Overview
Ponferrada is a small city in northwest Spain in the León region near Galicia. The city was populated in pre-Roman times and has a diverse historical background. It is now recognized for its 12th-century castle and is surrounded by beautiful geography. Ponferrada is a perfect place to taste the gastronomy of the Bierzo region, in which its magnificent meats stand out. An alumni from a Ponferrada program says “I found it extremely great, it was an amazing mix between the hospital experience and living abroad.”
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
6:52am
Official Languages:
Spanish
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
The city of Ponferrada has its origins in the Middle Ages, emerging as a settlement around the Camino de Santiago. The most outstanding construction of the city is the Castle built by the Templars in the 12th century to protect the pilgrims. With more than 8,000 m2 of surface, it is one of the most impressive in the whole country. Around the castle extends the historic center, where most of the monuments of the city are concentrated.
Near Ponferrada, the Médulas is an impressive landscape formed as a result of the exploitation of the largest open-pit gold mine in the Roman Empire. In 1997 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. To the south of Ponferrada are the Montes Aquilianos, with the impressive Valle del Silencio (Valley of Silence) and Peñalba de Santiago, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2024
Dates
Price
Availability
May 11, 2024 - May 31, 2024 3 weeks
$5,999
Full
June 1, 2024 - June 21, 2024 3 weeks
$5,999
Close to Full
June 22, 2024 - July 12, 2024 3 weeks
$5,999
Full
July 13, 2024 - August 2, 2024 3 weeks
$6,999
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.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Hospital Overview
Atlantis partners with local hospitals to give students the opportunity to learn about healthcare systems in different countries. Our hospital partner in Ponferrada is Hospital del Bierzo.
Famous Food
“El botillo del Bierzo” – the most famous dish in this area, cooked with delicious pork meat and using centuries-old techniques, that the locals will be happy to share with you (they are very proud of this recipe).
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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.
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.
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.
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.
