SUMMER CLINICAL PROGRAMS (PRE-MED / UNIVERSITY / MED STUD)

Philotimo Med Abroad offers the perfect balance of medical learning and cultural experiences. I chose my rotations and shadowed doctors in anesthesiology, radiology, and gastroenterology. The highlight? Watching a live robotic-assisted surgery! Plus, we traveled to Athens, visited ancient temples, and enjoyed authentic Greek cuisine. Stavros was always checking in, making sure we were comfortable and learning as much as possible!

I was amazed by how much surgical exposure I got during my Philotimo Med Abroad experience. I saw an open-heart surgery, an orthopedic knee replacement, and even robotic-assisted general surgeries! The program is in English, and the doctors were so welcoming. Outside the hospital, we explored Greek islands, ancient ruins, and the best cafes. Stavros made sure everything was smooth and stress-free!

Philotimo Med Abroad is truly the best medical shadowing program in Greece! From day one, I was immersed in real hospital settings, observing everything from colonoscopies to trauma surgeries. The robotic-assisted surgeries were next level, showing me the future of medicine. But what made this experience unforgettable were the people—Stavros, the doctors, and my fellow students. We bonded over Greek coffee, late-night gyro runs, and weekend adventures!

If you’re looking for the best pre-med program in Greece, look no further than Philotimo Med Abroad. I got to choose my clinical rotations and saw procedures like endoscopies, orthopedic surgeries, and an open-heart surgery! The program is in English, so I had no trouble learning. But it wasn’t just about medicine—we traveled to Mount Olympus, visited local wineries, and explored beautiful Greek towns. I came back home more motivated than ever!

I enrolled in this program with little shadowing experience and no clear idea of what I wanted to do in the future. My prior academic and research experiences had not given me a clear direction, and the little shadowing I had done had turned me away from pursuing a career in medicine. However, this experience changed everything. The chance to shadow various departments and interact with hospital staff on a personal level revealed a whole new aspect of medicine to me and made me realize that working in a hospital is exactly where I want to be. The experience is vastly different from shadowing in the United States, with a different healthcare system and culture. In addition to professional growth, I also got to travel around Greece and make unforgettable memories with a group of amazing girls. It was the perfect balance of work and play, and I am now confident in my decision to pursue a career in medicine.

The hospital shadowing aspect of the program was really cool. The doctors were all friendly and eager to interact with us. We got opportunities to go to different departments of the hospital and observe many types of surgeries. The shadowing took 5 hours almost every day, so once we finished, we were free for the rest of the day. Our Program Director was really amazing and very helpful. We went on group excursions twice, which were also cool. There were lots of attractions, historical sites, and places to go. The city is 45 minutes from the water, so there are great views. The weather was also really great, it was hot all the time. people in the city all spoke English and were friendly. I highly recommend it!!

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I completed 50 physician shadowing hours through the Philotimo Med Clinical Fellowship at Univ. Hospital in Larissa, Greece. During my last 2 weeks, my experience shadowing physicians 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. I recently applied to medical schools in the United States, and I am currently completing several interviews for admission. When filling out my medical school applications, I described what I learned from my clinical fellowship with Philotimo Med Abroad in Greece and how it reinforced my passion for becoming a physician. This experience is a staple of my pre-med journey. From my clinical fellowship, I know a career in medicine is the only career path that I desire.

My Clinical program for the past 3 weeks in Athens and Larissa was unforgettable. In the hospital, I was exposed to a whole new world of medicine which helped open my eyes to the differences in the healthcare system. The Philotimo Program allowed me to witness surgeries, patient care, behind-the-scenes work, and basic doctor interaction. Outside the hospital, I met individuals with similar passions and goals and created an environment for us to explore a new country together during the weekends. Overall, the Philotimo program was amazing, and I recommend to any premed student.

Shadowing abroad with Philotimo is a great and unique opportunity for anyone interested in a career in the medical field. Getting there was easy as someone was waiting at the airport for us. There was an optional payment plan that worked very well for my needs. Once in the accommodation in Larissa, our group leader gave us a wonderful introduction and orientation that made me feel so welcomed and safe. He showed us around the city and the hospital. All of the staff at the hospital were so welcoming and eager to teach us their ways. They were very open to letting us watch all the procedures and teach us how they work and their purpose. My favorite clinic was Neurology. I recommend Philotimo Med Abroad for future Healthcare workers.

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