Medical Shadowing in Greece

Hi, my name is Viktor, I am from Reykjavík, Iceland. I study at Reykjavík University. I am here in Athens for a program that has allowed me to observe surgeries at two hospitals in Greece. So first I was at Gennimatas Hospital and now I am at the Metropolitan General. During my time here I have seen approximately thirty-five surgeries. Greece is amazing and Athens is wonderful. I have had a fantastic time here. The culture and everything are very warm. Fully amazing. The team of Cerca Abroad has been incredibly helpful, providing me with all the information I needed throughout what’s happening in the city and where to go. I’ve had an amazing time. Thank you very much.

Hi, my name is Marin, I am from Pennsylvania in the States but I go to school in Arizona, at the University of Arizona where I am a science undergraduate. I wanted to do this program because I wanted to put myself in a position that was very different from what I am used to in the States and find a new way of learning. Everything about this program has been super helpful. Everyone that has met me here during my stay has made sure I was comfortable, made sure I knew where I was going, and was always there if I needed something. I’ve been very happy with this experience. I got to see so many things that I wouldn’t be able to see at my university’s programs, as that would be hands-on procedures. I got all the questions I needed answered from the people that have been working in the field for decades. It has been very enjoyable and I would do this program again.

Hi, my name is Sarah Sewing, I am from Atlanta, Georgia and I am a third year on Missouri State University. I am a premed and I have absolutely enjoyed being in Athens, Greece. The entire Cerca Abroad team and program has been amazing. They helped me out so much and I had the opportunity to scrab in in surgeries which is so cool, definitely something I wouldn’t have the chance to do in the States. So I really enjoyed this program.

Hi, my name is Margaret North. I am a junior at Missouri State; I am on the pre-medicine on studying biology. I absolutely love being in Greece so far. I’ve been here for a week now and I still have a week left. The Circa organization is phenomenal. They are there for anything you need them, they are responsive and they’ll never let you down. The hospital is phenomenal. All the doctors I’ve been able to shadow were incredible and answered all the questions I needed to. I got to explore other specialties that I don’t think I would or had the chance to explore, so that’s been great.

Hi, I am Hayden Gropp, I am from Colorado in the USA. I am in this program because I was interested into anesthesiology and this is one of the programs that they offered. I have been in surgeries and doing different clinics around. Everyone in Cerca has been great in helping out and with any questions I’ve had. I am enjoying Athens a lot. There’s a lot of different places to go visit and I would recommend coming here if you want to be in surgeries all the time.

Hello, my name is Solomon, I am from Dallas, Texas. I picked this program because I wanted to gain a global experience, see similarities and differences on how healthcare works around the world and compared to the US. So I’ve never been in Greece and this is a country I’ve always had in my bucket list. So far it’s been good. I’ve only been here for a couple of days, so I’ve learnt some things I wouldn’t have been able in the US. I have enjoyed the fact that the doctors I have been with so far have provided step by step explanations of what they are doing in the moment. Reception has been great. I wouldn’t have to wait for response from Dennis or for anybody across the Circa Abroad team. I really do appreciate it. I wouldn’t have so far any complaints, so yes.

Hi, my name is Cayley Harris and I am from Alabama. I go to school at the University of Alabama. I chose this program to be able to compare the differences between a private hospital in Greece and a private or even public hospitals in the US, just to see what is different and how everyone work together in a hospital. Also, being in a foreign country and being able to adjust to learn new things. I’ve been here for four weeks. This is my fourth week here. I got to be in cardiology and surgery and this week I was in MOR scans. I think it was fun and interesting to learn different stuff here compared to the US. I’ve been able to go around Athens and explore the city. So this internship in a foreign country is in your list, I would say do it.

Hi, I am Mia Houston, I am from Missouri and go to Missouri State University on a premed, hoping to get myself a neurobiology major. I found this program through girls that were already planning on doing it, and I am so lucky that they’ve told me about it. I’ve actually loved being in Greece so far. I’ve been here for a week and I have one more left. So, I got time to explore, get back to the hospital and have the opportunity to see other specialties that I wouldn’t have originally planned for myself. That really helps me to become a grounded doctor, seeing how a hospital works in every aspect of it. So this is just an amazing opportunity and I would definitely recommend it.

Hi, my name is Dobby Baum. I am from New York and I am currently a senior premed. I chose this program because I wanted to have something extra on my medical school application, something different, out of the box. Here in Greece what was unique was that I actually go to the OR and actually scrub into surgery which I don’t know if I would have this opportunity in New York, so that was very cool. The people here are very friendly and nice. I am Jewish and I actually went here to the Jewish community, so that was really nice, I got to meet some people and it was nice overall.

Hi, my name is Nada Hijou and I am from Massachusetts and that’s where I go to school. And I am here in Athens with this program and I just want to say that love it. It’s been one of the best programs I’ve ever been in. It shows just a lot. Currently what I’ve been doing is shadowing surgery. It’s been such an incredible experience because I got to be in surgery which I wouldn’t have been able to do that in America. As well as sometimes I’ve been scrubbing as well. I was just in a heart surgery so that was the best thing I’ve seen in my entire life. It was an open heart actually as far as I remember. From there it was insane because at that point I never got to see that in person but I have always learnt about it, so, to see that was incredible. Athens is an amazing place to stay. You are so close ti the islands. You can reach from here if you want to go. Also the night life here is phenomenal. I love Athens and this program here and I would definitely recommend it.

Hi, my name is Simrin Rajani and I go to the Virginia Polytechnic. I chose this program because I would want to see how a hospital works and get some hands on experience. I was also able to travel, that’s why I came here to Greece. So far I love it. It’s been great. I got to see a lot of surgery. Especially spinal surgeries have been very interesting to me because I want to go into neurology. I also got to the neurology department which has also been extremely interesting and I am going back there today. Other than that, the coordination has been great, no problems at all. We’ve had a great time here. Athens has been great. We are going on an island tomorrow. I’ve seen acropolis; we’ve had a great time. So, everything has been great so far.

Hi, I am Laura, I am from Canada and I chose this internship because I am interested in medicine and I really enjoyed it so far. There’s been a lot of shadowing through this experience, I’ve seen certain operations, I’ve visited some patients and everyone has been really nice to me. The coordination was well done. The culture was amazing.

Hi, my name is Britney Black, I am a master’s student at Montclair State University, studying cancer biology. I chose to shadow an intern at the Metropolitan General at Athens in Greece, because I wanted to learn about medicine in different cultures and through a different perspective of how treatment is across the world. During my time here I was able to watch a brain tumor being taken out. I was very pleased with the hospitality of the Greeks here. They allowed me to understand from a very personal way that I would never have had the experience in the US. So it was very good for that. I have spent a lot of my time in Athens in Cafes and I loved that because back home I would have to drive like fifty minutes to get to Starbucks. I am really happy on how everything is so close, I got to see the Acropolis. The program coordinators were really nice. When I needed them for anything they would always be there.

Hi everyone, I am Sara Herz, I am a recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. I got my degrees in Biology, Psychology and Chemistry. I am here in Athens, Greece on a scholarship from my college, which I am very grateful for. I picked Athens so that I would be able to meet a bunch of different people and the opportunity to intern in a hospital. Everyone here has done exactly what they were instructed to do, I really appreciate all of their help. I couldn’t have asked for a better internship and I would recommend this to anyone.

Hi, my name is Tashir Balard, I am from New Jersey and I came to this program because I basically wanted to see the coacher in a different country and see how they work in a hospital and see the technology and gain a different experience how they do it here, outside the US. Besides that, I am an undergraduate student in biochemistry and here in Athens is a very nice place, the people were really helpful. For example, I’ve had trouble with the metro and they have helped me very easily. They are very nice. During my time at the hospital I saw so many surgeries, I also saw a spinal fusion which is a very hard surgery- approximately nine hours- it was really good. I watched a brain tumor surgery. Today I am at the kidney analysis. The program itself is really nice. The directors are here for you when you need them. They are really one text away. Yes, great time.

Hi, I am Nikita and I come from the University of Newcastle, Australia. I did this program as part of my placement fee at the University. It has been amazing. I’ve seen so many different departments and surgeries. Greece itself is absolutely incredible; so many things to see and do. And the staff was also amazing.

Hi, I am Zoe, I am a graduate from the University South Florida. I chose this internship because I wanted to explore a new city and shadow doctors. The program directors here have been amazing. They would accommodate our every need. My favorite thing was that I’ve been able to see the actual surgeries and stand in the rooms. Athens is absolutely beautiful and I think everyone should visit Athens at least once.

Hi, I am Filomila Mouzouraki, I live here in Greece. I chose this program as an aspiring doctor. It gave me the opportunity to visit different specialties and give me a sense of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I also chose this program because it gave me the opportunity to meet new people and exchange information, experiences and generally just laugh with people from all over the world- because that’s really exciting for me. As far as the program is concerned, I fell in love with surgery and the OR, because it is an opportunity I don’t think I could have anywhere else. The coordinators were so nice. I would totally recommend- five out of five stars. They are easy to communicate with and they would give you the advice and the help you need, just one text away. So, it’s cool. And, as a Greek, I will say that Athens is cool as well.

Hi, my name is Anna Passas, I am a nursing student at the Northeastern University. I’m here, in Greece, for the medical internship. I chose Greece partly to practice my Greek and also to working at a hospital in Boston I wanted to compare to how it’s here in Athens. It’s been really great having time to explore and see Athens. See the cultural differences, the food, and also my program was very accommodating. I told them I was interested in cardiology, so they made an effort to show me everything related to cardiology in the hospital. So it’s been awesome, really great

Hi, my name is Shanice Ramdeen. I am a medical student in the University of the West Indies. I chose to do this internship in Greece to see the differences between the medical practices in Greece. It has been a wonderful experience. Especially exploring the culture of Greece and I would recommend it to anyone. Thank you.