The Duomo at sunrise in Milan, Italy (an Atlantis site).
The Duomo at sunrise in Milan, Italy (an Atlantis site).
Atlantis students posing on the top of the Duomo.
Atlantis students on an excursion to the top of the Duomo (Milan, Italy).

Italy

Milan

$7,499

Overview

Milan is the capital city of the Lombardy region of Italy and is Italy’s second most populous metropolitan area. It is a global hub for the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, research, and last but not least, healthcare. Milan was first settled in the year 400 and was an important center for trade throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times.

Being such a fast-paced metropolis with a mix of modern and traditional architecture, packed with art, fashion, history and delicious food, it’s no surprise that Milano is one of the most visited cities in Italy.

Destination Information

The City

While parts of Milan were destroyed during World War II and now feature modern buildings like 32-story Pirelli Tower, you can still find many historical gems such as the Duomo (Italian for Cathedral) and La Scala opera house. It is also in Milan that travelers can admire one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings, The Last Supper.

In addition to the architecture and history, for those interested in shopping, art or fashion, Milan has Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping mall, as well as many galleries and designer stores.

 

Dates & Availability

  • Summer Break 2025

Dates

Price

Availability

May 10, 2025 - May 30, 2025 3 weeks

$7,499

Close to Full

May 31, 2025 - June 20, 2025 3 weeks

$7,499

Close to Full

June 21, 2025 - July 11, 2025 3 weeks

$7,499

Open

July 12, 2025 - August 1, 2025 3 weeks

$7,499

Close to Full

You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.

Participants may transfer to another program or receive a refund up until a predefined amount of time before the start date.

What’s Included

Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.

Hospital Overview

The Milan region has long been recognized as a beacon for healthcare.  Currently, our hospital partner in Milan is the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, a top public hospital in Milan focused on cancer care. Within this hospital and this broad field, there are many sub-specialties, and a variety of work. Many (perhaps most) Atlantis participants shadowing in this hospital do *not* have a primary interest in oncology. A primary focus on oncology is not required for participation in this program.

Alumni Favorite

Chocolate Gelato

The best gelato… Cioccolatitaliani. Say that five times fast! This famous gelato shop is loved by tourists and Atlantis students alike and is located close to the city center. You know what they say, “an Italian gelato a day keeps the doctor away.” Maybe not quite, but you’re not there to avoid doctors, right? Keep a tally of how many times you stop here, and let us know!

Students enjoying gelato from a gelato shop.
Atlantis students enjoying gelato from a gelato shop (Milan, Italy).

It was an incredible experience from start to finish. I learned tons and gained valuable experience in a hospital. Not just that, I made incredible friendships along the way.

Atlantis students in front of a monument in Milan, Italy.
Atlantis students in front of a monument in Milan, Italy.
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Excursions

Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations.

Your Site Manager will inform you of the excursions they have planned during your program orientation. If you make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend and it conflicts with the events your Site Manager has planned, notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they can plan accordingly.

Atlantis students on a program excursion.
Atlantis students on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).

Language Skills Not Required

Most participants do not speak the local language at their Atlantis program. English levels vary within the hospital, but no knowledge of the language is required for Atlantis to be valuable. There is enough English spoken in the hospital for participants to benefit from the programs, as you can read in our testimonials. 

Many patients in your future career will not speak your language and will come from a different cultural background, so the Atlantis experience prepares you for that intercultural perspective. Any slight language barrier you may encounter at Atlantis also helps you develop “resilience and adaptability,” an AAMC core competency.

Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools

Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.

Two students walking out of a hospital wing.
Atlantis students in a hospital wing (Lisbon, Portugal).

Funding Your Future

The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

An Atlantis student smiling while shadowing abroad.
An Atlantis student on an excursion experiencing culture while shadowing abroad (Athens, Greece).

Bring a Friend

Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.

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students walking and smiling.
Atlantis students exploring together on a program excursion (Athens, Greece).

Med School Interview:
Atlantis Alum vs. Typical Pre-med

Compare a possible medical school interview of an Atlantis alum with that of a typical applicant by looking at responses to common questions.