Cerca Abroad

Hi, my name is Carly, and I am a pre-med student in biology in Missouri.

I wanted to do this medical internship because I was always told that if I ever had the opportunity that I should study abroad. And so I really wanted to take that opportunity and found this program in Greece, I was really excited to get to explore, not only the medical system in Greece, but also the area itself- Athens.

I’ve had a lot of fun. I did a lot of different things. I got to see the cath lab, cardiology, and I also got to watch many surgeries. Yesterday I got to watch a plastic surgery and even an elbow reconstruction, which I really enjoyed, and I got to formally get relationship with the surgeon. So I really enjoyed seeing different specialties and getting to experience things that maybe I haven’t before.

Really enjoyed getting to explore Athens. Meet some people, new friends. I got to explore the islands and I learnt how to get around. I learnt a little bit of Greek. So, I really recommend studying abroad and this has been a great experience.

Hi, I am Yogyana Santana-Salais, I am from Texas, and I did the dental internship in Athens. I chose this internship because there’s not really many options to do this internship throughout the world and that was a great opportunity and was in Greece. So, throughout my internship I was able to see a lot of dental procedures I learnt a lot from the dentists I shadowed, and I was able to see a few other specialties. See more in depth of the different specialties that are in dentistry.

It was good to have Samantha to communicate with, if we had any issues with the apartment or if we had any questions throughout our internship. Cerca Abroad was very helpful and fast with dealing with any problems. I had a great time in Athens. I loved the chance to visit a few islands. Greece is just an amazing country to visit. So, yes.

So, my name is Michael Klintworth, born and raised in South Africa. I am currently studying medicine in the United States. I came to this internship in Athens, particularly for the medical internship. One major reason is my passion for medicine and the ability to grow, which cannot have been captivated or increased in the States, as it probably was here. We were supposed in the internship to stand in a corner and watch and observe and they will teach you from the side but the doctor has been a lot of the time shadowing and help me get a hands on experience, working with the patient, to the point where I have had the privilege of being involved with an ACL repair and a few other great surgeries most people wouldn’t have been able to experience like I have- this has been absolutely great.

The overall internship, besides medical, is fantastic. They’re very helpful, very willing to come and spend hours with you concerning what you need.

That aside, being in Athens is absolutely amazing. The history and culture here are fantastic. The food is great, really is. The best part is the tomatoes “gemista”. The tourist sites are amazing, in particular the Parthenon is fantastic. The museums as well. Absolutely great. I’m not sure I would want to do this again anywhere else. Fantastic.

Hi, my name is Max Fry, I am from State Oregon in the U.S. and I am a premed student. I chose to come to Athens on this internship to learn more just about how medicine is practiced in Europe. Got to see how healthcare operates on a global scale. Also, to learn more about medicine in general. Get used to the specialties and really learn as much as I can about healthcare and how patients are treated around the world.

I think for me the most interesting thing that I saw in the hospital was the operating room. I think that seeing some of the robotic surgeries and seeing the new technology in medicine was very interesting. I also saw some plastic surgeries, which is very interesting to watch such as breast implants, lumbar sections- very interesting. One really rare thing I have never seen before, that was new to me, was that I got to see an open spine surgery from the thoracic spine down to the lumbar spine. I had never seen a real spine before, so seeing in person and in action was really crazy and very eye opening. I think that also, seeing the cardiology department was very interesting. Seeing all the different cases of heart, different conditions that the patients had, has been very interesting to me. I had a great time in the hospital learning as much as I can.

I think as far as Athens goes, I’m loving the city, absolutely beautiful, there are so many tourist attractions and different things you can do with the other interns or just with people like Dimi all the way. So, yes, it’s really a life changing experience. Absolutely gorgeous and yes, I’ve had an amazing time.

Hi, my name is Traci Kozawa, I am physiotherapy major at San Diego State and I am from Los Angeles, California. I chose this internship along with my fellow classmates as a requirement for school. I wanted to do something pertaining to my major setting abroad, so I found this program. I was able to do something more catered towards my career path.

So this hospital has been great. I’ve been at the physiotherapy department. It has been a really cool experience compared to the US, I also have experienced going up to the OR and see orthopedic surgeries, which was very cool, to see how it works on the back end, instead of seeing just physiotherapy.

The Cerca team has been great, very responsive, I knew I could text them whenever I needed anything and I had a great time in Athens, first time in Europe, lots to see, lots to do- I’ve been enjoying it.