Doctors in Italy Fellowship

I loved my two week shadowing rotation in Rome with Doctors in Italy.
The hospital was very nice, with a lot of technology. I had the opportunity to be present in many types of surgeries such as cardiovascular bypass, mammoplasty, septumplasty, etc. Everything was very interesting and I learned a lot about the Italian healthcare system.
Accommodation was very nice, with a great location.
I recommend this experience a lot!
Academically and culturally very enriching.

One of my favorite experiences thus far was traveling to Rome. I was with a great group of women who I’ve made as friends and we got to learn a great deal on our pre-vet internship. I will say that if you are an experienced vet tech you may not learn a ton of new information but you will have the advantage of being able to be hands on them when opportunities present! Rome itself was beautiful! The architecture, the food, the gelato, and the clublife. As an American I didn’t struggle with communicating and navigated the bus system well with our group leader. I will also add that as a black woman I experienced excessive staring from tourists and natives that eventually became annoying. Other than that I felt safe and supported on this internship and recommended the pre-med to a friend! Be wary of the persistent walking in the heat—it’s thousands of steps a day not only for the vet sanctuaries in the countryside hills but Rome itself. I’d say upwards to 10k steps a day or over 2 days.

My experience shadowing abroad in Bologna, Italy for 5 weeks was incredible. We got to see several different specialties such as dermatology, cardiology, oncology, etc. After shadowing for about six hours in the morning, we would go out to group meals or activities, like cooking classes, where we got to be fully immersed in the Italian culture. On Fridays, we went on group excursions outside of Bologna to other Italian cities like Ferrara, Modena, and Parma where we got to see different parts of Italy and learn even more. On the weekends, my other fellows and I would plan our own trips to different cities, such as Venice and Florence, and spend time having fun together. Overall, the experience not only helped me gain exposure to the medical field by allowing me to gain 100 clinical shadowing hours but also fostered lasting friendships and lifetime memories.

Life-changing and unforgettable was my fellowship time in Ferrara. I got to roam around and take in the beauty of Italy in addition to shadowing at St. Anna Hospital in Ferrara. Both inside and outside the hospital, people were usually kind and entertaining. All things considered, it was enlightening as it enabled me to learn about Italian culture and history as well as identify the medical disciplines that most interested me. I shadowed in gynecology, neurology, surgery, cardiology and others! Would suggest without hesitation.

I absolutely adored my time in Genoa with Doctors in Italy. The city managers and accommodations were phenomenal! I even tested positive for asymptomatic COVID-19 upon arrival and the staff at Shadow Doctors in Italy and our hotel were so helpful and caring. They made sure that I was well taken care of and even reimbursed me for the meals I had delivered while in quarantine!
Our hotel was within a short walking distance of the bus we needed to take to the hospital each day and to the city's train station.
Each rotation we shadowed had at least one doctor who spoke English proficiently and was willing to take on and guide a student for the day. Because we had a smaller shadowing group, we were even able to choose what specialties we wished to shadow each day. Each rotation, I was met with friendly and helpful faces who were happy to meet us and teach us more about their work. I always felt welcome and accepted by all.
The city managers, Denise and Matteo, were so helpful! They showed us around the hospital as well as the city. We had such a great time with them, and they were always a phone call or text away if we needed them. Our group excursions with them on Wednesday and Friday nights were so fun!
After shadowing and on the weekends, we were free to travel on our own! We received great advice from Denise and Matteo on where to visit, shop, and eat. During my time in Italy, I was even able to travel to Rome for the weekend before returning to shadowing on Monday morning.
Overall, I miss my time in the Doctors in Italy program immensely, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in entering into the healthcare profession!