Internship in Greece Shadow Doctors 20+ Hours/Week

Name: Internship in Greece Shadow Doctors 20+ Hours/Week
Brand: Atlantis
SKU: 229065
Rating: 9.94 (16 reviews)

This program has been paused and is currently not being offered. View more programs from Atlantis.

Video and Photos

View All Photos

About

Shadowing experiences for adventurous pre-med students. Shadow 60+ hours in Spain, Italy, Greece, and more for 3–6 weeks.

Atlantis has been providing university students in healthcare-related fields with the opportunity to gain clinical experience in hospitals in Europe and Latin America since 2007. We are committed to the safety of our students, and are constantly working to maximize the educational value of our programs.

Highlights

Rotate through different specialties to gain exposure to various medical practices and procedures.
Join our programs to make the most of your winter or summer - no need to take time off during your semesters!
Immerse yourself in a fellowship abroad to understand healthcare in a global context, and embark on weekly excursions to experience Greek culture, sights, and food.
Join a network of accomplished Atlantis Alumni and doctors from around the world.
We also have programs to help students prepare for the MCAT.

Related Programs

Questions & Answers

Reviews

9.94 Rating

based on 16 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Intern

9-10 rating 100%
7-8 rating 0%
5-6 rating 0%
3-4 rating 0%
1-2 rating 0%

Growth 9.7
Support 9.9
Fun 9.9
Housing 9.6
Safety 9.8

Good for Building your resume, Students, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 16

Had a great time, it was overall an awesome trip. The food was great. There were lots of attraction, historical sites, and places to go. The city is right near the water, so there are great views. The weather was also really great, it was hot all the time. people in the city all spoke english and were really friendly. The hospital shadowing aspect of the program was also really cool. The doctors were all friendly and eager to interact with us. We got opportunities to go to different departments of the hospital and observe many types of surgeries. The shadowing wasn't too long either, so once we finished, we were free for the rest of the day. Our site manager was really amazing and very helpful. We went on group excursions twice, which were also cool

What would you improve about this program?

really nothing. I have no complaints about the experience

I signed up for this program with a little prior shadowing experience and a fuzzy head about what I wanted to do in the future. My past experiences were primarily academic or research based and the little shadowing I did prior had pushed me away from pursuing a career in medicine. This experience completely turned that around. The ability to shadow in numerous departments as well as interact on a more personal level with the hospital staff showed me a different side of medicine and convinced me that working in a hospital is where I want to be. Its a much different experience than you get shadowing in the United States, not only are the health care institutions vastly different but so is the culture. And, on top of all that professional growth, you get to travel around Europe. I made some amazing memories with the most amazing group of girls. It's the perfect mix of work and play.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

Honestly, there aren't any negatives or big mistakes from this experience. If I did this all again, I would choose the longer program because that was the hardest part for me. I completely fell in love with the country, its people (and food!!), and I don't think 3 weeks was enough.

The famous red beach in Santorini, Greece

Dr. Nick of General Surgery! Favorite doctor and department

I have attended two Atlantis Fellowships now and have absolutely loved both of them. In the summer of 2018 I went to Székesfehérvár, Hungary for 4 weeks and gained 90 shadowing hours in the hospital there. I also got to experience the city and culture through our free time and weekly excursions. I was then given the opportunity to attend a Senior Fellowship in Thessaloniki, Greece during the summer of 2019 which was another amazing experience with Atlantis. I attended this fellowship for three weeks and gained 60+ shadowing hours in various specialties. One of the amazing things about this fellowship is that not only are you able to gain shadowing experience and grow academically, but you are also able to travel on the weekends and explore the city you are living in during the afternoons. Atlantis also has weekly excursions planned to show everyone the highlights of the city or country in which you are staying. I honestly think any pre med who can take advantage of this program should. It has been one of the highlights of my time in college and my summers!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I got to observe a heart surgery and a neurosurgery while on my fellowship in Thessaloniki, Greece and that was by far the coolest thing I have ever seen. Talk about a high...why would anyone do drugs when you can see something like that?! WOW

Picture with two neurosurgeons in the hospital

Shadowing physicians in a global health care setting was such an invaluable experience that has shaped and will continue to shape the kind of physician that I hope to someday be.
I have never travelled outside of the US before, and yet Atlantis prepared me so well for this fellowship that I felt no anxiety whatsoever about traveling alone in a foreign country. My Site Manager made it so that I always felt safe and so that I also got the most of my experience, both in the hospital and during excursions/exploring the city.
I learned so much of value while shadowing in the hospital. There is so much about global medicine that you can only experience; that you can’t be taught without firsthand experience. In Greece, I had the opportunity to see medicine practiced in manners both similar and different to that in the US, and it forced me to consider the pros and cons of both our healthcare systems. Furthermore, with the vast number of hours of shadowing you obtain, not only is it good for your resume, but it gives you a chance to decide if a career in medicine is really the right path for you. The shadowing isn’t easy; the language barrier and often long hours on your feet can be exhausting, but the life-changing learning experience is a reward well worth it.
This program isn’t just an opportunity to explore global medicine. It’s an opportunity to explore a new country through weekly excursions and group dinners and to make meaningful lifetime friendships with fellow pre-meds. It is an experience that you will reflect on for the rest of your life and will shape your future career in medicine.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My advice to future travelers in this program is to make sure you get the most of your experience in the hospital. What I mean by that is that it can be very difficult shadowing in a hospital that speaks an unfamiliar language and has different protocols and rules than what you may be used to in the US. So although you maybe be uncomfortable, seize every opportunity. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to talk to your Site Manager if you don’t feel like you are being given the best opportunity to learn. Most physicians and nurses are eager to teach, as long as you show interest and professionalism.

Excursion to Mt. Olympus - lagoon in the mountain

Preparing for a day of shadowing at the General Hospital of Larisa

Read my full story

I just completed my fellowship with Atlantis and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I was able to shadow in on some interesting surgeries and meet some amazing people. I loved getting to know the other fellows as well as the Atlantis staff and hospital staff during the three weeks I was in Thessaloniki! The site managers on this trip did everything in their power to make our experience incredible! I really enjoyed getting to live like a local in the city center in Thessaloniki; it is a beautiful place and the people are so nice! I definitely recommend it! In addition to a great hospital experience, we got to go on some really cool excursions and see some incredible places! I also enjoyed having the weekends free to travel! It was great being able to see more of the country on my own time! Overall, this was a really great experience!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

If I did this fellowship over, I would make a bigger effort to learn more Greek before coming here. While many people spoke English in and outside of the hospital, there was definitely still a language barrier. I believe I would have appreciated the hospital experience more than I already did if I would have been able to understand everything the doctors and nurses were saying in the OR. However, most of the doctors and nurses did a great job at explaining things in English as they went along for us!

Read my full story

At the beginning I was very skeptical. Really all the way until my very first day of shadowing I was nervous about the program. It was pretty expensive to be honest and it toon a lot of time and energy to prepare for the program. So I was worried that at the end of it all it wouldn’t be worth it. It was my first time ever traveling alone and out of the country. The first day of shadowing really opened my eyes to see how beautiful it can be when science and care really come together. Not only are Atlantis staff really helpful but also the doctors and nurses in the hospital. On days where it was slow and I felt like I wasn’t getting the most out of it, I could go to anyone and ask to change that and they would. I would do it all again if I could. It was such a beautiful experience and so worth everything I put into it. You meet such amazing people along the way and make incredible connections. There are sometimes where you light not click with everyone either in your group or out, but it builds your social skills and your team building skills which is so important for the field of medicine. After just a week you become known in the hospital if you do it all right and you have people who ask you to come to their departments. The hours seem long on paper but my four weeks flew by and I feel like I still didn’t see and learn everything I could have. Atlantis has a lot to offer if you take the time to make the most of your time overseas.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

I was most surprised by how excited the doctors and nurses were to teach. Even if you didn’t know something or asked an excessive amount of questions they always answered and wanted to give you more and do more for you. It’s harder in the states to have this kind of attitude in the medical field but in my experience in Greece, every day was filled with so much conversation and knowledge.

With the whole surgical team we watched and learned about how doctors constantly think on their feet with so many conditions like cancer.

You’ll get the chance to see so many different types of surgery as well as different departments. My friends and I were able to make a great impression on the pediatric surgeon and head anesthetist and sit in with all of their surgeries that week.

You make great friends along the way who help you make a home away from home.

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.

What was your funniest moment?

Red hair is RARE. Pictures were taken of me everyday.

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.

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose the Atlantis program because it offered me two things that I was eager to accomplish.

One, it provided me the opportunity to shadow physicians for over 60 hours in a variety of hospital departments. In the U.S., I have had difficulty finding physicians to shadow or hospitals with shadowing programs that give you enough experience in shadowing. I believe shadowing is critical in a pre-med’s decision regarding what type of physician they want to become, and if medicine is truly the best career path for them.

Second, this program offered shadowing in a foreign country in Europe, like Greece, where I went. By shadowing in a healthcare system other than your own, you truly get to experience global medicine. There is so much that cannot be taught about global medicine; what you really need is first-hand experience. There is so much of value to learn from foreign health care systems and I believe my experience will help to make me an even better physician one day.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Atlantis program is great for pre-med students traveling outside of the U.S. for the first time, especially by themselves. The program includes lodging for your entire stay, two group meals (with the other fellows and your site manager) per week, and an excursion to explore parts of the country you are visiting every week.

The program includes shadowing in the hospital for about 5-6 hours, four times a week, and your Site Manager arranges all of that in the hospital so that you get the most of your shadowing every day. The trip also provides travel insurance.

You are responsible for airfare and getting to your place of lodging from the airport. You are also responsible for the rest of your meals (other than breakfast and the two group meals per week). Prior to the start of the program, you must attend three Pre-Departure group calls where your Site Manager and Program Coordinator help you to prepare for your fellowship. With their help, I had no trouble traveling to my program and never once felt unprepared. Having a Site Manager with you during your program is incredibly helpful. As I mentioned already, s/he places you with doctors/hospital departments each day for you to shadow.

They are also there to help you navigate the city that you are staying in so that you are safe and getting the most out of your fellowship.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Fortunately, Atlantis does a great job preparing you for your fellowship program. Although Atlantis does suggest this, I want to stress the importance of trying to learn some basic proficiency in the language of the country you are visiting. I learned some Greek, but I wish I had learned more. I stress this because it will help you to get more out of your shadowing experience. While it is true that the doctors will speak to you in English, they talk to each other and to their patients in their language (Greek, in my case). It made it difficult to understand the patient-doctor or doctor-doctor dynamic. If you learn enough Greek (or whatever language they speak in the country you are visiting) to follow basic conversations in the hospital and basic medical terminology, that will go a long way in helping you to get the most out of your shadowing experience.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

For my program in Larisa, Greece, I was there for three weeks. The weeks looked like this:

Four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday), we spent shadowing in the hospital from 8 am - 2 pm. Our group dinners were on Tuesday and Thursday.

On Wednesdays (for the first two weeks), we went on our excursions. For the first excursion, we visited Mt. Olympus, where we hiked a bit through the mountains and then went swimming in a spring/lagoon in the mountain. Then we went to a beach resort where we spent the afternoon and ate at the buffet. The second excursion took us horseback riding in Mount Olympus, then we visited a different beach right off the coast of the mountains and ate there as well. All the rest of the time (afternoons after shadowing and the weekends) we had free to do as we pleased (shopping, exploring the city, going to the beach, etc).

An average day at the hospital looked like this:

We walked 10-15 minutes to the hospital where we would change into scrubs and then meet in a break room with our Site Manager. He would tell us what doctors and departments were available for the day and split us into groups depending on where we wanted to go. Once we finished with that department or if it wasn’t working out for some reason (no patients, doctor didn’t speak English well enough, etc.), we could meet with our Site Manager again where he would assign us to a new department. We shadowed in countless surgeries, in the ER, the ICU, pediatrics, OB/GYN, orthopedics, internal medicine, and urology. At the end of the day (~2 pm), we would change and walk back to the hotel.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into the program was getting to my hotel from the airport in a foreign country that speaks a language that I do not know, especially since I was by myself and traveling outside of the US for the first time. My flight landed in Thessaloniki, Greece. I then had to get my luggage and go through customs, buy a city bus ticket that took me from the airport to the bus station. Then I had to buy another bus ticket that took me from Thessaloniki to Larisa where my program was (a 2-hour bus ride).

When I got to the Larisa bus station, I then had to take a taxi to the hotel I was staying at with all my luggage where I finally met my Site Manager. And while yes, it was as frightening and difficult as I thought it would be, I did do it. And so did all the other nine fellows in my program. That is a reflection of my biggest fears for the whole program, doing something unknown, in a foreign language, that made it so I felt like I had little control. But the total immersion really helped me to grow as an individual, and over the three weeks that I was in Greece, I became less frightened and found traveling in this unknown city less difficult.

By the time I left and had to make the same trek back to Thessaloniki to the airport, I felt no fear and I had total control of the situation. Before my fellowship, the thought of traveling overseas, especially by myself, seemed impossible. Now that I’ve done it and know how realistic and plausible it really is, I am eager for my next chance to travel again.

What was the most valuable part of your fellowship in Greece?

There were two aspects of my fellowship that I found to be the most valuable. First, as expected, I learned so much of value while shadowing in the hospital. I got so much more exposure than I could in the US, and the opportunity to experience global medicine first hand was truly invaluable. The 60+ hours I spent in the General Hospital of Larisa will stay with me always and have already helped to shape me into the physician I will someday be.

The other most valuable part of my fellowship was something that I was not expecting. It was the new family I made in Greece. I have made friends for life in the other pre-med fellows in my program. I am still in contact with them even now that I am back home, and we are already planning a reunion since we all come from different parts of the US. We are all a family now, and although we are all at different stages in our pre-med careers, we understand what it’s like for each other in ways that no one else can, and because of that, we became very close. We are a part of each other now, always.

Victoria McCraw

2019 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Graham works with Atlantis' University Partners to build and expand group programs for their students. He also works with former students to help them continue their involvement with Atlantis by sharing their experience with other students.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I did a program called Coach for College in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam the summer after I graduated from college. I taught biology to middle school students and coached volleyball. I communicated through a translator who was a Vietnamese college student. Seeing Vietnam, meeting the students and working alongside a translator was a fun, challenging and enriching experience.

View Entire Interview

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working at Atlantis has been an extraordinary experience. I have primarily learned how to prioritize competing projects and initiatives. We want our programs to lead to better career outcomes for our students and want to both increase their awareness and understanding of different medical specialties as well as the United States' and other countries' health care systems.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I really enjoy reading through our program feedback forms after the programs are completed. This student feedback is inspiring and enriching for us. Our priority is making sure students have an incredible and unique doctor shadowing experience. As far as specific stories, there are too many to name. I am most excited about the students who say that, after our program, they have a much better understanding of whether or not they really want to be a doctor.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would go on our Clinical Shadowing program. I am really interested in healthcare practice and policy in the United States and abroad and I think our program is one of the best ways to learn more. I would most look forward to getting to know doctors at our hospital partners. I would also look forward to the on-program cultural excursions and group meals.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We place a heavy emphasis on hiring and retaining the best people. Our interview and evaluation process for new team members is much longer than other organizations I have worked for or interacted with. When it comes to our programs, I think we are among the best in the world in terms of optimizing the student experience and program quality.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Focus. Companies need to know who they are and what they want to accomplish, and that requires focus. Too many companies meander about without knowing what their true mission is and what value they are supposed to provide to customers. Atlantis values its identity as an education organization focused on healthcare, and that is one of our greatest strengths.

Location

Location:

Greece

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 27 F

Apr-Jun

88 F / 41 F

Jul-Sep

91 F / 54 F

Oct-Dec

75 F / 30 F

Airports:

Athens

( ATH )

Heraklion

( HER )

Thessaloniki

( SKG )

If pastitsio and gyros aren't enough of a reason for you to go to Greece; then the stunningly blue waters, the medieval cities, and picturesque white houses with blue roofs should do the trick. Every island has a different vibe and will be well suited for a variety of travelers.

About Atlantis

Atlantis (formerly known as the Atlantis Project) was founded in 2007, and our mission is to equip future healthcare leaders to pursue their callings passionately. Since then, our programs have expanded to include global hospital partners across Europe and Latin America.

Atlantis is recognized as one of the world’s leading international pre...

Learn More