Atlantis (Pre-Health Summer) Reviews

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.

Going on this fellowship was the best experience of my life. I went to Vigo, Spain for four weeks. I was able to see several different specialties that I've always dreamed of seeing and got to see what it was like to work for a public healthcare system. I specifically saw anesthesiology, vascular surgery, obstetrics and emergency medicine. If I could recommend this to everyone, I would! This experience is especially helpful for those on a premedical track in their undergraduate years. Even if you are unsure about what path you would like to take in the medical field, this experience exposes you to different options such as nursing, technicians and administrative jobs in the hospital. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world as it affirmed my interests in medicine and has pushed me to work harder in the classes I will be taking in the future.

If you are looking for a great pre-medical experience and would also love to go abroad, I highly recommend this program. From shadowing, scrubbing in, and helping doctors you will gain so much knowledge and interest in medicine. Atlantis provides opportunities that you would not find in the USA and you will also meet the most amazing doctors, directors, and friends.

Greek food is amazing and the directors kept us well fed. We are supposed to buy our own groceries but our meals were so large I had enough left-overs for both lunch and dinner the next day! I literally did not buy groceries once in the whole month I was there.

Thessaloniki is a busier city right on the seaside. It is beautiful in its own way and close to many amazing things. During my stay, I was able to fly to Athens for a weekend, visit Mt. Olympus, Meteora, and many beaches. The only things I didn't like were: the constant smell of cigarettes (this is lessened in Athens), garbage in the port, and graffiti everywhere. If you are looking for a faster-paced city with mountainous views right on the ocean, Thessaloniki is the place for you.

I was in Calatayud. It was the best experience I could have ever wished for! All the food was super affordable and delicious. I learned so much and truly loved every moment of the entire experience.
Everyone at the hospital, Hospital Ernest Lluch, was super nice and always tried to explain everything to us. They always made an effort to make the experience for us the best one possible.
Our cite manager was the best we could have ever wished for. Super kind and resourceful. She always did her best to ensure we had the best experience. She was considerate of our food preferences and suggestions for future fellows.
Our hotel was super comfortable and very clean. All the staff there was very kind and had the best restaurant in the whole town.

This experience was unbelievable. The amount of in depth preparation by Atlantis was outstanding. When I left America to come on this fellowship, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it would either be a regular shadowing gig with some traveling, or I thought it would be life changing. It was the latter. Literally from day one of shadowing to the last day of shadowing I enjoyed every second of it. All of the doctors were super helpful and they genuinely seemed glad to have us there. I learned so much and now I honestly have a lot more ideas as to what kind of physician I want to be in the future. The traveling is an awesome part as well though. I got to experience European healthcare along with European culture. My name is Robert Castle I would recommend Atlantis to anyone!

The Atlantis Fellowship was a unique opportunity to shadow and learn about the healthcare system of another country while in undergrad. I was extremely impressed by the staff and how helpful they were to make sure each fellow had the best experience. I was able to shadow in many specialties and view 18 surgeries in the OR! Outside of the hospital, I was able to tour Athens and several Greek islands. I highly recommend this for any serious pre-med students who also love to travel and learn about other cultures. Although I originally did not know anyone else going on this fellowship, I easily made friends with all of the fellows! I know that I have made life long connections with both the doctors in Greece and the future doctors that were on the trip.

Atlantis does such an amazing job at making sure all fellows are happy, comfortable, and getting the most out of shadowing! It was amazing getting to be in foreign hospitals for three weeks, you really learn so much and it’s truly a once in a lifetime experience! Site managers are extremely helpful and the Doctors truly want to teach! They are so knowledgeable and kind. It’s such an honor to be able to have learned from such amazing doctors. The opportunity to see various specialties was my favorite part because I was able to view different aspects of medicine and how each department operates. The residents are so helpful and kind! They all want you to feel welcome and comfortable and it’s great to know you aren’t a burden or in the Doctors way.

The Atlantis Program is a very safe, fun, and exciting way to travel and get experience shadowing for pre-med students. It is the ultimate opportunity for undergraduate students to gain essential experience for applying to medical school and for personal growth in general. The site managers were amazing, the pre-departure information was very helpful, and the Atlantis post enrollment team was very very helpful throughout the entire pre-departure process. The food and atmosphere was phenomenal, and I would go back in a heartbeat. I would highly recommend this program to any undergraduate/ pre-med student, or anyone looking to travel abroad and gain valuable experience while doing so. The people I met were amazing, and it was for sure a life-changing experience.