanied by the beautiful Italian language. When visiting Italy, be prepared to see big differences in accents and food while moving between regions.

About Atlantis (Pre-Health Summer)

As the #1 and largest pre-health study abroad program, Atlantis is dedicated to creating the best healthcare experience for students to stand out in apps and prepare for medical careers. What’s our program? -Thousands of alumni over 15 years -20–200+ hospital shadowing hours -1–10 weeks over breaks -Multiple specialties (1/week) -U.S., Spain, Italy...