This was my first experience abroad and I have to say when it came to an end I did not want to leave. The site mangers were so knowledgable of the city and they did a great job showing us around. They planned amazing weekly excursions for us not just of Rome but throughout Italy. Not only did I get a great experience abroad but I learned so much from shadowing in the hospital. Every doctor that I worked with knew english well so the language barrier was not an issue. They were all so kind and seemed to really want us to learn from them. What I saw and learned in the hospital was nothing near what I could have learned as an undergraduate student in the US. It was a great mix of education and fun for the three weeks that I was there. From this experience, I have expanded my interest in the medical field and I have developed a new love for travel.

I am very very satisfied with my shadowing experience abroad in Italy. At first, I did have my concerns as the AAMC shows statistics and discourages students from SHADOWING abroad due to the risk of students being involved in medical procedures. I would like to clear this doubt for those who are interested in this fellowship as Atlantis is VERY VERY strict and abides by their policy of no physical fellow-patient interaction. Atlantis is very clear with all the rules that must be followed etc. That being said, the fellowship was incredible. I was able to shadow under general surgery, urology, and vascular surgery. All of these departments always had surgeries or patients and all the hospital staff were incredibly helpful. Though some of the hospital staff did not speak english, many if not all residents spoke english and were able to explain procedures to you if the attending surgeon was busy. Many of these doctors are incredibly well trained and have excellent english so language barrier is usually not a problem.

Aside from shadowing, the weekly excursions (I don't want to spoil them if you are attending the fellowship) were very very fun. There's a lot of pictures to be taken and a lot of friendships to be made and it was quite the experience. Genova is very very scenic with mountains, beaches (mostly rocky but you can still find sandy beaches), and architecture. Genova is known for their pesto and I really really recommend you try it.

The Atlantis fellowship is expensive but provides you an experience that is priceless. I was able to pay for this through fundraising, asking family members, working a part-time job, and a little bit of assistance from my parents. This really has taught me good saving/spending habits for my future.

When I saw this opportunity to go abroad and shadow doctors I was immediately intrigued. I thought about it for a couple weeks, and I kept on finding reasons why not to go... “it’s so far” “i should work this summer” “it’s not the right time”
I then realized, it will never be the “right” time. I just have to take the leap of faith and just do it! I did exactly that, and I don’t regret it one bit. Not only did I submerge myself in a different culture, I met doctors and nurses who I now have built a relationship with. If you ever go to Rome, one piece of advice is never plug in a hair dryer and have the washing machine going, unless you wanna be in the dark for the rest of the day. The adventure was everything I could have ever asked for, thank you for the opportunity.

My Atlantis experience was one that I’ll never forget and one that helped me narrow down my search for the specialty I would be most interested in pursuing a career in! I spent two and a half weeks this past winter in Pavia, Italy where I had to opportunity to shadow Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, and Nephrology alongside 17 other like-minded and driven undergraduate students from across the country. This experience was so unique because no other program gives students the opportunity to shadow physicians in hospitals while also getting a chance to be fully immersed in a foreign country and getting the chance to explore what the culture of your host nation has to offer! One of my favorite things that Atlantis offered me was the relationships I formed with the other students on my trips. Many of us still keep in contact to this day and it’s so great being able to catch back up with them from time to time and see how they are doing both personally as well as with their journey towards a career in healthcare. Atlantis offered me so much and I’m thankful that I had a chance to complete not one but two trips and I want to encourage anyone looking for a similar experience to apply today!

The Atlantis Fellowship will open your eyes, your ears, and your heart. During my Atlantis Fellowship in Genova, Italy, I was able to observe incredible and advanced surgical procedures and create lasting relationships with doctors and friends. I recently became an alumni ambassador for Atlantis because I truly believe the Atlantis Fellowship experience can help many future doctors. My trip greatly helped confirm my goal of becoming a physician, and more specifically a surgeon. Although I have dreamed of becoming a doctor since I was a child, it was during my Atlantis Fellowship in Italy that my dream finally looked as if it could be a reality. Recently, I tore my ACL and both lateral and medial menisci. I chose local anesthesia and a femoral nerve block for the arthroscopic surgery so I could to stay awake and watch my surgery on a monitor. I watched as my surgeon removed my patellar tendon and grafted it as a new ACL. Surprisingly, this experience felt just like my time in Italy, except this time I was the patient on the table. After four weeks in Italy observing Orthopedic, Neuro, and Vascular surgery as well as Urology, I had the courage to watch a procedure done on myself and reminisce on my time in Genova. If I could go on an Atlantis Fellowship again, I certainly would. Atlantis provided me with a life-changing opportunity to experience healthcare in a foreign country and to be exposed to the rewarding, yet often difficult life of doctors and surgeons. The physicians I met will continue to be inspirations to me, as they were so kind, caring and hardworking. The Atlantis Fellowship is without a doubt a one-of-a-kind experience for those looking to become physicians or PAs.

Atlantis is truly an exceptional and unparalleled program. Being able to witness surgeons perform life-saving procedures is the greatest opportunity and something hard to find in the United States. My favorite experience was witnessing a surgeon remove an entire brain tumor he did not think he could resect all of. Atlantis is a very professional program, yet very fun at the same time. I met many good friends from around the country with whom I have kept in contact with. Being surrounded by students who share similar interests as you is incredible as they encourage you and can help you confirm your goals for the future.

I would also like to note that the Atlantis employees have remained so consistent and helpful even months after I returned from Italy. The members of the Atlantis team make the program what it is- wonderful.

The Atlantis Fellowship was something that really solidified my interest in the medical field. I always loved medicine, but I never knew exactly what field I was interested in. Atlantis helped me shadow over 4 different departments (including surgeries) in just 4 weeks. Other than the medical aspect of Atlantis, I was also able to experience a different culture first hand. Being in a different culture opened my mind up to so many more ideas and opportunities. Atlantis is truly the perfect medical experience for future health professionals that love to travel/explore new ideas.

Atlantis offered me an incredible opportunity to strengthen my interest in medicine and expand my knowledge. The shadowing experience in the hospital was amazing and I got to see and learn more than I ever would have imagined. I had rotations in radiology, vascular surgery, and general surgery. The site managers were amazing and our group far exceeded my expectations. The planned group meals and excursions were great experiences also! I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

Atlantis gave me the opportunity to feel important in the hospital, as if I truly belong there. They gave me the opportunity to stand close by a surgeon during a procedure, sit next to doctors performing exams, and be taught how to read MRI scans. They also allowed me to travel on my own if I so choosed to. I was able to experience the Italian culture in more than one city while I was abroad. Because of Atlantis I can now say that I have Lifelong friendships with other Atlantis Fellows and even Doctors! Atlantis really helped me in knowing that Medicine was right for me!