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

I loved the Atlantis fellowship because it gave me the opportunity to combine my interests in healthcare with my Spanish major to get a global perspective on some of the aspects of the healthcare system, and also allowed me to make connections through language and cultural immersion. I was able to learn so much from many of the hospital staff including the nurses and doctors, as well as more administrative people within staff. Atlantis gives a lot of independence within the program, and it is truly what you make of it. I was able to see a birth within the labor and delivery department and also some really interesting surgeries within General and Orthopedic surgery. I was also able to see doctors outside of consultations and surgeries, such as when they have meetings before going on rounds, and also during their breaks for breakfast, and it was really nice that I got to see them during their busy and relaxed days to get a better feel for how mixed their day-to-day work life is. Through the fellowship, I also volunteered at the local language school, and it was really fulfilling to have conversations with residents of Teruel in both English and Spanish. The weekend trip to Albarracin and Valencia was also a lot of fun and gave us a break from the week of hospital shadowing. Through this fellowship, I met some lifelong friends, and we still keep in touch after the fellowship, and they really made this experience one that I'll never forget!

The Atlantis Fellowship is a life changing experience for students interested in a health major to explore the medical world. It not only gives a person the chance to shadow doctors, see impressive procedures in different specialties very closely, and make lifelong connections, but it also gives a student the chance to see a new culture and how it influences healthcare. I really enjoyed this experience and had so much fun !! I met some amazing people. The site manager was very nice and helpful. She was always available. In the hospital, the stuff and the doctors were very nice and welcoming. They were happy to have us with them and they want to share their knowledge with us. The big majority speaks very good English ( young students and residents are fluent). And for those who didn’t really master English, they did all what they can to help us understand. But most importantly, in Atlantis Fellowship, you get to see surgeries very closely which is amazing. I definetely recommande this experience to anyone interested in medschool.

I completed my shadowing in a hospital in Inca, Mallorca.
It was a very beneficial and inspiring experience.
I shadowed in the department of internal medicine during my first week and in the department of gastroenterology during the second week of the program.
I gained a lot of experience during the shadowing hours, where I completed around 40 hours of rounds, clinic hours, endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures, and surgeries.
The program opened my eyes into the world of healthcare and triggered my passion too become the best doctor I can be.
I was able to form many professional relations with hospital staff, and made friends with the Fellows that were in the same program with me. I also learned a lot about the culture of Mallorca during the weekly excursions.
The program is highly recommended for all pre-health students, and especially for people who are not sure if they want to pursue this job.

My experience was unique as it allowed me to be exposed to medicine. Specifically, I was able to shadow doctors in various departments such as dermatology and neurology for up to 20 hours per week in a beautiful location, namely, Sant Cugat, Spain. In addition, I was able to network tremendously, learn more about myself, and the Spanish culture. Being in Spain with a group was amazing because it allowed me to connect with others that hold similar interests regarding the medical field. Even after the trip, I keep in contact with most of them through the use of social media.

The Atlantis program was by far one of the most amazing experiences I have ever been apart of. Visiting another country and standing side by side to the lead surgeons truly reminded me why I love medicine. I never would have gotten the same shadowing experience here in the United States. My favorite memories from my trip was the surgeries I got to see standing a foot away and the small trips we went on as a group!

I was able to speak to doctors that ended up helping me beyond my expectations. This one Anesthesiologist I was shadowing knew doctors in the town I am from and gave me their numbers to shadow them when I got back from Spain. This was the first time I travelled and my site manager made me feel very safe. This was a relief to me because it relieved my stress and made me feel more comfortable with my time abroad. She would immediately answer all of our texts no matter what she was doing or what time it was. If anyone had the smallest problem for example, with the hotel room, she would not waste time in talking to the hotel staff and get all situations resolved. Many of us stayed in contact with her and maintain the friendship. She planned amazing excursions and would take us to the hospital everyday which made me feel very safe. The only thing I regret is not going on more excursions because the others did not want to and I did not want to go alone. I would highly recommend choosing a town close to a major city like Madrid or Barcelona to experience the touristy sites.

This program was a make or break for me and it convinced me to stick with medicine. I can't describe the overwhelming amount of clarity and helplessness it has provided for me. I think what made it better, was being in a smaller town. I got closer relationships and experienced genuine relationships. I intend to continue my relationship with my site manager, as well as the regional director for the program. If you are able, please go on a trip. I can't vouch for anywhere but spain, but I can say no matter where you go it will xhange your life forever.

I have always been passionate about traveling and experiencing other cultures, so I felt that Atlantis provided the perfect opportunity to combine my interest in those things with my interest in medicine. I believe it is crucial for medicine to be shared across borders, so patients receive the best options of treatment possible. My three weeks in Ponferrada taught me so much about the different fields of medicine, all the while enhancing my passion for becoming a doctor. I could not have asked for a better group of Fellows and doctors with which to share my three weeks. I chose a small city, but could not have loved it more, as I experienced true Spanish culture and made lasting relationships with the doctors I had the pleasure of shadowing.