Medicine Internships in Portugal

When I first decided to intern abroad, I was struggling to find the right location and area of study, however with API’s help, it all felt so easy. Spending time in Lisbon, Portugal as an intern was one of the best experiences of my life. Thanks to API and Ares do Pinhal (the company I interned for), I had the opportunity to work alongside many professionals in the addiction field and assist individuals who were battling substance use. I built many connections and learned/experienced a beautiful culture. All the employees and clients of Ares do Pinhal were kind, helpful, and one of the best people I’ve met in my life. I hope to see all of them in the near future! From the beginning of my trip until the end, API provided incredible support. Their pre-departure guidance and on-site assistance helped me have a smooth transition from the U.S. to Portugal. Don’t even get me started on my apartment! It was so luxurious and modern, which I loved. I lived in the same complex with other students and interns around the world, which made it easier for me to connect with people in the same boat as me. There are so many great things I can say, but one of the things I loved about API was how they encouraged cultural exploration. They gave me the opportunity to experience many activities, such as visiting Sintra, taking a Portuguese cooking class, and even going to an escape room – something I had never done before, even in the U.S. It is definitely the best program to study or intern abroad with!

We were hesitant about sending our daughter so far away to "reset" herself. High school wasn't a successful four years and we desperately something for her to believe in her abilities again. Wow....did this program do that! The closeness of the group and support from the organization turned our daughter around. She loved the adventure and thrived both personally and professionally. The communication from the team was super. I reached out whenever I needed anything, and they were quick to respond. Who won't regret this adventure for your child or yourself.

I participated in Spanish Gap Year's Future Leaders program in the fall of 2024 and I had the most amazing experience. We started out in Madrid for the first 4 weeks and stayed with a host family. While in Madrid we took Spanish classes at Tandem. Tandem is so amazing and I had the absolute best time there. For the last 8 weeks we stayed in Barcelona and had internships. Barcelona is so beautiful and fun to explore so there was never a dull moment. If I could, I would do this program all over again.

The best thing you need to know about Linguistic Horizons is the great support system. I often communicated with Nicole from the start of my application, my departure and all the way to the end of my internship, and she was absolutely fantastic. So nice, friendly and helpful and willing to hear you out always! I had some issues with finances and my placement and she sorted it out like nothing. I would recommend this experience not only because of the the prospects of being abroad and immersion, but for the cultural and work life that awaits you. Loved everything about my experience and I'm sure you will too!

Linguistic Horizons responded to this reviewDecember 20, 2024

Thank you, Angellah! I'm so glad you joined us in London!

It was a great experience, however I do think it is geared towards people with little to no work experience and did not meet all my expectations of learning something new in a new work environment. The best part was being able to practice my Spanish with my host family.

CIEE provided me with a great internship site, a clean and nice apartment in a good neighborhood, and gave me roommates who shared similar interests. The staff was extremely kind and helped me whenever I needed, and were good about checking in with me about my experiences

The Spanish classes alone provided a ton of hands on learning. However, the entrepreneurship and internship portions are what provided a level of experience that has changed my life. With the internship portion you are given the opportunity to explore a field of your interests while making connections within the field and learning real business and work skills. The entrepreneurial portion provided invaluable experience where one can create and chase their ideas while working with mentors who have real credible experience. The skills of forming, creating, and pitching an idea as a real world entrepreneur is invaluable. You will learn public speaking, networking, how to ask for help, what works and what doesn’t with business, and a million other practical real world skills.

The Spanish Gap Year staff is incredibly diligent, knowledgeable and caring, and this combination fosters an incredible environment to explore future career opportunities alongside a group of peers while immersing yourself in a new country. The program balances busy days that bring together Spanish language, entrepreneurship and individualized internships with plenty of independence to explore the cities you live in as well as the rest of Spain and even other parts of Europe if you choose! The support from program leaders in helping me fulfill my individual goals for the experience was truly one of a kind and I learned so much during 3 months, both in the classroom and in terms of maturity and independence from living in foreign cities. I would 100% recommend this program to anyone who has ambitious future goals, wants to expand their worldview, and is looking for a tight-knit group of peers to explore with!

I shadowed in Lisbon and Viano do Castelo in summer of 2022 across various specialties, including pediatric anesthesiology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, general surgery, dermatology (including the burn clinic), ICU, and many more. You submit a list of specialties you're interested in, and the program director makes every effort to make sure they can find those opportunities for you. The physicians I shadowed were very welcoming and explained the procedures in English. Beyond shadowing hours, the program directors plan excursions like surfing or cooking classes once a week. I ended up getting super close to the other students in my program and we still keep in touch! Overall, definitely a great experience for anyone wanting intensive shadowing experiences who's also interested in exploring a new culture and making strong friendships :)

I attended an Atlantis program in Valladolid, Spain in July of 2019! I absolutely loved the program because I got to travel, meet new people, watch surgeries and consultations, explore multiple cities of Spain and experience the culture, get shadowing hours (which is required by a lot of the grad schools I’m applying to), and so much more! Now, 4 years later I am still benefiting from the program because I get to talk about it in my PA school applications and interviews! I would recommend this program to any pre health student because it’s a great way to get a feel for medicine and different specialties, study abroad, and make great connections!

My Atlantis experience in Genoa was a transformative chapter that seamlessly intertwined academic exploration, cultural immersion, and personal growth. Through shadowing medical professionals, I gained invaluable insights into the intricacies of healthcare, fostering a deeper understanding of my future role as a speech language pathologist. Beyond the hospital, the city itself became my classroom, teaching me the art of cultural adaptability and offering a profound appreciation for diversity. The guidance of our dedicated city manager, coupled with Atlantis' comprehensive support, ensured that every facet of the program was seamlessly orchestrated, allowing me to focus on extracting the utmost value from each moment. From indulging in delectable local cuisine to forming lasting bonds with peers from around the globe, every interaction contributed to a profound sense of cultural humility and camaraderie. In retrospect, this experience has not only reinforced my passion for the medical field but also imparted life lessons that extend beyond textbooks. As I embark on the next phase of my journey, I carry with me a global perspective, an open heart, and the confidence to navigate the intricate tapestry of healthcare and human connection.

Finding opportunities in the art & music world can be quite daunting at times, but Nicole made the process so easy! I was presented with several amazing opportunities across Europe, and I ended up working with a London firm that was a perfect match for my skill set. I really felt that Nicole took the time to get to know me and what my future career goals were, she even introduced me to other LH Alums in the music industry or others who were living in London. This experience has opened up many opportunities for me since returning to the US, I highly recommend working with Nicole to find your next adventure abroad!

Nicole and her team are wonderful. They quickly found the perfect internship for me after I spent months on my own struggling to get any response from companies abroad. I don't know if I would've gotten an internship in time if I hadn't contacted them.

Linguistic Horizons have done a good job in setting me up with an internship that matches my academic background. This is the first time I have travelled alone and lived in a foreign country. Right from the start I felt welcomed into my architecture internship experience. The first day I jumped right into hands-on tasks and learning the ins and out about French Architecture. I have learned a ton of skills that I'm now taking with me to look for a career.

Nicole helped me find an internship in my desired field, in my desired city, during my desired timelines. The company I was paired with gave me lots of flexibility over my archduke to arrange travel on long weekends. They also helped me grow and develop new skill sets. Nicole did a great job communicating and I felt supported. Awesome experience, and I highly recommend for anyone considering studying abroad/interning abroad. I would not have been able to find this internship myself, trust me I tried! Go see the world!

I think there's problems here and there with cleanliness of dorms and location choices, but overall I had a very positive experience. The staff and program as a whole I felt was a very worthwhile opportunity.

I completed 80 AAMC-compliant physician shadowing hours through the Atlantis Clinical Fellowship at Gennimatas General Hospital in Athens, Greece. My experience shadowing physicians in Athens, Greece, at Gennimatas Hospital was invaluable and gave me a fundamental understanding of what I hope to specialize in as a future physician. Through this experience, I not only embraced the ethical responsibility of learning from doctors through observation but also gained exposure to global healthcare. I learned how to overcome cultural communication barriers in my interactions with clinicians and recognized the subtle peculiarities of a foreign hospital. I built upon my critical thinking skills and utilized scientific inquiry as I followed along with surgical procedures and witnessed each unique doctor-patient interaction. This experience is a staple of my pre-med journey. From my clinical fellowship, I know that medicine is the only career path I desire.

My CIEE internship in Barcelona, Spain is a great experience not just academically but also personally. I have learned so much about myself during these months and building connections is so important in life.

This program was amazing! The staff and faculty are always willing to help with anything. Whether it's about your internship placement or advice for fun adventures in the city, the staff is there for you. This program has great opportunities to grow as a student and a professional in your field. The field trips and activities in this program allowed us to take our learning outside and explore a new culture. I couldn't recommend this program enough!

CIEE is very well-staffed and they do everything they can to make sure you have the best experience possible. Everyone is friendly, the rules and guidelines are laid out for you, and the excursions CIEE plans are a blast!!