Atlantis (Pre-Health Summer) Reviews

This study away experience was an invaluable experience. I had the opportunity to shadow different specialties in Lisbon’s hospitals over the course of three weeks. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about careers in specific medical specialties. It also allowed me to view first hand how culture affects healthcare. Having had shadowing experience in the United States, I was able to compare how the healthcare systems in both countries are similar and different. This helped me gain a global understanding on healthcare, which is integral to have as someone who wishes to pursue a career in the medical field. The program helped me learn more about myself, including what I want to pursue after graduating from my university. I could not recommend this study away experience enough!

I would say there are two important components for this program. The experience you get shadowing in the hospital and the experience you getting to know Spanish culture. Being inside the hospital you feel like part of the staff once you start interacting with doctors, residents and nurses. From my experience, they were really welcoming and warm. Exploring Spain was something challenging but it helped to be more open-minded. Trying different food and speaking to locals really made my experience very full-filling.

I had an absolutely amazing experience in Portugal. I got to spend quality hours in the hospital, watching several surgeries, getting to know great doctors, and exploring different specialties. Outside of the hospital, I made great friends with my fellow Atlantis students, and we loved exploring our town and going on group excursions. I had the opportunity to immerse myself into a new culture by trying different foods, listening to different music, and getting to know our city manager. Overall, just a great experience and would totally do it again.

Shadowing abroad with Atlantis is a great and unique opportunity for anyone interested in a career in the medical field. Not only was I able to learn more about the field I want to go into, I also got to expand my knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. The hospital staff were all extremely welcoming, helpful, and insightful and I felt very comfortable in that setting. Additionally, the Atlantis staff were always attentive and responsive. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone!!

The shadowing program I was a part of in Portugal was the perfect experience that both gave me the refreshing aspect of traveling with a group of friends while also consolidating my interest in medicine as a career path that I want to take. What makes Atlantis shadowing so meaningful is the fact that the doctors you are matched with take great enthusiasm and care in getting to meet and describe their daily lives in and out of the hospital with you, giving you a raw and inspirational example you can always look back to.

I loved this program! Everyone was so helpful and worked with me every step of the way. Getting there was easy as there was someone waiting at the airport for us. There was an optional payment plan that worked very well for my needs. Once in the apartment in Athens, our group leader gave us a wonderful introduction and orientation that made me feel so welcomed and safe. He showed us around the city and the hospital. All of the staff at the hospital was so welcoming and eager to teach us their ways. They were very open to letting us watch all procedures and teach us how they work and their purpose. I totally recommend Atlantis for future Healthcare workers.

This experience was amazing! Shadowing twenty hours a week in the local hospital, switching specialties everyday! I was able to see so much more than any shadowing I had done before, from consultations to procedures to surgeries. Over the three weeks, the whole group of students became very close and went on lots of excursions around Portugal. I would definitely recommend to anyone going into medicine and wants more shadowing experience. While in Coimbra, I made memories and had new experiences to last a lifetime, while also reinvigorating my passion for medicine.

This experience was very exceptional for me. I got to travel on my own, make new friends and enjoy a beautiful country. My city managers were very helpful and were great guides for the city. The staff at the hospital were also very welcoming and taught me a lot. Unfortunately, there were some days that my friends and I had to leave early because the departments did not have much for us to shadow/learn. This made it hard to meet our 20hr mark every week. Other than that, the hospital experience was great. Housing was also good and very safe, I enjoyed it a lot. All in all, I had a great experience.

I attended this program the summer after my freshman year in college. Although inexperienced, I had an incredible time gaining healthcare exposure while also making lasting connections. The doctors were all incredibly kind and willing to incorporate me into their busy days. Being able to follow them throughout their entire day helped me get a more complete understanding of a doctor's routine, something that is not too available in the United States.
I think my favorite part of the program though was getting to be immersed in an entirely different healthcare system and Spain's culture. My group also traveled across Spain on the weekends so it was a great mix of learning and fun. I would heavily recommend this to anyone looking for a unique pre-med experience!