I spent 3 weeks on the island of Faial, and I have to say, it was both a meaningful and exhilarating experience. The physicians were more than accommodating, answering questions and explaining their thought processes, all while bridging the language gap.

The other fellows were all highly motivated and exceptionally outgoing, which led to quick friendships and memorable experiences. The local coordinator went above and beyond to ensure not only our safety but also to provide us with unforgettable cultural experiences. The island itself is a beautiful place, filled with wonderful people, delicious food, and breath-taking sights. I highly recommend all pre-health students to apply and experience the Atlantis Project fellowship. Traveling to this beautiful island, is already well worth the trip, but the experiences and insights you gain from the clinical observations will go a long way in preparing you for future endeavors.

This internship program was one of the best experiences I've had as a premed student. I didn't know what to expect going in but my two weeks in Albacete were unforgettable. I shadowed five different medical specialities all the while learning about the

Spanish healthcare system and becoming more proficient in the language. I enjoyed teaching English to doctors while hearing about their lives and I made some connections that I would have never had the chance to otherwise. We also were able to explore our city and surrounding areas through the activities the Atlantis Project planned for us. I will never forget the surgeries, patient interactions, emergency room visits, psychiatry clinic, internal medicine floor, etc that I observed. I have recommended this program to many friends and would encourage anyone considering it as an option to apply!

The Atlantis Project has been the best opportunity I have had for shadowing. I was placed in different departments such as neurology, psychiatry, thoracic surgery, internal medicine and gastroenterology. In these departments I shadowed amazing doctors

who showed me so much, I was able to see things first hand and feel like a resident by their side. I wish i could do it again, Spain was amazing! on the weekends we got to travel wherever we wanted to, and they had amazing activities for us to experience aside from shadowing. The coordinators expect you to be very mature and devoted, so they do not require you to go to the hospital to shadow, but you definitely do not want to miss anything! Best experience ever. Sebastian Garcia (Albacete, Spain Intern 2015)

My time spent shadowing with the Atlantis Project was one of the most beneficial experiences I’ve had as a pre-medical student. I spent an incredible 6 weeks in Spain, during which I was able to see 2 different specialties a week, and each location

offered different options. (Neurosurgery was by far my favorite to see!!) The programs were so easy to jump into and provided weekly group excursions to get to see as much of the culture as possible. The differences between European healthcare and what we have in the United States is so very different that I feel like experiencing it is the best way to understand it. The opportunity this program provides is such an amazing resource for students who want to see a broad range of specialties, something that is hard to do in hospitals here. The living situations were very good, the hotels we were in were nice, air conditioned, and either situated in a place that is easy to come and go or had public transportation nearby that was easy to navigate after a few days. This program puts you out of your comfort zone and encourages you to learn and adjust to life in a foreign place, a trait that will help anyone later on! I made the most amazing friends and I would recommend this program to everyone interested in the medical field!

During the summer following my freshman year of college, I had the opportunity to be a fellow for the Atlantis Project. This life-changing experience taught me many valuable things. From the actual shadowing hospital program to the leisure excursions,

the Atlantis Project planned and executed a flawless experience. The biggest thing that I got out of this fellowship was meeting new and amazing people and experiencing healthcare outside of my own country.

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.

In 2015 I went abroad to Toledo Spain to work amongst other students from all over the United States with the Atlantis Project. During my visit I shadowed many different doctors throughout my three week stay and it was the greatest experience. I created

a great rapport with the doctors as they explained procedures, medical terms, and learned why they loved what they did within each of their respective fields. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in the health care field!

Of course I was hesitant about paying quite a bit of money for a shadowing experience...but I can honestly say that I have no regrets whatsoever. Pursuing the opportunity presented to me by the Atlantis Project gave me an exposure to clinical settings

that I would have had an EXTREMELY hard time trying to receive here in America. After six weeks with the program, I could honestly say that I had fallen in love with surgery and even had some idea about what specialties I might be interested in. So--if you're hesitant, believe me when I say that it was worth every bit!

I was an Atlantis Project Fellow in Faial, during the July 2015 track. This was a great experience where I spent a lot of time getting medical experience, through shadowing and speaking with physicians who provided great insight in the medical field.

Our days started out with breakfast in the hospital and were followed by a 5-6 hour day getting exposure to different departments in the hospital. I was able to shadow in Radiology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery; all of which, gave me a new perspective on the way physicians live and work. During our off times, much time was spent on the beach and getting to know our team members and grounds coordinator. Luis, the coordinator, planned dinner for us 2, sometimes 3, nights a week and this was time for bonding. Along with the dinner there were "excursions" where the team could explore the culture and the adventure the island had to offer. My overall experience with the Atlantis Project was fantastic and extremely beneficial to my future in medicine.

Traveling to Toledo, Spain is such an immersive and incredible learning experience in itself. The city has so much history, and so many beautiful sights, like many of the cities in Spain. Traveling here with students from various places throughout the

US ( and Canada) provided me familiar ground to stand on, while showing me that I had so much more to learn about my own country as well as the one I was visiting. Shadowing doctors, some of them world renown, of more than 10 specialties over 3 weeks opened my eyes to so many things. Immersion in culture and language to this extent can be a difficult and intimidating process. However, the Atlantis Project administration and the Hospital staff helped to make it seamless, and approachable. The fellows were welcomed with open arms, welcomed any and all questions, and were always willing to stop and explain things. Teaching the Hospital staff added yet another incredible aspect of this trip, allowing fellows to give back to the community which had accepted them so graciously. I have never learned so many different things at such a rapid pace in my life, and have never seen so much beauty as this trip revealed to me.

When I saw the email about this project through an undergrad on campus organization, I thought that it was a scam because I was skeptical about how a program this unique and engaging would exist. I was wrong. This program helped me realize the multitude

of incredible fields medicine has to occur, and has pushed me to switch my focus from clinical work to surgery, which is something I've never thought I would do. The freedom that the doctors provide you with shadowing them is impeccable and unparalleled to anything I've done. Interning at one of the best hospitals in Spain amidst doctors who were passionate to teach students and who were eager to learn English from us was a very humbling experience. They were patient with us as we were with them. They let us see so many things up close and personal (we followed all ethical codes set by AAMC, so everything was legitimate). Although this program provides no hands on work like medical mission trips, the shadowing was so robust and incredible that it didn't matter. I personally got to see more than 10 different surgeries, including one open heart surgery. During the procedures, the doctors were lecturing us on techniques and anatomy and happily encouraged us to come take a closer look. I know that this will sound cliche, but this program has changed my life and I would recommend it to anyone to is interested in medical internships abroad.

I found the Atlantis Project one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was able to combine my love for learning new cultures and medicine into a unfortunately short one month. I found myself communicating with doctors well with my three years

of Spanish education or in English. I was able to explore both the town I stayed in and other parts of Spain. This program gave me new experiences I never could have seen in America as I was able to talk to medical students and the locals. I recommend it to anyone who wishes to enter the healthcare field.

I spent 3 weeks on the island of Faial, and I have to say, it was both a meaningful and exhilarating experience. The physicians were more than accommodating, answering questions and explaining their thought processes, all while bridging the language gap.

The other fellows were all highly motivated and exceptionally outgoing, which led to quick friendships and memorable experiences. The local coordinator went above and beyond to ensure not only our safety but also to provide us with unforgettable cultural experiences. The island itself is a beautiful place, filled with wonderful people, delicious food, and breath-taking sights. I highly recommend all pre-health students to apply and experience the Atlantis Project fellowship. Traveling to this beautiful island, is already well worth the trip, but the experiences and insights you gain from the clinical observations will go a long way in preparing you for future endeavors.

This past summer, I interned in Ourense, Spain for two weeks. Before I arrived, I was extremely hesitant about interning in a foreign country where I did not know how the administrators of the program would be, or how the program, itself, would be. I

was worried about safety, whether or not I would be culturally immersed, or if I would actually be getting experience in a European healthcare setting. From the minute I arrived, I knew this was the right program for me. The coordinators were kind and informative, we started exploring from day 1, and the next day, we went right to work. The number of rotations one went through depended upon the length of stay. In my two week fellowship, I experienced six different specialties! What was even better was that we even had the chance to give back to the community. After spending the day in the hospital, we would explore the town and nearby cities, and on the weekends, I was able to travel to nearby countries as well! I made life-long connections, friends, was able to experience the culture of Ourense, and most importantly, I was able to properly experience European healthcare. Two weeks were definitely not enough, and I can't wait to go back! Experience this for yourself...it isn't something you want to miss!

Last December, I had an opportunity to visit Horta, on the Azorean island of Faial. It was an incredibly immersive and productive internship, not to mention extremely well-organized. The Atlantis Project did a wonderful job of providing us fellows with

lots of valuable shadowing time, but also lots of free time to explore the island, get to know other fellows and the locals, and go on many beautiful hikes. Despite not speaking the language, I learned a lot from the doctors and surgeons I shadowed at the Hospital Da Horta. Most of the staff were able to communicate with the fellows in English, and always took time to explain the procedures going on. Apart from the medical experience, it was truly a remarkable opportunity to not only immerse ourselves in a different culture, but also to visit such beautiful and remote islands. From the breathtaking hikes, to climbing a volcano, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, that I feel especially fortunate to have been able to complete. It has not only affirmed my desire to pursue medicine, but has allowed me the chance to experience so much more than any other internship I have completed!

The Atlantis Project is for college students interested in the health field and shadowing, as well as traveling and experiencing Spain for 3, 6, or 9 weeks. I was in Spain for a total of 6 weeks- 3 weeks in A Coruna, a city on the northern coast of Spain

near Portugal, and 3 weeks in Toledo, in central Spain near Madrid. The core experience of the Atlantis Project program was shadowing- the other Atlantis Project fellows and I were in the hospital M-F from 8-3 each day, in roughly two different departments per week. In A Coruña, I shadowed in plastic surgery, rheumatology, digestive, cardiology, anatomic pathology, ENT (ears nose throat), and pulmonology. In Toledo, I was in Pediatrics, ICU, Mastocytosis (the only department for this disease in the country), Internal Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, and Radiology. I, like many others, have had my doubts about the pre-med life, but luckily this experience has definitely helped solidify my interest in medicine. The other parts of the experience: -Teaching English a few times a week in private lessons with a student (adult medical professionals with varying levels of English experience) to whom we were assigned -Pre-paid planned travel excursions on Wednesdays post-hospital, and all day on Sunday, and free time on Saturday -As a personal pursuit alongside the program experience, I prepared research reports about Spanish healthcare for Rice, by way of conducting several interviews with different doctors, residents, and leaders I am unbelievably fortunate to have had this opportunity and to have gained so much from it. Though I only was abroad for 6 weeks, every day was packed with activities, lessons, memories, and fun!

Before traveling to A Coruna, Spain this summer through the Atlantis Project I was very worried about living in a foreign country for an extended period of time with people that I had never met. Little did I know that this experience would forever shape

my passion for medicine and that I would meet such a talented and smart group of people! The doctors in Spain were more than happy to work with us, and we were able to shadow a variety of procedures and surgeries which helped me decide what specialties I may be interested in practicing. I will never forget the kindness of the Spanish people and all of the beautiful excursions we went on through the towns, coasts, and forests in and around A Coruna. But most of all I will never forget the other fellows that I met and all of the adventures that we had, and I hope to catch up with them soon!

I participated in one of Atlantis Project's five week programs. I spent 3 weeks in Toledo, Spain and 2 weeks in Albacete. We spent five days per week shadowing doctors of various specialties. In addition to this we usually went on one or two cultural

adventures each week. One day per weekend we would embark on group trips to nearby cities where activities would be planned for us. These trips were always a great time!! I highly encourage anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of global healthcare or anyone looking for a fun and unique opportunity to check out Atlantis Project!!!

This past summer, I spent two weeks in Ourense, Spain and three weeks in Terceira, Azores. It was absolutely the most incredible five weeks of my life. The things I experienced in the Atlantis Project were irreplaceable. I stood two feet away from

C-sections, leg amputations, and emergency heart revivals. The adventures I had in and outside of the hospitals were incredible. It absolutely confirmed my desire to become a physician as well as to continue travelling my entire life.

I was nervous and anxious, but beyond excited to be going abroad to learn about Healthcare in Spain. This past summer, as a participant in the Atlantis Project Program, I spent 3-weeks shadowing doctors in Cuenca, Spain. As a Nursing major, the experience

provided an interesting perspective and platform for me to learn and teach others about what Nursing IS. The staff at the hospital could not have been more welcoming or excited to teach. I was able to gain exposure to surgical procedures and a wide variety of hospital units. Besides the hospital experience, my peers who accompanied me on the trip were exceedingly friendly, and genuinely fun people. I loved getting to know other future healthcare providers from a variety of locations around the US (and I still keep in contact with some of them). During my three week experience, I also made day trips to see Toledo, Valencia and Madrid. Spain is such a beautiful country, with beautiful, welcoming people. The vivacity of the environment that I was surrounded with was incredible and I would love to go back to Spain. This program was a great asset in increasing my knowledge of, and confidence in healthcare and I gush about it all the time to friends, family and anyone I know looking to pursue a career in Nursing or Medicine.

I was placed in Albacete and I absolutely loved it! I did not only have a great hospital experience but I learned a lot on the history of Albacete too! It was truly an amazing experience. Everyone is so nice and welcoming, they make you feel right at

home! I

There is no other opportunity like the Atlantis Project. As a fellow I was able to immerse myself not only into a different culture than my own but also in the hospital culture which is so vital during your pre-health education. Being in the operating

room was an experience I will never forget and would likely not have been able to have in the states. My first day in the Pediatric unit confirmed for me that I wanted to do this first the rest of my life. Not only are you having these crucial internship experiences but you are also getting to know a whole lifestyle other than your own. Time off from the hospital was free to truly vacation and site see with your fellows. The Atlantis Project coordinated everything for me as a fellow including really nice hotel accommodations, and tours. I want all pre-health students to be able to have the same awesome experience!

This summer, I completed a four week medical internship in the beautiful European country, Spain. This experience was truly enriching because it has allowed me to shape my perspective on the future and has given me valuable experiences and connections

to European medical professionals. Moreover, I was able to experience the culture and to hone my Spanish speaking and communication skills. This opportunity has truly influenced my perspective on both the medical field and the world at large. I believe that my study abroad trip has allowed me to gain many skills that will be essential for my future success as a student and future health care professional.

My time spent in Toledo, Spain was well worth the hard work it took to get there! Most of my time was spent shadowing surgery, and on the first day I had the opportunity to jump right into trauma surgery. For some time I have been debating whether or

not I wanted to pursue a career in surgery, and the shadowing experience provided by the Atlantis Project reinforced my motivation to aim for that goal! I could not have asked for a better experience with my fellow fellows, the medical professionals, the wonderful people of Spain, the atmosphere and the professionals at Atlantis Project that made it all possible. Just be prepared for the heat!

The Atlantis Project offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you truly won’t want to miss! For three incredible weeks, I was able to fully immerse myself in the medical field by observing various physicians in the Azores Islands, Portugal.

The doctors I followed specialized in pulmonology, internal medicine, pediatrics, urology, gastroenterology, and surgery. Through the Atlantis Project, I was able to experience, first-hand, what it actually means to be a doctor by observing all of these different professions. The number of things I was able to see in three short weeks, along with the diversity of it all, was absolutely exceptional. The European health-care system also gave me the chance to experience things I would not have been able to here in the U.S. The cultural aspect of the program (food, language, side-trips, etc.) was also a big highlight, and opened my eyes to a whole new way of life. The flexibility offered also made sure everyone was satisfied with the program, and was able to experience everything they wanted to. It was after this program that I finally decided I wanted to become a doctor, so I owe the Atlantis Project big-time. Go apply! Have the most amazing experience of your life! I promise they won’t disappoint!

I absolutely loved my experience in the Azore Islands of Portugal. It was something amazing that words cannot describe. I enjoyed the scenery and learning about the history of whale watching. The people of the Azores were very humble and polite. My shadowing

in the European Healthcare Hospital "Hospital Da Horta Epe" was highly educational and very interesting. If you are considering this program for studying abroad, I encourage you to do so. It is an experience to have once in a lifetime.

I was placed in Albacete, which was a pleasant surprise. The living accommodations were amazing - the room was spacious, we had access to a plethora of facilities, and we were close to important buildings (hospital, mall, restaurants, nightlife). I learned

a great deal about medicine during my time here as well - I shadowed a different specialty every 2-3 days, and the AP Program Coordinator tried his best to ensure that I could see the specialties I wanted to see. The language barrier was not an issue at all - although doctors had difficulty understanding my English, my Spanish was passable, and they responded in English that I could easily understand. Physicians went above and beyond in answering my questions and ensuring that I learned as much as I could. BASE5 was fun - I loved sitting down and having conversations with doctors in English. Other AP interns were great as well - I got really close with everyone there really quickly (as we had adequate time to hang out), and we still stay in touch back in the U.S. I was much younger than everyone there, but I felt like I had a family.

Interning abroad with the Atlantis Project was an all-around wonderful experience. For seven weeks I spent 5+ hours each day shadowing doctors and observing treatment. I was exposed to 12 specialties and learned a lot about medicine, patient care and

the Spanish health care system. Outside of the hospital I was well cared for, had plenty of support from program coordinators and had time to explore and travel. I was thoroughly impressed with the organization of the program and I will never forget the things I saw or the people I met while traveling abroad with AP.

Atlantis Project gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture while shadowing doctors and gaining experience in the European Healthcare system. It was an amazing opportunity for me to find my strengths in the career choice I have picked.

Not only that, I was able to meet wonderful new people from different states in the U.S. and amazing doctors in the Albacete University Hospital in southern Spain. Atlantis Project is a very flexible program that grants many year-round opportunities to visit Spain and/or Portugal and get to know doctors of different specialties. I got to see first hand the medical environment and was allowed to rotate between the various areas of the hospital from ICU to psychiatry. Not only that I was able to partake in cultural involvements that were very well organized by our local program coordinator. From the very beginning the Atlantis Project allows to envision yourself in a whole new environment, independently exploring what it is like to be a healthcare professional. This is a very well organized program for many healthcare individuals that wish to expand their knowledge of what the career choice requires and what it can be like outside of one's own local healthcare system. For me it was comparing the U.S. versus the European styles and finding my strengths in Intensive Care Unit to be better than psychiatry perhaps.

While stationed in Guadalajara, Spain, I experienced over one hundred hours of shadowing as I rotated through Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, Neurology, Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Vascular Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Anatomic Pathology, and Gynecology!

The cultural immersion extended well beyond our weekly group dinners tasting Spanish food, city exploration and shopping, and weekend excursions to Toledo and Madrid as I connected with the hospital faculty and learned more about global healthcare. I made some incredible friends, both from the program and the local hospital and brought home some amazing stories and experiences. This was an amazing traveling and learning experience that I would again if I ever had the opportunity.

My five weeks in Toledo and Ourense with the Atlantis Project were some of the best of my life. From the minute I arrived, everything was well-thought out and flexible enough for me to get the most out of my experience in Spain. On our first day in

the hospital, I was able to shadow GI surgeons who were extremely engaging. They would stop what they were doing to explain to me and the fellow I was with why they were doing what they were. They always made sure we were able to see, whether it was bringing us right up to the table or finding things for us to stand on. That first rotation set the tone for the rest of the shadowing rotations I went through, as the doctors seemingly became more and more friendly. What was so unique about this program was that the doctors we shadowed were just as interested in learning about us/the U.S. as we were about their fields of medicine. They took genuine interest in us while we were with them. Beyond the shadowing experiences, the AP sets up excursions for you to go on. In my 5 weeks, I traveled to Segovia to see the Roman aqueduct, went to a winery to learn how wine is made, jumped off a cliff (and into a body of water) in Portugal, and hiked through the Ribeira Sacra. These are optional events, but why wouldn't you want to go adventuring with people who become some of your closest friends? The AP offers it all, from the shadowing to the excursions to teaching doctors English to refining your Spanish or Portuguese. I can't recommend participating in one of its immersive programs enough to anyone still on the fence.

I found the Atlantis Project when I was looking for a way to study abroad during the summer. I read the reviews, watched videos, and decided that this was the program for me. The application process was incredibly easy and the Atlantis Project coordinators

were quick to respond to all my questions and concerns. There was pre-trip online orientation which talked about things I had not even thought about (including NOT being able to bring my hairdryer overseas). I interned in Ourense, a city in the northwest region of Spain, Galicia. The fellows stayed in a hotel in the heart of the city. We ate breakfast in a chocolateria next to our hotel. After breakfast, we caught the city bus to the hospital with a bus card, provided to us by Atlantis Project. Monday through Friday, we shadowed for around six hours, every day. I shadowed in two specialties a week. In my two week stay in Ourense, I shadowed in cardiology, angiology/vascular surgery, the intensive care unit, and obstetrics/gynecology. The doctors were incredibly friendly, eager to tell me about their lives and learn about mine. I had some of the most unforgettable experiences while shadowing. I watched Conan during some downtime in cardiology, because this was how one doctor practiced his English. I sang "American Pie" in an operating room with two vascular surgeons. I watched multiple births. I saw emergency procedures take place in the intensive care unit. In addition to learning about different specialties, I learned about the Spanish healthcare system from doctors and patients alike. I practiced my Spanish and helped doctors with their English in lessons after shadowing. In our downtime after shadowing and teaching English or on the weekends, we explored. I ran with a bull. I ate squid. I watched an American jazz band play in a small Spanish bar. I toured monasteries older than most nations and wineries that had been passed down for generations. I got in lost in a city that I quickly fell in love with and experienced a culture unlike anything I had ever known. If you are looking for a study abroad program where you learn about different medical specialties, experience a different culture, and ultimately, have a blast, the Atlantis Project is for you.

First of all, Spain is an amazing country. Second, the Atlantis Project is an amazing program. Together? You have the most memorable summer. Before even leaving the country, I was sent a schedule giving me an idea of what I will be doing each day, and

how to navigate my way through the Spanish train system. I arrived into my living residence to snacks and maps of the city I would be staying! I couldn't believe how well organized the whole thing was. During the days I got to shadow doctors of different specialties. This included observing surgeries! All the doctors are nice, respectful, and always willing to explain anything. All while learning about the different specialties of medicine, you get to make new friends and enjoy the beauty of Spain! Between group dinners and taking side trips together, I couldn't have asked for a better group of fellows. Honestly, this was a great program to get real experience in medicine.

Participating in the Atlantis Project internship this summer was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I spent 4 weeks in the island of Sao Miguel and 2 weeks in Guadalajara Spain. For the internship experience itself, I got to shadow doctors in all

different departments including surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, radiology, nephrology and cardiology. The doctors are really friendly and speak pretty good english. They are eager to teach you and you get to see a lot more than you would get to see in a hospital in the US. The other activities we got to do were amazing as well. We visited natural hot springs in the Azores and swam in the water, we took a boat out to an islet and hiked through mountains. in Spain we visited local museums and went kayaking in river rapids The food was wonderful as well and we were able to sample a lot of different local cuisine. Saturday's are you free day to explore the city (or country) for yourself and get the most out of your trip.I highly recommend this internship for any pre-med or pre-public health student who wants to travel but also wants to get good shadowing experience at the same time.

Spain is such an incredible country full of beautiful people who are truly so kind. I had an amazing opportunity this summer (July 2015) to go to Guadalajara, Spain (1 hr from Madrid by train) to shadow and observe many different specialties. It was truly

an unforgettable experience. When I first landed in the Madrid airport, it was extremely large and overwhelming. However, I am the type of person who does not have a lot of fears when I travel. I love new experiences and visiting new countries. I knew maybe five words in Spanish and did not know much about Spanish culture. The program did provide very specific details on how to get from the airport to the program site. It was extremely useful, but there is only so much information can do. The next part is very much up to the individual to seek out help from locals (who were extremely kind) and do the best you can. Luckily, I found a few other Atlantis fellows by overhearing some conversations spoken in English. Together, we were able to get to the correct train station in Madrid (Atocha) and get to our respective program locations. It was fine once I was in Guadalajara because my program coordinator (who I became so fond of) was waiting for me. She was waiting for me at the train station and paid for the cab ride (as they indicate) and brought me to the dormitories. Each program site will look different, but the one in Guadalajara was a college dormitory. However, because it was summer the students were on break and we were able to use the facility. It was not extremely nice (relatively speaking), but it was still a safe haven by the end of the trip. I did not encounter any bugs or anything like that but it is a bit older of a facility. They changed my sheets every week and provided breakfast Monday-Friday. The breakfast is the same every day, but you become appreciative by the end of it. If you are the high maintenance type, I recommend you also learn what it's like for other nations to live, even if they are considered an affluent, developed nation. It is important to immerse yourself in all settings and learn from any type of environment, in my opinion. Each day we went to the hospital 8-3pm and we normally took the bus which was about a 10 min walk form the dorms. A bus card was provided for us and the walk was very easy (slight incline). The town of Guadalajara is very quaint and pretty. It is not a large town, but there are still a few things to see. There is a mall near the hospital that the students would often visit after their time at the hospital. At the hospital, we had two rotations per week. I was in Guadalajara for 4 weeks and was assigned up to 8 specialties. However, there were certain specialties that the other fellows were more interested in and if the coordinator thought it was fit, you could re-arrange the specialties that you really desired to have, but were not assigned to. This time was so valuable to me and I will cherish this for the rest of my career. The Spanish doctors are so incredible that I do not even know where to begin in describing them. A few relationships I was able to make were with a few anesthesiologists, the chief of nephrology and an oncologist. Personally, I am not interested in a surgical specialty at all, and so when I was assigned to anesthesia, I did not think it would be one bit exciting. However, I tried to keep an open mind about it and I was able to learn so much. The anesthesiologist I was assigned to was a very young doctor. It was only her 2nd or 3rd year as an attending but she was in her 20s. She was so friendly even though her English was very limited. In the operating room, there is a lot of time with anesthesiologists that you have to wait. So it was a perfect opportunity to talk to the doctor and learn from them. She explained the healthcare system in Spain and what it entails. It is so different from the U.S. and there are aspects that the U.S. healthcare system should adopt. The doctor was always keen on showing me what the surgery was about. She did not know the specifics about each operation because she is not a surgeon, but she would share all the knowledge of the procedures she could with me. I have never felt so personally mentored by a doctor that I had just met. I was able to show my enthusiasm each morning with her that she even invited me to come on other days and to observe an on-call shift. With the approval of my coordinator, I was able to do all of these things. I can list so many different interactions I had with each doctor that I was observing, but this review would never end. I have so much to say about each doctor that I truly do not know where to begin. I still keep in touch with many of the doctors from Spain that I met. The Chief of Nephrology was so encouraging. He gave me words of wisdom and things I can do to improve as a pre-medical student. Still to this day, when he responds to my emails, he always says that he believes in me and affirms me to tell me that I will become a great doctor. It is these kinds of relationships that I was able to build, which became invaluable experiences to me. The Chief of Nephrology told me that he would love to hear about my pre-medical journey to the end and even when I am able to earn my own degree for him to know how my practice is going. I was so encouraged by him. No doctor has ever shown me that kind of faith that I can accomplish everything I want to. Of course there were specialties that were not as exciting, but I always kept an open mind and I have been able to learn something even from the less exciting specialties. In addition to the invaluable hospital experiences I was able to gather, there were always two cultural immersion activities a week. These were optional (but they are included in the program fee, so it is recommended to attend them) and with the entire group. My group had about 13 students, including myself and so it was a very manageable size group to go around with. These times were very fun and I learned a lot about Central Spain. We always had a tour guide. In Europe tour guides are highly acclaimed and have to have a lot of education and usually have several masters in different areas such as religion, geography, politics, etc. These highly educated tour guides would explain the history of the areas we visited and it was very informational and fun to hear from a Spanish tour guide. The dinners we had were pretty excellent. There were 3 (maybe 4) a week and there would always be so much food that I would nearly burst. Additionally, on the weekends, a lot of people would travel by train to different parts of Spain. I went to Valencia with a few of my friends that I made in the program and it was a very fun weekend. Another weekend I spent on-call with the anesthesiologists and another weekend, I was able to visit Madrid (an incredible city). The last weekend I went to Madrid again to shadow a pediatric oncology (my dream specialty) in one of the major hospitals in the city. They did not have pediatric oncologists in Guadalajara. Even this opportunity only came through the Chief of Nephrology who was able to set me up with his friend in Madrid to go and observe. There, I was even offered a research position if ever came back to Spain in an oncology lab. I was so amazed at how eager they are to partner with global health partners. They are so passionate about making medicine globally united to overcome diseases quicker and more efficiently. These opportunities all came from efforts of getting to know the doctors I was shadowing and sharing the interests that I have. Before this review turns into any longer of an essay, I will say that every penny was worth this program. I am thankful to the Atlantis Project for what it was able to provide for me. It is not a perfect program but it is very invaluable to partake as a fellow at the Atlantis Project. I would highly recommend this program to any pre-medical student. Experiencing European healthcare has never been so rewarding.

You may be looking at doing this experience simply to get an advantage of getting into medical school or something similar, but this was an amazing life experience and you should do it regardless of whether it'll help you get into med school or not! Being

immersed in the culture of Spain in Albacete was incredible - my group would regularly go get tapas, went on trips around town, saw some beautiful nature, and even saw a bull fight. This is not to mention even working in the hospital, where I got so much experience practicing my Spanish and witnessed so many interesting medical cases, which is especially notable because you rotate specialties every couple days so you really get to see a wide variety of things. All in all, it was a ton of fun and I felt that I learned a lot about the culture, medicine, and European healthcare, so I'd definitely recommend this to anyone!

My month in A Coruña this summer was one of the most holistically productive and enjoyable experiences I have had abroad. I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life and this was one of the best trips I have ever been on. The Atlantis Project

did an incredible job of combining an extensive and rigorous work day with free time and planned activity. They did an amazing job of exposing us to both the healthcare and cultural differences between Europe and the United States. We learned firsthand from our Base5 English lessons and travel within the country about the history and culture and benefited greatly from hands-on clinical experience. AP in Coruña, or any other city, is a great and totally worthwhile experience for any pre-medical student or avid traveler.

Over the past two summers, I spent a total of 7 weeks between La Laguna, Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain and Ourense in the Galicia region of Spain. I enjoyed every minute of my time with AP and I cannot say enough good things about the program.

The idea of the program is to give students firsthand observational experience across all types of medicine in hospitals. Over the course of 7 weeks, I spent time shadowing plastic surgeons, the ICU doctors, thoracic surgeons, dermatologists, anatomic pathologists, neurosurgeons, and hematologists. Not only did the Atlantis Project help me to decide once and for all that healthcare was the field I wanted to go into, but it also helped me figure out which areas of healthcare interest me the most. Not only was I able to spend several hours a day doing rounds with doctors, sitting in on consults, and watching surgeries, but at the end of the day I also participated in Base 5. Base 5 was a fantastic way to give back to the community of doctors that had been so generous to let the interns follow them everywhere. Essentially, this program was an English immersion style class, where depending on the level of English the students are capable of, is lecture or discussion based. It was a very rewarding experience sharing my knowledge with the doctors after they had shared so much with me. Additionally, it was so interesting to speak with the doctors informally about their perspective on universal public healthcare as compared to the private system. Outside of the "work" part of the internship, students participate in group activities several days a week, and there are always at least 2 group meals per day. Group activities consisted of hiking, exploring new towns, going to festivals, or hanging out at the beach. The cultural immersion in Spain was very interesting! Depending on the site, some students are housing in university dorms - I loved this style of housing, as it really helped all of us assimilate into life in Spain, as the full time students who lived in the dorm were so friendly and eager to show us the best parts of their town. Not only was all of this incredibly enjoyable, but navigating life in a foreign country really brought the group together. I think the part of the Atlantis Project that was the most rewarding was the relationships I was able to make during my time with AP. I met some great doctors, and the other interns in my group are some of the most genuine, intelligent, fun, and overall fantastic people I know, and we still all talk regularly to stay in touch. Meeting lifelong friends is priceless, so I highly recommend the Atlantis Project.

I was lucky enough to participate in the Atlantis Project European Shadowing Program this past summer in A Coruña, Spain. I would HIGHLY encourage students to look into applying for the program. I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life and

made friends that will last a lifetime. Each day was spent shadowing phenomenal doctors and teaching english to both residents and attending physicians. Over the summer I gained a better sense of what the daily life of a physician is like and what I may want to pursue a career in in the future. The doctors were wonderful and always willing to teach. Cultural Excursions are also provided each week allowing the Fellows to learn about their new home country during their time abroad. We were also able to teach English to give back to the hospital a few days a week, which was amazing. I know that going forward with my medical school applications in the next year I will be able to discuss both medical and ethical aspects of what I learned in essays and interviews as well have several great anecdotes to share.

If you're looking for a program where you can observe a variety of specialties in a hospital based setting, then you're looking in the right direction. Atlantis Project went above and beyond my expectations and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who

has interest in the healthcare field. Specialties range from internal medicine to vascular angioplasty surgery and no matter where you are placed during the week, there is always something new to learn. I can honestly say that those 4-weeks I have spent in Ourense, Spain have been the best 4-weeks of my life. This program was undoubtedly a life changing experience as well as a lifelong investment. Not only was I able to shadow eight different European healthcare specialties, but I was also able to create life long friendships with both students and physicians alike. Alongside the hospital, the coordinators were always there to guide you along the way. From group dinners to group excursions, the coordinators were the impeccable and went out of their way to accommodate your needs. Atlantis project caters to mostly pre-med students, however as a nursing student myself, I gained an incredible amount of knowledge that I would not have been able to obtain in the United States otherwise. But don't take my word for it. Experience it yourself and see what I'm talking about. I guarantee you won't regret it.