Shadow Doctors 20+ Hrs/Week w/ #1 Pre-Health Provider

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.

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 was truly an amazing experience. From exploring Lisboa itself with its rich history, vibrant streets, and breathtaking oceanic views, to visiting the surrounding suburbs that each had their own unique charm, I felt constantly captivated. Meeting all of the wonderful doctors at ULS Santa Maria was equally inspiring, adding a meaningful and personal dimension to my trip. Honestly, I think Lisbon has become one of my absolute favorite places in Europe. Trust me—having visited four other countries on the continent, none of them quite match the city’s cultural beauty, seaside atmosphere, and sheer variety of fun things to do. I cannot recommend it enough!

It was my first time going overseas and traveling by myself. As soon as I land into the airport, city manager was there to greet me and help me get on my shuttle for the two hour trip north. The first day I got thrown into open-heart surgery, which was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. And having the rest of the day off to do whatever and explore the city was awesome. I was able to go see a bunch of Roman artifacts from museums and national sites, the people were great and the food was also very good.

I was surrounded by great minds and observed lots of cool procedures in the Faro General Hospital. I observed physicians in the nephrology unit, cardiology unit, and gastroenterology unit. Our housing was a ten minute walk to the hospital and felt very safe. I got very close to my roommates during the three weeks we were there and continue to stay in touch with them. Faro was the perfect size city to explore during the three weeks we were there and the beaches were incredible. Unfortunately we had to Uber to get to the beach but the rides were normally cheap. The trip was a fantastic experience!

I did the three weeks in Viana Do Castelo and it was so much fun! We got to shadow doctors in the pediatric, surgery, and neurology department. I learned a lot about the field that I want to work in (neurology). Our group got close very quickly and we are now abroad besties!

Our city manager was the sweetest and she was always there to help us. She made sure we had enough food and experience. The group dinners and extracurriculars on the weekend were always fun and engaging.

Portugal is so beautiful!! We also got to travel on the weekend and explore new places. If you want to learn more about the medical field abroad and make new friends, I recommend!

Overall, this trip was an amazing experience. There were a few hiccups along the way but because we were the first group in this location that is to be expected. When there was an issue it was fixed promptly. All of the Atlantis staff as well as the hospital staff were kind and welcoming. The shadowing was so interesting and the doctors explained everything. They were very interested in getting to know us as individuals as well as our culture just as much as we were interested in getting to know them. The island is the most beautiful place that I have ever been to and thanks to our city manager, we were able to get to know the island from a locals perspective and tour the entire island which made it that much more special. It was a very exciting and educational trip that I will never forget!

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!