Clinical Shadowing and Volunteering in Greece this summer

I'm a first-generation college student, my parents are not fluent in English, and I'm Latina, among other factors. I think some people are surprised to see someone who looks like me in the lab or hospital and their notions of what a researcher is might be questioned–and I'm fine with that. Finding and creating the space to be myself has allowed me to support others as well. I always tell people, it doesn't matter if they think you're not good enough, I'm certain you are. The Philotimo Internship and Volunteering program empowers me to go out there and pursue things that are difficult or uncomfortable. Thank you so much for this experience and for teaching the principles of what is to have Philotimo. The Internships are stunning, and the classes, the trips, and the food are just the best.

I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor, but I’ve been thinking about who I was when I first got to the Philotimo Internship, how much I've grown, and how much I've changed in 3 weeks of being abroad in Greece.
I shadowed at the Lab, where we were working on developing an anti-cancer, antibacterial agent. Typically, we run different chemical reactions in the lab. We read literature about the procedure, decided on the scale, set the conditions, and used nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the structure of molecules. the Philotimo Med Abroad experience has been about more than just chemistry or volunteering. I feel empowered to go out there and pursue things that are difficult or uncomfortable.
I enjoyed working with doctors for long hours and learning new techniques. I got few letters of recommendation which will help me when I apply to medical school.

I spoke to my advisor about preparing for a future in public health and he suggested that I take part in Philotimo Med Abroad DataLab. At that point, I didn’t know much about it. I had no idea what data analysis even involved. But he told me about the program’s focus on social good and that there was an emergency room overuse project. When I heard that I thought, “I need to check this out.” I started doing my research into what ER overuse is and I realized that this was an opportunity to help a community partner, the Shelter Network, advocate for many refugee minors.
We got our 2 week project, and let’s just say it was intense. I appreciate the fact that Larissa residents receive primary care in a fantastic hospital with a great group of doctors ready to care for them. During my time there, I shadowed and rotated 3 clinics and on Fridays we had a cultural excursions to Meteroa and to Mount Olympus.

I had a 3-week internship in Larissa, Greece with Philotimo, I shadowed a couple of physicians. I worked in a research lab and shadowed within the University and at a community clinic, which helped me see how their work with patients complemented thier research studies.
There is so much research happening here and there are so many ways for students to get involved. That isn't something that every college student gets to do. So I’m grateful because I’ve been able to do more than figure out what I want to do for a future career—I’ve had the chance to already start doing it.
I really want to become a research physician like the professors I shadowed, it was great to be able to talk to them about the path they took to get where they are. The really became a mentor who could give advice and have conversations about what's next.
The Philotimo excursions are also fun and help you to forget all the stress we have during our school time and at practice.

Choosing Philotimo Med Abroad was the best decision I could've made! All of my classes were super intriguing (I was excited to go shadowing), the organized trips were fun and convenient, and everyone I met was super nice and supportive. Living in Larissa was also much more convenient than I thought it would be -- access to other cities in Greece, as well as access to other countries in Europe, was super easy. The food, the culture, the Director's support system, and all of the fun activities that happened in Larissa made my trip super worth it. You won't regret it if you choose Philotimo!

I studied abroad in Greece to learn more about medicine. I love how I had the opportunity to be immersed in a hands-on environment to truly see what medicine is like. We went on field trips to Athens to see the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum. We also did field studies in Thessaloniki to see a variety of medical specialties.
It was a very exciting and educational experience. Every doctor and professor we shadow helps me a lot. They advise me to keep trying and never give up.
So my advice to you reading this is don't wait anymore and book your shadowing experience now.

Studying abroad in Greece, with Philotimo Med, was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I am a pre-med student and being in the cultural heart of Greece was the best way I could explore this. The streets are filled with Greek history, and pretty much every local I talked with was very kind and accommodating. The shadowing program is very intense. You need to bring comfortable shoes and be ready to jump from one clinic to another. The doctors are very friendly and knowledgeable they answered all my questions. We gather with the other students in the conference room for lectures and diagnostics. During the excursions day Philotimo took us to Meteora and the second activity we went to a bread factory and had a cooking class.

I studied abroad in Larissa, Greece in the winter of 2024. It was such an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. I was able to leave the country for the first time and be immersed in the culture. The Philotimo staff supported me every step of the way, but I still felt like I had the freedom to explore on my own as well. I made amazing friends from my program and we would adventure throughout Greece. I got to shadow a fantastic Pediatrician and assist him during a c-section. The doctor made me feel so comfortable. I got letters of recommendation and a certificate. I am applying to med school next semester.