Shadow Doctors in Portugal w/ #1 Pre-Health Provider

This shadow abroad program truly changed my life. It completely transformed my career path and opened so many doors that I didn’t even know existed. I had such a blast, learned sop much, I made some true core memories!

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 signed up for a fellowship with Atlantis because I was unsure of what I wanted to do in the field of medicine, and I wanted to make sure it was right for me because medicine is a huge commitment. I traveled to Viana do Castelo and all the Atlantis staff before, during, and after were very helpful in answering all my questions. I shadowed general surgery, anesthesiology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. I would not change my experience with Atlantis for anything. I still do not know what field I want to go into, but I know for sure I want to go to medical school, and now I have a new network of pre-med students across the US! If you are thinking about a fellowship, definitely do it! You will not regret it!

My experience shadowing doctors through the Atlantis program in Viana do Castelo, Portugal was amazing. The opportunity to do rotations in hospital was invaluable because it helped me find where my true passion lies. The doctors were generally interested in helping us succeed -- one of the doctors I shadowed didn't speak English but she typed out everything in Google Translate and made it so easy for me to understand the consultations. My site manager and fellow students were also super supportive. I learnt so much about medical school application and how to prepare for the MCAT from them and more importantly they gave me the confidence to push through and pursue my dreams in medicine.

I spent 3 weeks this summer shadowing multiple specialties in the largest hospital in Lisbon. I had the opportunity to not only spend 20+ hours each week in the hospital, but I also was able to explore Lisbon and the country of Portugal. The friends I made along the way were lifelong and this was truly a life-changing experience.

The Atlantis Fellowship allowed me to experience healthcare in a setting drastically different from that of the United States. This experience has further confirmed my pursuit of a career in medicine and has taught me the value of patient-focused care. The physicians I shadowed were extremely helpful by translating situations and answering all of my questions; it was clear that the doctors wanted to help give you the most out of your time in the hospital. I recommend this program to any pre-health student that has an interest in stepping outside of their "norm" for healthcare because what you take away will remain with you as you continue your pursuit of medicine.

"When in Lisbon"... I found myself saying this phrase almost every day during my Atlantis fellowship in Lisbon, Portugal. From trying daring local cuisine to staying hours past the required time shadowing in the hospital, I took every opportunity I had on my fellowship. For three weeks, I was presented with opportunities to delve into my curiosity of another culture, bask in the knowledge and wisdom of European doctors, nurses, and surgeons, and witness the inner-workings of the European healthcare system. I was fortunate enough to shadow physicians in Otorhinolaryngology, Anesthesiology, and Emergency Medicine where each department offered different perspectives from outpatient care to surgery. In addition, among my days of exhilarating surgeries and patient consultations were group dinners and excursions that encouraged fellows to not only share their inspirational stories from that day but also their stories--why they want to join the scientific community as healthcare professionals. The on-site advisors could not have been more welcoming, encouraging, or knowledgeable about the city, and the housing felt as though it was a five star hotel. Whether it was riding in a tuk-tuk around Sintra, surfing in the Costa da Caparica, or going in to watch surgeries on days we had off, I challenged myself to be as adventurous as possible; and it was easy thanks to Atlantis. Going on this fellowship was truly life-changing, and I have never been more motivated and confident in my decision to enter the medical field. So if you are thinking about joining the Atlantis community and learning more about another country, medicine, and yourself, you too can find yourself saying "When in Lisbon."

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Atlantis is a great way to interact with other students that are passionate about the health care just like you! It was an opportunity to not only get a better inside idea on hospitals, surgeries, and patient care, but it allowed me to see a different culture's health care system. This fellowship opened my eyes to many different health care careers that I wasn't aware of and made me more passionate about becoming a physician that before. If I could do it again, I absolutely would!

My Atlantis Fellowship Changed my life! It opened my eyes to the diversity of healthcare systems across the world. I not only discovered a rich culture in a country I had never visited, but I also discovered a new confidence within myself and true desire to practice medicine. Because I am an Atlantis Fellow and I did experience a culture different from the United States, I feel that I am a more understanding person and I can be a doctor who is aware of and can appreciate the diversity of different cultures. Additionally, because I was encouraged to take the initiative and connect with each doctor I met, I now have a unique professional network that not only spans multiple disciplines but multiple countries! This trip was the best decision I ever made!!

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Atlantis is what it claims to be, and does what it claims to do. This is a legitimate program that if you have the money and passion/curiosity then you should go for it. This program has value as a 3rd tier or 4th tier addition to your medical applications - it won't make or break you, but it is worth doing if it won't break the bank. This was an amazing experience, primarily because of our excellent site manager. Be friendly with everyone, and those willing to give back will do so 10-fold. Doctors, locals, Atlantis staff, other fellows, etc. I found a second family and support network of peers in the states. I would highly recommend using this program to get an insider's view on how the day-to-day of a medical professional in a foreign country works. This can give you a taste of what types of fundamental things to expect here in the U.S.A. medical field.

This past summer (2017) I had the amazing opportunity to go abroad for the first time in my life and to be surrounded by the world of medicine the whole time! 20-25 hours shadowing doctors every week, watching surgeries, and having all of your questions about medicine answered was truly amazing. Not only did we explore the world of medicine, but also the beautiful country that is Portugal. My fellowship was stationed in their capital city Lisbon. We had amazing group cultural outings every week. Traveled wherever we wanted every weekend. And were completely immersed in the beautiful culture. I am so grateful for the Atlantis Project and this experience. I wish I could do it all over again!

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I don't think I could have experienced something that could solidify my love of medicine more. Doing this internship through the Atlantis Project showed me the real of being a doctor, not just the shiny. It showed the hours put into helping a patient, and it also shed light on a different culture interning in Portugal.

Being apart of Atlantis was one of the best the decisions of my life. I spent 2 weeks in Horta, Portugal where I was able to shadow in the departments of cardiology, radiology, emergency room, and general surgery. The best part of this experience was being able to interact directly with the doctors and learn from them. In addition, the other fellow and I were able to go on a hike, visit an aquarium, visit an neighboring island, and explore the island of Horta which allowed us to learn more the Portuguese culture.

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This was my first time going to Europe so my initial thoughts about the trip were beyond over my head. When first arriving to Portugal I received a warm welcome from my all of my fellow peers along with my site managers. My first three weeks of shadowing were more than I ever expected. I spent three weeks in surgery and from what they told us we were not even guaranteed to see a surgery so I was very happy about this. My last week wasn't as interesting considering I was in internal medicine which a lot of my fellow peers agreed that this was the least interesting rotation. Atlantis made this experience incomparable to anything I have ever experienced before. The culture that we were introduced to was incredible along with the food. Our excursions every week were beyond amazing and we went site seeing to places there were unforgettable. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the site managers that were assigned to us. They were truly amazing people and made my experience over seas that much better.

I cannot thank the Atlantis Project enough for the opportunity for the experience I was provided. After four weeks in Lisbon, Portugal, I walked away with not only a lifetime of memories, but with a true understanding of what it means to be a doctor, no filters. The best way to learn is to be thrown into the thick of it, and that is exactly what the Atlantis Project provides. As someone who is both passionate about my goal to become a doctor, as well as a love to traveling, this is the perfect marriage of the two interests. While I was in Portugal, I shadowed doctors in both surgical and clinical settings in the departments of anesthesiology, orthopedics, neurology, and OBGYN. Prior departing, I was concerned about the language barrier since I had no pre-knowledge of Portuguese. However, while I was in the Hospital, I found many doctors spoke English and actively aided in translating what procedures were being done and helped me understand all that was going on. In my free time, I had opportunities to do so many fun excursions. I got to learn how to surf on some of the largest waves in the world, I went deep sea fishing off of the most western point of Europe, and got to try so many unique types of food. I made such great friendships with the other fellows on my trip. I absolutely recommend the Atlantis Project to anyone who is passionate about serving as a doctor or any other health oriented career.

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I spent four weeks this past summer in Lisbon, Portugal through Atlantis. I had heard wonderful things about the Fellowship through a roommate who had attended the previous summer. After looking further into it, it seemed like a perfect fit, since studying abroad had been nearly impossible as an exercise physiology/pre-med major. The application process was easy, and my admission decision came quite quickly. The staff I spoke with were all so friendly and made the process enjoyable. When deciding on attending the program, I had multiple options for locations and duration, which I also appreciated. The trip was absolutely incredible, from the excursions, to the travel I was able to do on the weekends when we had days off. The experiences I had in the hospitals were also once in a lifetime. Although I came in knowing barely any Portuguese, I realized quickly that medicine is so universal, no matter what language you speak. Some of the doctors were so inviting and helpful in teaching us as much as they could during our time with them. Our site coordinators were also incredibly helpful and accommodating with each and every concern we had. Whenever we had an issue with housing or in the hospitals, they immediately did what they could to fix it. They took our feedback to heart, which was relieving. The Atlantis Fellowship is now an experience I can speak to in my medical school interviews, and thus far, it has been a great speaking point when asked about the experience I have had throughout my college career. I am also now an alumni ambassador, which has been a great way to stay connected to Atlantis Project. It has been a pleasure getting other students interested in the medical field involved with this program. Below I have attached some photos from my Fellowship. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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I loved the Atlantis Project! Getting to go abroad was incredible, but the shadowing experience was unforgettable. I was able to see a variety of specialties and observe anything from emergency room consultations to surgeries. Seeing so many specialties really gave me insight into what I am and am not interested in, in the medical field. I also especially loved our Excursion Days where our amazing Portuguese site managers would take us to see the most popular sights, and even shared some awesome restaurants that only locals know of. I also really appreciated the Pre-Health advising. We had a student from Harvard Medical School sit down with us and help us plan our applications and how to plan out studying for the MCAT. Our group also had the opportunity to participate in ethics seminars where our advisor would discuss ethics issues with us to help prepare us for future Medical School interviews. While the program is pricey, the experience was truly unforgettable and I made some incredible friends along the way.

The Atlantis Project provided me with an experience that left me knowledgable, cultured, and with a lifetime of memories! I shadowed doctors in both clinical and surgical settings, and despite the language barrier there was always someone working hard to help me understand what was happening. I was treated with the utmost respect by those around me at the hospital, and this allowed me to learn even more than I ever have in a classroom setting. On our off days, we got to go on either guided excursions or plan trips of our own. The guided excursions and dinners introduced me to a new world of diversity which ignited a passion in me for travel that I didn't know I had. The free time we had to make our own plans allowed me not only to explore the country but to do so with new, amazing friends that I plan to keep in contact with for a long time! This trip is 100% worth it, it enriched my life in so many ways.

I spent five weeks shadowing doctors in Portugal's largest hospital center, immersing myself in Portuguese language and culture, and meeting a bunch of amazing people! This was a truly valuable experience that I believe strengthened my understanding of international healthcare and my desire to become a physician. In addition, I received very helpful pre-health advising that improved my medical school applications and interview skills. I would highly recommend the Atlantis Project to any pre-health students interested in traveling abroad and getting hands-on hospital experiences.

The Atlantis Project offered the greatest experience I could ever ask for and more. Traveling abroad for the first time was scary, but the best rush I ever felt. The hospital I shadowed in created a wonderful environment for my other fellows and I. for three weeks, I shadowed doctors in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Pediatrics, and Surgery. We had weekly excursions and weekly dinners. My fellows and I bonded for three weeks in Barcelos and also traveled on our own to other bigger cities in Portugal. We all picked up on a few Portuguese sayings and learned the history. We attended museums, historic castles and monuments. I strongly suggest looking into the Atlantis Project, it creates an adventure and a new bound of freedom.