What is 360 Shadowing?
Atlantis 360 Shadowing is a unique, time-tested model we have developed with over 100 hospital partners around the globe. When compared with regular shadowing or typical clinical experience, 360 Shadowing has far greater depth, breadth, quantity of hours, and intercultural perspective. And it takes place over college breaks, usually for a few weeks, almost always as a study abroad program in a developed-country healthcare system, in one or more countries.
Life-Changing Experiences Made Accessible
As a busy pre-health student, trying to coordinate a few clinical experience and shadowing hours here and there is difficult and not always rewarding. Atlantis programs give you very meaningful clinical experience, and one that is good enough as to allow for the “luxury” of focusing more on grades during your semesters, while at the same time refining and showcasing most of the 15 competencies that medical schools assess candidates on. This overall experience is part of why our alumni can succeed in their healthcare paths post-college.
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary ’17 || University of Arizona
Completed Atlantis Program Location:
Hungary
Year of most recent program:
Fall ’16-Summer ’17
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Very helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key role in confirming my decision to go into medicine. This was important for me to discuss during the admissions process.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes, I talked about Atlantis in some interviews.
Nathan Ewing-Crystal
- Atlantis '17
- Yale '19
- UCSF MD '23
Nick Morley
- Atlantis '17
- Brown '13
- Columbia MD '23
Elorm Yevudza
- Atlantis '16
- Amherst '19
- Columbia MD '24
Elorm Yevudza
Ciudad Real, Spain ’16 || Amherst College
Program:
Ciudad Real – Spain – 2016
Undergraduate:
Amherst College class of 2019
Major:
Neuroscience
Extracurricular Activities:
Track and Field, International Students Association, Charles Drew Health Professions Society
Why did you choose the Atlantis program?
The opportunity to shadow doctors in a European country greatly appealed to me. As an international student from Ghana, I value the subtle differences in approach that doctors, depending on the country in which they are trained, use to achieve a common result: alleviating illness and improving the quality of lives.
How is Atlantis Unique?
In an increasingly globalized world, having first-hand experience with the subtleties of healthcare in different parts of the world is vital to a future health professional. Atlantis exposes participants to these nuances in healthcare approaches, and in effect helps aspiring health professionals gain a global perspective on healthcare.
Describe Atlantis in three words:
A transformative experience.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Experiencing the city and culture of Ciudad Real was an experience that is etched in my memory. As I practiced my very elementary Spanish with the locals and discussed various health-related issues with the doctors I shadowed, I was reminded of the uniqueness of human life. I was also reminded of the role of a health professional in society: to preserve and improve the quality of human life.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
My discussions with doctors about their relations with patients was most meaningful to me. Our discussions highlighted a trend I had spotted when I shadowed doctors in Ghana: that the core of healthcare is about alleviating illness and improving the quality of life. My conversations with doctors in Ciudad Real underscored the importance of treating patients not just as cases, but as people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has given me a broader perspective on the field of healthcare. The program has also brought wonderful people into my life. The participants that I shadowed, explored, and conversed with impressed me with their passion for healthcare. The program has also taught me to be a lifelong leader, and the importance of fostering a curiosity that will help prepare me for my future in the medical field.
Nick Tucker
- Atlantis '16
- Notre Dame '17
- Case Western MD '21
Nicholas Tucker
La Plata, Argentina || Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Program:
La Plata, Argentina
Undergraduate:
The University of Notre Dame class of 2017
Major:
Neuroscience and Behavior
Honors:
Stamps Scholar, ND Monogram Club
Extracurricular Activities:
Student Athletic Trainer, Memory Lab Research, Student Assistant for the Alliance for Catholic Education, Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist
Why did you choose Atlantis?
The Atlantis program offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine my passions for medicine and Spanish. This was the only opportunity I could find that would allow me to improve these two areas concurrently while still being an undergraduate so that I could open up the amount of people I can serve in the future.
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis is very in touch with the evolving world that we live in. Having the ability to understand different cultures and languages is more important today than ever before, especially in the medical field. Doctors have an obligation to not only know about the various backgrounds of their patients but also to have the ability to connect with them–which only comes with full exposure into different cultures and a desire to appreciate and learn about both our similarities and differences.
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Insightful. Humbling, Life-Changing.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
The best part of the Atlantis program was the day-to-day interactions I had with the Argentine people, whether in the hospital, at the hotel, or even out to eat at the local restaurants. The people of La Plata were so welcoming to us, and I am still in contact today with many of the people I met.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I truly enjoyed being able to witness how compassionate the doctors and residents were at the hospital. They gave every patient their full attention and time to make sure that they were cared for to the best of their ability, despite the constraints with which they had to deal. I also was inspired by the neurosurgeries I was able to witness, which have helped me discern what I want to do with my future in medicine.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
I walked away from the experience knowing a lot more about various medical fields (pediatrics, surgery, etc.), increasing my Spanish fluency dramatically, and learning an abundant amount about the dynamic culture that exists in Argentina.
Future plans?
I plan to attend medical school, and am already accepted.
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- UMD College Park '17
- Michigan MPH '21 + MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School
Program:
Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
University of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary ’17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Computer Science
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (award for research)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic, Research Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program because it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had little prior exposure to.
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the diversity of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own interest in medicine. The physicians were also just really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-earth people.
What are your post-grad plans?
My current plan is to take a few gap years after graduating to explore the tech/biotech industry before applying to medical schools. I would also love to spend those gap years traveling and seeing more of the world.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a better understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable gift considering the long road ahead of those who aspire to be a physician.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and empathize with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis program, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Avneet Chadha
- Atlantis '17
- UM-Ann Arbor '18
- Kimmel MD '23
Janine Baldino
- Atlantis '16
- NC State '15
- UNC Chapel Hill MD '22
Hospital Experience
Atlantis allows students to shadow abroad for 20+ hours each week in different departments. All hours are observation-only, following AAMC guidelines for pre-health experiences abroad (doing otherwise would jeopardize your Med/PA applications). Students typically shadow departments in pairs; some fields will be surgical but more often non-surgical. Below is a sample rotation schedule:
Preferences for specialties are not guaranteed. However, the vast majority of Atlantis participants get all or most of their choices.
| Sample Schedule A | Sample Schedule B | Sample Schedule C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Cardiology | Psychiatry | Orthopedics |
| Week 2 | Thoracic Surgery | Emergency | General Surgery |
| Week 3 | Ophthalmology | Cardiology | Nuclear Radiology |
| Week 4 | Dermatology | Pediatrics | OB/GYN |
| Week 5 | Anesthesiology | Pathology | Neurology |
| Week 6 | Hematology | Cardiology | Urology |
Our team chooses program locations that are surrounded by the rich cultural offerings of Europe, while also ensuring the availability of a hospital setting, which is always our priority. We know many pre-health students are unable to study abroad due to course requirements. Atlantis allows students to combine the joys of travel abroad with the invaluable experience of shadowing, particularly 360 Shadowing, with its greater depth, breadth, quantity, and intercultural perspective, relative to most other clinical experiences available to U.S. pre-health students.
Three Alumni Speak About Their
Experience in the Hospital
Note on Language Skills
English levels vary within the hospital, but no knowledge of language is required for this to be a valuable experience. The vast majority of our alumni have not spoken the local language. We always encourage students to practice in the months leading up to their program, but this is not required.
Europe vs. the US: 5 years of extra life expectancy, at 70% lower costs
Both systems have many pros and many cons, and we believe each can learn from the other. But one pro of the European system is its lower cost relative to life expectancy.
Europeans Have Higher Life Expectancies
Yet Spend Far Less on Healthcare
Day in the Life
To make the most of your shadowing experience, you’ll want to pay special attention to the information you receive pre-departure and during your orientation. Try to proactively learn about how to optimize your time with the doctors. G00d communication, taking notes, and putting on a friendly smile go a long way. Also, check out our library of helpful PDFs. Finally, keep in mind that in a PhD-authored survey of a large sample of Atlantis alumni, 93% believed they progressed in the AAMC competencies that medical schools use to assess candidates; this happens because our students seek to make the most of their unique opportunity.
Mornings
Shadowing Days
If you haven’t watched it already, watch the video below to see three alumni describe their hospital experiences and the specialties they saw:
Group Activities
If you haven’t watched it already, see our Atlantis Experience video below, which covers many elements of the overall Atlantis experience:
Free Weekends
Watch Video: The Atlantis Experience
The quality and organization of the program is unparalleled.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Learn More About the Additional Components
HMX Course
Uniqueness Project Guidance
Admissions Advising & Mentoring
Support for Requesting Course Credit
Note: Airfare is not included but can be very affordable. Read more in our Flight Tips guide.
My Site Manager was phenomenal at keeping our group organized and communicating the entire time. She was very thorough and helpful in navigating on the days I was experiencing trouble with my flight/luggage. She always had an answer to our questions.
We are proud of the fact that our students come from a diverse set of backgrounds. They range from incoming college freshmen to recent graduates, post-college gap years, and post bacc students. Atlantis students:
Beyond Shadowing: Atlantis Also Runs Service-Research Projects
Unlike our shadowing programs, which are most of what we do and focus on observing healthcare professionals across multiple specialties, Atlantis Service-Research Projects are an opportunity to learn full-time from an Atlantis Project Leader, inside an elite healthcare organization, in a real project with members of management and administration, while performing a highly impactful service – a unique mix.
Dates
Atlantis programs run for 1–10 weeks over college breaks. Already have a job, vacation, or another pre-health activity in place during an upcoming break? No problem. We offer plenty of start dates and program lengths (see our cities & programs page for those) to make sure we find the best fit for your schedule. Don’t see your ideal dates or locations on our site? Reach out to us and explain your situation.
Application Process
If you are a serious pre-health student, we’d love to help you jumpstart your future in healthcare. The first step is an online application, and the next stage in the process is a two-way alumni video interview. Once accepted, our team will help you select a program that works for your schedule and location preferences. You can always apply now, or, if you’re not quite ready to apply, we can keep you updated as our programs open and close, or we can connect you with an Atlantis alum for you to ask any questions that you may have.
Watch Video: 20+ Alumni Now In Med School Explain:
Atlantis Is a Major Reason I Got In Here