Typically, when a pre-med student thinks about their summers, they see limited options. They know they have to gain shadowing, clinical, and volunteer experience, but there just never seems to be enough time to do all of them during the school year. There is also a preconceived notion that in order to be a successful pre-med, you are limited in the traveling you can do during summer break because you have to gain experience. While that is the traditional route (and there is nothing wrong with it), I am happy to share that there is a way you can do both! 

Harvard College partners with an Atlantis, a company that facilitates opportunities for students to shadow abroad. Through the program, Harvard students are fully funded to travel to the program site and spend 8 weeks rotating through different hospital specialties, gaining at least 160 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) compliant shadowing hours in total. The program also focuses on cultural immersions and includes group meals and excursions to ensure that students get the most out of their summer abroad experience. In the past, the program has been conducted in Portugal during June and July, with four weeks in one location and 4 weeks in another.

I participated in the program this summer, and I am incredibly impressed with the program and the experiences it fosters! My program consisted of 4 weeks in Coimbra, Portugal, and 4 weeks in Lisbon, Portugal with 7 other Harvard College students. This provided me with the opportunity to meet peers of all academic years and form great friendships that provide mutual support on our pre-med journey. 

My main takeaways from the program are as follows - 

1. Passion for Healthcare transcends language barriers! While the Atlantis program does an incredible job at matching students up with physicians who speak English, that does not completely eliminate the language barrier. Healthcare professionals, regardless of the language they speak, are propelled by an intrinsic passion for caring for others. This connection goes beyond words, as the universal language of care and compassion is understood by all. Patients and healthcare professionals find solidarity in the pursuit of effective treatments and the common desire to promote healthy lives. Thus, the passion for healthcare reveals itself as a powerful bond that unites different cultures and languages in a collective effort to achieve the common good. While shadowing in internal medicine, I was able to have a wonderful conversation about global healthcare and see the same passion applied to patient care. 
2. Being Pre-med can be fun! Embarking on my pre-med journey was undoubtedly a serious and challenging path, but participating in the Atlantis Shadow Abroad program injected an element of excitement and fun into my experience. As a pre-med student, immersing myself in the medical field through international shadowing provided a unique and enriching perspective. The Atlantis program not only offered me the chance to observe and learn from seasoned healthcare professionals but also introduced the thrill of exploring healthcare practices in a different cultural context. Navigating the intricacies of medicine became an adventure as I engaged with diverse medical methodologies and witnessed firsthand the global variations in patient care. Beyond the educational aspect, the program fostered camaraderie among us aspiring doctors, creating a supportive community that shared our passion for healthcare. Experiencing the medical world abroad not only enhanced my clinical knowledge but also offered me the opportunity to forge lasting friendships with like-minded peers. In essence, the Atlantis Shadow Abroad program transformed my pre-med journey into an exhilarating and enjoyable exploration of medicine on an international stage.  
3. Shadowing ALL specialties is important! While I was initially drawn to specific medical fields, the program encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore diverse specialties. For example, I was not initially interested in orthopedic surgery, but after observing in the department I realized I loved the hands-on nature of the specialty. This exposure not only broadened my understanding of the medical landscape but also allowed me to witness the interconnectedness of different disciplines. By shadowing in areas beyond my initial interests, I gained a holistic perspective on patient care and the collaborative nature of healthcare teams. It became evident that the skills and knowledge from one specialty could enhance the practice in another. This interdisciplinary exposure not only enriched my medical education but also fostered adaptability and a comprehensive understanding of healthcare as a whole. In essence, the Atlantis experience underscored the importance of embracing diverse medical specialties, demonstrating that each one contributes uniquely to the intricate tapestry of healthcare. 

Overall, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to immerse myself in a new culture, healthcare system, and community last summer. While it is not the experience I expected to have as a pre-med student, I am so glad I took the leap into the unknown for my shadowing experiences. I encourage all pre-med students to explore their options and see how they can achieve their dream of becoming a physician while not sacrificing any of their dreams to see the world!