Atlantis (Pre-Health Summer) Reviews

I had an amazing experience spending a week in Madrid, Spain, shadowing doctors in general surgery and nephrology! I’ve always wanted to visit Spain, and I was also interested in learning more about its healthcare system. This program was the perfect opportunity to combine my interest in medicine with experiencing a new country and culture.

One of the highlights was shadowing general surgery and seeing surgeons remove diseased gallbladders. It was fascinating to observe the technical skill involved in surgery, but the experience also helped me realize that a surgical specialty may not be the right fit for me. I’m more drawn to specialties that involve consultations, clinic visits, and building long-term relationships with patients.

Nephrology was the standout for me. I’ve always enjoyed renal physiology and pharmacology, and seeing the specialty in practice solidified nephrology as one of my top potential career choices. One of my biggest takeaways was seeing how important teamwork is in medicine. During a kidney procedure, when something went wrong, the entire team—including the nurses, residents, and attending physician—responded quickly and worked together seamlessly. Watching everyone know their role and act in sync was like watching a well-choreographed dance.

The doctors I shadowed were approachable and happy to answer my questions. There was occasionally a language barrier, which I expected going in, but we found ways to communicate. Program communication was clear, and I felt comfortable and supported throughout the experience.

Outside the hospital, Madrid was incredible! I loved the food, nightlife, art galleries, museums, and overall culture. Getting around was also very easy thanks to the subway system.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this program to students interested in medicine who want to explore different specialties while experiencing life in another country. I came away with a better understanding of the kind of physician I hope to become, along with a week of wonderful memories in Madrid.

Overall, this program truly benefitted my life in many ways. I can confidently say that my education has expanded due to the exposure I received to the clinical setting. I would not have gained the same skills in a traditional classroom. The staff was extremely helpful in any situation that required assistance. From language barriers to transport, our city manager never hesitated to lend a hand. The housing was definitely something I had to get used to, as showering and laundering looks slightly different in another country, however I was able to adapt very quickly.

Studying abroad in Kraków, Poland has been one of the highlights of my lifetime. I spent three weeks shadowing doctors and learning all about the healthcare system in a new country. Some of the highlights include watching C-sections, an emergency surgery, pediatric surgeries, and so much more. I also shadowed in neurology and the emergency department, both of which were very cool. Embracing the Polish culture and language was amazing, in addition to networking with other students and doctors. The Atlantis team was nothing short of incredible and I cannot recommend going abroad enough!

If you are struggling with getting clinical hours, I recommend this trip. Being a Biology major, it is really difficult to be able to study abroad without it affecting your classes. With Atlantis, I was able to not only study abroad, but I was able to gain roughly 80 clinical hours from my trip! It seems like you will spend a lot of time in the hospital, but my city manager provided a lot of fun places to go and hangout and eat! A lot of our excursions that we did brought us all over the islands!

Hi! I attended the Atlantis Study Abroad Program in Summer 2026, and my group traveled to Portugal, where we spent two weeks shadowing doctors and rotating throughout a Portuguese hospital.

I can genuinely say that Portugal changed my life. For as long as I can remember, I was completely set on becoming a physician. Medicine has always been my passion, but during my time in Portugal, I was exposed to so much more than I expected. I was able to see both the good and the challenging sides of healthcare, observe how every role works together within a hospital, and experience the true, raw reality of working in medicine.

Coming out of the program, I made a major decision about my future. I decided to switch my major and am now on track to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant! Through this experience, I realized that this career path is better suited for the lifestyle and future I want while still allowing me to be involved in medicine and patient care. Portugal truly answered so many of the uncertainties I had about my career path and gave me a much clearer idea of what I want for my future.

And putting academics aside, Portugal was just overall AMAZING! The food, the people, the music, the dancing, and the experiences I had are memories I will never forget. I truly could not have asked for a better study abroad experience, and I am so grateful that Atlantis gave me the opportunity to experience it.

This program allowed me to shadow doctors and healthcare professionals in a rural hospital in Madrid, Spain for three weeks. This unique experience allowed me to develop meaningful relationships with my peers, the doctors I followed, and the patients I encountered in various departments of the hospital. I also was able to have the chance to travel on the weekends, which offered me a chance for personal growth, adventure, and soul-searching. This opportunity helped me confirm my passion for medicine and allowed me to see the unique perspective of foreign healthcare, especially with the language barrier. Overall, I had an amazing time, and would recommend this experience to any pre-medical student interested in going abroad.

- Got to shadow several major surgeries
- Built close relationships with doctors (networking)
- Bonded with other students
- Got to explore several Greek islands

An amazing experience overall. This was my first time traveling abroad without my family, so I was very nervous and almost did not even get on the flight. It was truly life-changing. I met my best friends and bridesmaids, and we are currently planning another trip to see each other again. I would recommend this experience to every single person I meet.

I had such an amazing and insightful experience shadowing abroad with Atlantis. The staff was extremely welcoming and helpful every step of the way, I got valuable firsthand experience observing physicians in several different specialties (including radiology, urology, general surgery, and neurology), and I made friends that will last a lifetime! Not only did this experience help affirm what specialties I favor and disfavor, but it also allowed me to make meaningful connections with such physicians. I truly recommend this experience for any pre health student that’s considering it!

My summer abroad surgical shadowing experience in Perugia, Italy, was truly life-changing. I had the incredible opportunity to observe skilled surgeons, network with doctors, and connect with other students from around the world. Most of the main doctors spoke English, but downloading Duolingo and embracing the Italian culture made the experience even richer. Exploring the city and hospital taught me so much, not just about medicine, but about myself. This program solidified my decision to pursue surgery, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

The program I stayed in was in Zagreb, Croatia. I had an awesome time here, I had the privilege of meeting hospital staff and met incredible people in my program. The food here is amazing! If you're in Zagreb I'd recommend a restaurant called Pri Kralju. It recommended to me by a Bolt driver. Download and use an app called Bolt. It's like Uber or Lyft and you can catch rides here for a fraction of the price, do not take the taxi cabs here. It cost me 40 euros to get a ride from the airport in a cab but going back to the airport I got a ride for about 12 euros in a Bolt. On a positive note, the price for food here is fair and expect to gain some weight while in Zagreb because the food is phenomenal if you know where to look.