Hospital Internships Abroad - Shadow Doctors for 20+ Hours

I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in learning and observing as much as you can about healthcare in an internship style setting. The Atlantis Project fellowships allow pre-med students the opportunity to experience a new culture both inside and outside of a hospital setting. I experienced more than I could have ever asked for or expected. I spent four weeks in Spain. The hospital staff made me feel welcome and accommodated me in every way they could. I was surprised at how eager the doctors were to show me and teach me. The hospital staff have a passion for medicine and a passion for teaching. Although I could not participate and strictly observed, there were times I felt more like a medical student because of the level of education I received during my four weeks in the hospital. I observed in four different departments that rotated weekly and observed both surgical procedures and patient consultations that were culturally relevant and specific. I do not speak or understand Spanish at all and the language barrier was not an issue. There were a few instances where I was observing a doctor who did not understand or speak English very well and the doctor was still very eager to help me understand as much as I could - often finding unconventional ways to communicate. The Atlantis Project was the most enriching fellowship I have experienced to date. This is an experience that emphasizes healthcare education. Observing healthcare in a system that is foreign to your own is an effective way to learn.

The Atlantis Project is relatively new and may not be as established as some of the programs that are more known in the United States - DON’T LET THAT STOP YOU. This program is worth every penny and then some!

If you have questions and are interested in the program, email me at chabot.rachael@gmail.com for more detail or an application!

The Atlantis project not only allowed me and my fellows to shadow and experience a doctors/surgeons daily life was but it also gave us a sense of direction into what we all are looking for and what we are not looking for. Through out the program I was able to pinpoint where in the medical field I would like to follow up on and where I was sure not to. I learned so much and was actually able put my knowledge to use and see how much I actually know. It was overall an amazing experience and I recommend everyone who is interested in the medical field, to go do this program.

I really enjoyed traveling to Toledo, Spain for this hospital shadowing and cultural immersion program. I was able to spend three weeks in different hospital departments. These included pharmacy, orthopedics, pulmonology, neurosurgery, intervention radiology and intensive care. This clinical exposure allowed me to see a larger variety of specialties than I had at home. My time in Spain gave me a glimpse at public healthcare and a holistic perspective of medicine. This collaboration for the greater good focused on highlighting the integration of unique skill sets and teamwork aspect of medicine. I enjoyed getting to learn from the different healthcare professionals and my fellow students. Overall, the experience provided me with new and diverse perspectives.

It was reassuring to be surrounded by students that all had health interests in common. I made great friends during my stay. The program leaders worked hard to accommodate us all and considered our feedback to make changes for the better!

Through the Atlantis Project, I was able to explore Spain and get to know its rich culture. I spent four weeks in Guadalajara, Spain and two in Albacete, Spain through the Atlantis Project. During my time there, I saw surgeries on people injured from bull runs and the doctor-patient interactions. By going to Spain through the Atlantis Project, I was able to shadow doctors from a variety of different fields and explore what the daily life of a surgeon or doctor in Spain.
The Atlantis Project gave me the ability to see and explore. From being a part of the Atlantis Project, as cliché'd as it sounds, it expanded my worldview and helped me grow in more ways that I could have ever imagined. I learned what it's like to be in a culture different from your own and the ins and outs of Spanish culture. I'm thoroughly grateful that I did the Atlantis Project.

The atlantis project was an amazing experience that i would recommend in a heartbeat! I was able to shadow 6 different specialties of medicine in 3 weeks and also have lots of time to explore the city where I was living. I was given lots of freedom to do things on my own/with my new friends but also enough guidance to feel safe across the globe.