Our Alumni Have Gone On to 40 of the Top 50 U.S. MD Programs (and DO, PA, Nursing, etc.)
And to 16 of the top 20
And keep in mind MD programs only accept <150 students annually, on average. And not only have our alumni been admitted to 40 of the top 50 U.S. MD programs, but also 20 (of these 40) U.S. MD programs are in the top 50 medical schools on the planet, which is home to 7.6 billion patients but only 2,600 medical schools (including the U.S.’s 155 MD + 37 DO medical schools). Even though few students attend them, what’s learned and researched in these top U.S. MD programs disproportionally affects all of humanity. It’s a good thing our alumni have a lot of energy, because there’s a lot to get done. Our hope is that our alumni will love their profession so much that they’ll never retire.
Top 50 MD Programs (Ranked) |
Atlantis Alumni? |
MD Admit Rate |
Known For |
---|---|---|---|
Harvard University | Yes | 4% | 10 Nobel Prizes, Smallpox Vaccine |
New York University (Grossman) |
No | 2% | 4 Nobel Prizes |
Duke University | Yes | 4% | 3 Nobel Prizes |
Columbia University | Yes | 4% | 5 Nobel Prizes |
Stanford University | Yes | 2% | 8 Nobel Prizes |
University of California – San Francisco |
Yes | 4% | 6 Nobel Prizes |
Johns Hopkins University |
Yes | 7% | 22 Nobel Prizes |
University of Washington |
Yes | 5% | 4 Nobel Prizes |
University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) |
No | 5% | 4 Nobel Prizes, Oldest US Medical School |
Yale University | No | 6% | 4 Nobel Prizes |
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Alix) |
Yes | 3% | Served every US president since Abraham Lincoln |
Washington University in St. Louis |
Yes | 8% | 19 Nobel Prizes |
University of Pittsburgh |
Yes | 5% | 2 Nobel Prizes |
Vanderbilt University | No | 6% | 2 Nobel Prizes |
Northwestern University (Feinberg) |
Yes | 6% | 3 Nobel Prizes |
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor |
Yes | 5% | 2 Nobel Prizes |
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
Yes | 5% | 1 Nobel Prize, First Blood Tranfusion |
University of Chicago (Pritzker) |
Yes | 4% | 1 Nobel Prize |
Cornell University (Weill) |
Yes | 4% | 1 Nobel Prize, Dr. Fauci’s alma mater |
University of California – San Diego |
Yes | 4% | 8 Nobel Prizes |
U. of California – Los Angeles (Geffen) |
No | 3% | 1 Nobel Prize |
Baylor College of Medicine |
Yes | 5% | First Coronary Bipass |
Emory University | Yes | 3% | First & only to treat US Ebola patients |
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill |
Yes | 4% | 2 Nobel Prizes |
Case Western Reserve University |
Yes | 7% | 5 Nobel Prizes |
U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
Yes | 8% | 6 Nobel Prizes, basic mechanism of cholesterol metabolism |
University of Colorado |
No | 3% | First human liver transplant |
University of Maryland |
Yes | 6% | Discovery that HIV causes AIDS |
Oregon Health & Science University |
No | 5% | Renowned for primary care, rural & family medicine |
University of Southern California (Keck) |
Yes | 5% | Research leader in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s |
University of Virginia |
Yes | 12% | 3 Nobel Prizes, Discovery of LGL Leukemia |
University of Alabama – Birmingham |
Yes | 6% | Invention of the endoscope |
Boston University | Yes | 6% | 1 Nobel Prize |
Ohio State University |
No | 5% | First robot-assisted heart bypass & live-streamed surgery |
University of Wisconsin – Madison |
Yes | 6% | “Mohs” surgery to treat skin cancer |
Brown University (Alpert) |
Yes | 3% | 1 Nobel Peace Prize |
University of Florida |
Yes | 5% | First regenerative bio envelope |
University of Rochester |
No | 6% | 3 Nobel Prizes |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine |
Yes | 4% | First Genetics Department in US |
University of Iowa (Carver) |
Yes | 7% | Fourteen faculty in the National Academy of Medicine |
University of Utah |
Yes | 6% | 1 Nobel Prize, First artificial heart implant |
Indiana University – Indianapolis |
Yes | 10% | World’s First DNA Bank |
University of Cincinnati |
Yes | 8% | Polio Vaccine |
University of Minnesota |
No | 6% | Alumni considered “Fathers” of Immunology & Oncology |
Dartmouth College (Geisel) |
Yes | 3% | First clinical x-ray and first ICU |
University of Massachusetts – Worcester |
Yes | 9% | 1 Nobel Prize |
University of Miami (Miller) |
Yes | 4% | Groundbreaking research to cure paralysis |
University of California – Davis |
Yes | 4% | Co-founder of Total-body PET Scanner |
University of California – Irvine |
Yes | 4% | 1 Nobel Prize |
University of South Florida |
Yes | 7% | First 3D-printed nasal swabs |
What You’ll See Below
In the below 150+ profiles with pictures, you’ll see Atlantis alumni in 40 of the top 50 U.S. MD programs, including 16 of the top 20, although there is a a wide range of schools below, and our alumni are at even more programs than these. Although Atlantis is more than 15 years old, we mostly picked recent admits to MD (or other) programs, and such students mostly participated on Atlantis a few years ago (2017, 2018, 2019). For many alumni you can expand (click the lens) to read or watch something about Atlantis from that alum. Also, down further below, you’ll also find DO, PA, and other health tracks. After 150+ profiles with pictures, you can also read about 100 more text-only testimonials. When you see the below, keep in mind that Atlantis is designed to contribute to what Med/PA schools want, which is part of the reason it can impact applications and also impact interviews.
Some of our Alumni in MD Programs
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University '19
- Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary ’17 || University of Arizona (undergraduate) ’18
Completed Atlantis Program Location and Date:
Hungary, Summer 2017
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
I believe it was 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?
Yes
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
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
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.
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.
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.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Faizah Shareef
- Atlantis '16
- UMiami '16
- BU MD '21
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan 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
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
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.
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.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas MD '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal ’18 || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Program Location(s):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall ’17 – Summer ’18
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come by in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the USA.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky MD '24
Azan Virji
- Atlantis '17
- Yale '17, Yale MPH '19
- Harvard Medical School MD '23
Azan Virji
Athens, Greece ’17 || Yale School of Public Health & Harvard Medical School
Program:
Athens, Greece – winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Yale College class of 2017
Major:
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology/Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Honors:
Eben T. and Jokichi Takamine Memorial Scholarship; Science, Technology and Research Scholar, Yale Global Health Scholar
Extracurricular Activities:
Yale Office of International Students and Scholars, Yale Admissions Office, Partners in Health Engage, Yale College Council, Leadership Institute, Yale Ivy Council
Why did you choose Atlantis?
In an increasingly globalized world, skilled and trained doctors are needed everywhere especially in under resourced countries. My long-term goal is to work in the filed of healthcare and practice medicine on a global scale. With this path in mind, I decided to do the Atlantis program to gain exposure to another healthcare system, understand the nuances of how culture affects health, and to make comparisons in the healthcare I have witnessed in Tanzania and the United States of America.
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis is unique because it provides full immersion not only into the hospital environment, but into the country as well from the very first day. You’re in the hospital alongside doctors who are well-versed in English, who are experts in your field, and who are willing to help teach you and explain different medical concepts. The program is also committed to helping you explore the country and make the most of your experience.
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Educational. Breath-taking. Immersive.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
While working at the hospital, we were invited to the weekly Greek dance practice that some of the doctors and hospital staff have every Thursday. Being able to partake in the Greek cultural dance followed by sitting in a large circle and talking about our experiences was when I felt the vibrant warmth of the Greeks – like I was part of a family. Additionally, visiting the numerous temples in Greece made me appreciate all the history that Greece had to offer and made the experience even more memorable.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I really enjoyed being able to sit down with the doctors and ask them questions not just about the medical field but also about the different aspects of the healthcare system. Learning about how the hospital finances its activities, how the economy has affected healthcare in Greece, and the differences between public and private hospitals made the shadowing experience a more enriching and well-rounded one.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has provided me with a different outlook on global health. I am now able to draw on examples from the different healthcare systems I have seen to know what works well and what doesn’t. In the future, I can implement some of what I have learned to better a health system in a resource-limited environment. I now also have a deeper sense of appreciation for the role culture plays in the health of the population.
How has your thinking of active leadership in the medical field been shaped?
To be an active leader in the medical field, one must have a strong drive to succeed and to take charge. By working in a public hospital and seeing the great need that exists, the Atlantis program has instilled in me the motivation to help others and contribute to the scientific improvement of people’s health. Additionally, watching doctors in Greece, who are renowned in their field, work at public hospitals for less pay has inspired me to follow in their footsteps and commit to a life of service 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
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Insightful. Humbling, Life-Changing.
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.
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.
Lauren Howser
- Atlantis '16
- IU Bloomington '18
- Indiana U. MD '22
Lauren Howser
Athens, Greece ’16 || Indiana University School of Medicine
Program:
Athens, Greece, Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
Indiana University class of 2018
Major:
Supply Chain Management, Pre-med
Honors:
Hutton Honors College, Business Honors Program, Founder’s Scholar
Extracurricular Activities:
Hutton Honors Council Association Pre-Health Council, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Timmy Global Health, Alpha Phi Sorority
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Breath-taking. Exploration. Life-changing.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I choose to participate in Atlantis because it was the perfect balance between learning and exploring. I was dying to travel abroad, and this opportunity gave me the ability to experience Greece while shadowing in amazing hospitals.
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis offers an experience unlike any other because of the planning and research that has gone into the program. It was so organized and the excursions allowed us as participants to get a real feel of the culture.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Having the opportunity to be in the operation room for multiple surgeries from lung tumor removal to knee replacement was my absolute favorite part of the program. It solidified my desire to be a doctor even more than I thought was possible.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
Interacting with the doctors was the most meaningful aspect because they had so much knowledge and advice to offer. They were truly excited for the participants to shadow them and to get the opportunity to teach us about their career.
What are your post-grad plans?
I plan to attend medical school and enroll in a MD/MBA program where I can pursue my passions for both business and medicine.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The Atlantis program gave me the confidence and desire to actively pursue a leadership position in the medical field. Being in the hospital setting really showed me how big of a responsibility and leadership role the doctors take in their everyday work.
Matthew Kessenich
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Connecticut '16
- Uniformed Services U. MD '24
Briana Heinly
- Atlantis '18
- Susquehanna U. '20
- Penn State MD '24
Snow Nwankwo
- Atlantis '19
- Catholic U. of America '21
- Georgetown U. MD '26
George Bugarinovic
- Atlantis '16
- Johns Hopkins '15
- Harvard Medical School MD '20
George Bugarinovic
Toledo, Spain, ’16 || Harvard Medical School
Program:
Toledo, Spain – Spring 2016
Current Education:
Medical student at Harvard Medical School
Undergraduate:
Johns Hopkins class of 2015
Major:
Public Health, Natural Sciences
Honors:
Graduated with University Honors, elected into Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society, Robert H. Scott Award, Dean of Student Life Award: Christopher B. Elser Award, Dean of Student Life Award: JHU Class of 1979 Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
Varsity basketball, Stowers Institute for Medical Research assistant, University of Kansas Molecular Biology Research Assistant, medical interpreter, volunteer at the Maryland School for the Blind
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis unites clinical observation, volunteering opportunity, and international exploration into a single entity.
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Exploratory. Insightful. Galvanizing.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
The entire package: spending time with students with similar goals, learning from physicians in a significantly different healthcare system, and soaking in a brand new culture along the way.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
The most meaningful and memorable aspect of my time shadowing in Toledo had to do with an especially close bond I developed with a physician in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She cared about my learning as much or more than any doctor I had previously worked with. To this day, I remember the clinical expertise and interpersonal aptitude she conveyed.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
I believe that highlighting the Atlantis experience significantly bolstered my candidacy and helped lead to numerous eventual [medical school] acceptances I was fortunate enough to receive.
Having been through the entire application process, I can now confidently say that the Atlantis experience would have been a tremendous asset throughout the cycle. Whether it was juxtaposing different healthcare models, witnessing a captivating medical procedure, meeting an extraordinary physician, or being deeply moved by a patient’s heartwarming story, the extended clinical shadowing experience offered by Atlantis provides fantastic opportunities for prospective health students in a variety of interests. I am very glad to have had the chance to broaden my medical and cultural horizons with Atlantis before beginning medical school.
Alexandra Roper
- Atlantis '17
- IU Bloomington '16
- Indiana U. MD '22
Alexandra Roper
Ferrol, Spain ’17 || Indiana University School of Medicine
Program:
Ferrol, Spain – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Indiana University – Bloomington class of 2016
Major:
Biochemistry, Biology, Spanish
Future Plans:
I have been accepted at University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine as well as Indiana University School of Medicine.
Honors:
Indiana University Founders Scholar, Department of Chemistry Honor Roll, College of Arts & Sciences Executive Dean’s List, the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society Member, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Ashley Crouse Memorial Scholarship Winner, Hutton Honors College Hutton International Experiences Program Grant Winner, Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Cum Laude Academic Distinction
Extracurricular Activities:
Personal Trainer/YogaFit/Les Mills Group Exercise Instructor, Peer Mentorship, Hutton Honors College Council Association Chairman of Philanthropy, EMS First Aid volunteer, research assistant, Café Hispano Spanish Conversation Club, personal tutor, Epiphany Modeling Troupe, Ophthalmic Technician and Scribe
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Insightful. Inspiring. Incredible.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
My goal for my gap year was to seek reputable opportunities that would allow me to travel, practice speaking Spanish, and work directly with patients. Atlantis offered a unique combination of prestige from the competitive admissions process, complete cultural immersion, and diverse experiences shadowing in multiple hospital departments. It also allowed me to be adventurous and have fun exploring a new country and its culture. This combination made Atlantis the best choice for me.
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis facilitates the opportunity for participants to experience the lifestyle of physicians in their assigned country. In my experience, participants serve in smaller, less international cities where they shadow in the hospital for several hours. This provides a realistic perspective on what it would be like to be a physician in that department. This insight will guide me as I enter medical school and select a specialty for my career.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
The friendships I made along the way. I worked with other amazing participants, my site director was like my second mom, I made great connections with the doctors I shadowed, and I even got to know some local people. I will forever value the shared experiences I have with each person who helped make my experience unforgettable.
What are your post-grad plans?
I graduated in May of 2016, and since then I have worked in an ophthalmology practice as a technician and scribe. I arranged my time so I would have opportunities to shadow and do research in the United States and overseas. I will be matriculating into medical school in the fall of 2017.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Atlantis diversified my clinical experiences by showing me four new areas of medicine. It also exposed me to Spanish language in a medical context (although language skills were not required), which makes me an asset to Spanish-speaking populations. Furthermore, it gave me perspective about the lifestyle of a doctor and informed me about the functionality of a system with universal healthcare.
Huzeifa Gulamhusein
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Houston '18
- U. Texas RGV MD '24
Saira Alex
- Atlantis '17
- UT Dallas '18
- Baylor MD '22
Saira Alex
Barcelona, Spain ’17 || Baylor College of Medicine
Program:
Barcelona, Spain – Summer 2017
Undergraduate:
University of Texas at Dallas Class of 2018
Major:
Neuroscience
Honors:
Member of Phi Kappa Phi, recipient of the Memorial Hermann Hospital Academic Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
Molecular Neuroscience Research, Indian Classical Dance at Sreepadam School of Arts, President of UTD Molding Doctors
Describe Atlantis in 3 words:
Educational. Memorable. Influential
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis underlines the social components involved in healthcare, and I returned back home with a greater appreciation for Spain and universal healthcare. Additionally, the program allows you to nurture lasting relationships with your physician mentors and colleagues.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience was watching orthopedic surgeries. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the enthusiastic surgeon using mallets and drills during the knee replacement surgery. Or maybe, it was unexpectedly falling in love with the orthopedic specialty. Or maybe, it was making lifelong friends and admiring the Sagrada Familia with them. It really is hard to choose just one favorite experience.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
My most meaningful experience was shadowing the chief neurologist. Observing his style of practicing medicine made me realize the importance of being a humble educator. Patients were thankful for the time he took to explain the procedures–to resolve their doubts, and that is something I hope to emphasize in my future practice.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Atlantis has given me an in-depth exposure to the areas of healthcare where I lacked understanding. I’m also thankful for improving my Spanish communication abilities during those three weeks abroad. A command for the Spanish language aids in serving the patient population of Texas.
Tory Prynn
- Atlantis '16
- ASU '17
- U. of Arizona MD '21
Tory Prynn
Talavera de la Reina, Spain ’16 ||University of Arizona College of Medicine
Program:
Talavera de la Reina, Spain – Winter 2016
Undergraduate:
Arizona State University class of 2017
Major:
Global Health
Honors:
Dean’s List, Presidential Scholarship, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Leader 2016
Extracurricular activities:
Omega Phi Alpha, American Medical Women’s Association, Project Sunshine, Devils’ Advocates (ASU Tour Guides), ASU Miracles
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Medicine. Culture. Amazing.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose Atlantis because it would allow me to explore my two greatest passions: travel and medicine. I am very interested in learning about different systems of healthcare and learning how culture impacts health, so I was excited about the opportunity to see how the healthcare system functioned in Spain and to put my years of Spanish classes to good use. I was also of course interested in the opportunity to shadow many different specialties. I had never shadowed a physician before, so it was all exciting and new for me!
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis allows students to see healthcare systems in different countries and how they function differently than in the U.S. It also gives students the opportunity to see many different medical specialties.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
I had the chance to shadow a pediatric neurologist and was able to see many different cases and learn a lot about what it means to treat the child and take care of the family at the same time. I really bonded with the physician I shadowed, which made this a wonderful experience.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
The most meaningful aspect of my time shadowing in the hospital was getting to learn about the Spanish healthcare system and being able to learn from all of the doctors. As it was my first time shadowing, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was able to learn so many different and important aspects about the day-to-day lives of physicians.
How has the Atlantis program helped equip you for the future?
It gave me needed experience in a healthcare setting and showed me that I was working toward the right goal for myself. It broadened my passion for medicine and for learning how culture impacts healthcare.
Atlantis taught me how to be independent and how to ask questions without hesitation. I learned that sometimes I need to be assertive, but there are also times when I should just listen and learn about what is going on around me.
Hannah Kennedy
- Atlantis '17
- Kent State U. '17
- U. Toledo MD '22
Hannah Kennedy
Almansa, Spain || Kent State University
Program:
Almansa, Spain
Undergraduate:
Kent State University class of 2017
Major:
Biology, Pre-med
Honors:
Trustee Scholarship, Honor’s Merit Scholarship, Sharon Sigel Memorial Scholarship, Panhellenic Council Individual Academic Excellence Award, Provost’s leadership Academy Scholarship, President’s List, Dean’s List
Extracurricular Activities:
President of Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, Undergraduate Research Assistant, volunteer at the local University Hospital Portage Medical Center, member of Alpha Phi Fraternity, University Tutor in the Academic Success Center
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Affirming, Inspirational, Once-in-a-lifetime.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose Atlantis because I wanted to experience healthcare that was different from our own while being able to have an impactful study abroad experience. As a pre-med student there aren’t many opportunities to go abroad. As this was one of my main goals coming into college, I wanted to experience it as well as continue to develop myself as an aspiring physician overseas.
How is Atlantis unique?
Atlantis is unique in that it provides you with the opportunity to a doorway of diversity, culture, and a lifetime of memories, all while learning new things and experiencing a different side to medicine. Atlantis not only allows you to learn in a hospital, but it also places you in the most beautiful places in locations they know you will thrive and thoroughly enjoy.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
Every day during my week I got to spend all day side by side physicians who were committed to teaching me and allowing me to experience as much as I possibly could. The physicians there truly cared about my development as a physician and took me in as one of their own immediately. They would always stop in the middle of a case and teach me the ins and outs of a presentation as well as walked me through the personal aspect of patient interaction. The knowledge, compassion, and appreciation I came out of this experience with was definitely the most meaningful aspect of my time in Hospital Público General De Almansa.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant was being immersed in this experience as a team with the other participants. I made lifelong connections with the other seven students I was with in Almansa. Whether it was catching lunch during a break at the hospital, grabbing coffee before walking over together, discussing what we learned over dinner at the local Almansa Cafe, or adventuring through the town, I know that one day I can call them as a colleague and a friend and they will always be there.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Atlantis has been instrumental in reaching my goals in becoming a physician such that it deepened values of teamwork, independence, and diversity within myself. It also affirmed the notion without an ounce of a doubt that becoming a physician is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing–that all of the hard work is worth it because I will one day be doing something that does not feel like a job.
Ana Maria Dumitru
- Atlantis '09
- UNC Chapel Hill '10
- Dartmouth MD-PhD '19
Synthia Lay
- Atlantis '17
- UCLA '17
- USC MD '22
Nathan Ewing-Crystal
- Atlantis '17
- Yale '19
- UCSF MD '23
Cyrus Buckman
- Atlantis '18
- Earlham College '18
- Stanford MD '24
Christina Ambrosino
- Atlantis '17
- Johns Hopkins '19
- Johns Hopkins MD '24
Julia Carter
- Atlantis '16
- Washington State U '17
- U Washington MD '24
Gillian Kane
- Atlantis '17
- GWU '18
- U. of Pittsburgh MD '24
Sarah Niehaus
- Atlantis '17
- Brown '19
- Brown MD '24
Allison Gomez
- Atlantis '17
- UC Santa Barbara '19
- UCSF MD '24
Lily McCarthy
- Atlantis '17
- Yale '20
- Mount Sinai MD '24
Haleigh Ferro
- Atlantis '18
- College of Charleston '20
- Johns Hopkins MD '24
Quinn Johnson
- Atlantis '17
- Carleton College '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Jagjeet Gill
- Atlantis '19
- Washington State '18
- U. of Washington MD '24
Erik Rabin
- Atlantis '19
- Northwestern U. '20
- Northwestern U. MD '24
Alayna Barela
- Atlantis '17
- BU '19
- Brown MD '24
Isaiah Brown
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Kentucky '19
- U. of Chicago MD '25
Kaitlyn Julian
- Atlantis '18
- NYU '20
- UCSF MD '25
Connor Grant
- Atlantis '17
- UC Davis '18
- UC San Diego MD '22
Kimberly Wang
- Atlantis '17
- Johns Hopkins '17
- Mayo Clinic MD '23
Rebecca Baron
- Atlantis '18
- CUNY Macaulay Honors College '18
- Mount Sinai MD '23
Emily Mello
- Atlantis '17
- BYU '19
- Cornell MD '24
Selena Pasadyn
- Atlantis ‘16
- Harvard ‘16
- Cleveland Clinic MD ‘21
Maria Vigil
- Atlantis '17
- Notre Dame '18
- Baylor MD '22
Milyard Assefa
- Atlantis '18
- ECSU '19
- UVA MD '25
Paola Ortega
- Atlantis '18
- BU '20
- BU MD '25
Sivani Reddy
- Atlantis '17
- UAB '17
- UAB MD '21
Victoria Yagodinski
- Atlantis '17
- Marian U. '18
- Indiana U. MD '23
Holly Ryan
- Atlantis '17
- Oakland U. '17
- UF MD '24
Alina Mitchell
- Atlantis '18
- UCLA '20
- Albert Einstein MD '24
Collin Chase
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Miami '18
- USF MD '24
Jordan Eisner
- Atlantis '18
- UC Berkeley '19
- UC Davis MD '24
Lauren Haley
- Atlantis '17
- UT Austin '20
- U. Texas McGovern MD '24
Cendal Atkins
- Atlantis '18
- Spelman '20
- Tufts MD '24
Amanda Kuhn
- Atlantis '17
- CMU '17
- Georgetown U. MD '24
Toni Madorsky
- Atlantis '19
- Vanderbilt '19
- U. of Illinois MD '25
Alexa Tomlak
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Alabama '19
- Thomas Jefferson MD '24
Kathryn Cavallo
- Atlantis '17
- Columbia '18
- GWU MD '22
Nicholas Safian
- Atlantis '18
- Princeton '17
- Thomas Jefferson MD '22
Janine Baldino
- Atlantis '16
- NC State '15
- UNC Chapel Hill MD '21
Joe Jackson
- Atlantis '15
- Auburn U. '16
- Baylor MD '20
Anagha Deshpande
- Atlantis '18
- ASU '20
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Margaret Downes
- Atlantis '17
- UVA '20
- Mount Sinai MD '25
Nicole Piercy
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Richmond '19
- Rutgers MD '23
Avneet Chadha
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Michigan Ann Arbor '18
- Thomas Jefferson MD '23
Adelina Lane
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- U. of Arizona MD '23
Emily Shores
- Atlantis '18
- Clemson U. '19
- U. of South Carolina MD '24
John DeStefano
- Atlantis '19
- The Citadel '20
- MUSC MD '24
Kayla Eboreime
- Atlantis '17
- UT Austin '19
- U. Texas M.B. MD '23
Olivia Federico
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Kansas '21
- U. of Kansas MD '25
Rebecca Early
- Atlantis '17
- U. of South Carolina '20
- U. of South Carolina MD '24
James Dugan
- Atlantis '17
- BYU '19
- U. of Washington MD '23
William DeVries
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Kansas '19
- U. of Kansas MD '24
Matthew Bagby
- Atlantis '19
- Wake Forest U. '21
- U. of Kansas MD '25
Mikhaila Layshock
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Pittsburgh '20
- U. of Pittsburgh MD '25
Lara LePore
- Atlantis '18
- UMD '20
- UMD MD '25
Lauren Diercks
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Kansas '20
- UT Southwestern Medical Center MD '24
Isabelle Kiefaber
- Atlantis '17
- Cornell '19
- UT Southwestern Medical Center MD '24
Emily Chu
- Atlantis '17
- UConn '19
- UConn MD '23
Thomas Caldwell
- Atlantis '17
- Washington and Lee U. '18
- UVA MD '22
Lauren Dunavant
- Atlantis '17
- UGA '18
- UVA MD '22
Caleb Hood
- Atlantis '18
- Auburn U. '19
- UAB MD '24
Sabrina Fleege
- Atlantis '18
- Edgewood College '18
- UW Madison MD '24
Allan Sosa-Ebert
- Atlantis '17
- Johns Hopkins '18
- BU MD '23
Alison Cline
- Atlantis '17
- JSU '18
- UAB MD '23
Paxton Peacock
- Atlantis '18
- Auburn University '20
- UAB MD '24
Michaela Carrier
- Atlantis '17
- UMass Dartmouth '17
- BU MD '22
Kerry Farlie
- Atlantis '17
- Princeton '19
- UF MD '24
Katelyn Paulsen
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '19
- U. Iowa MD '24
Alison Cunningham
- Atlantis '18
- Creighton U. '19
- U. Iowa MD '23
Athena Konicki
- Atlantis '17
- UCLA '18
- Albert Einstein MD '22
Justin Campbell
- Atlantis '18
- USU '18
- U. of Utah MD '23
Brandon Wilde
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Central Arkansas '17
- U. of Utah MD '24
Leah Bode
- Atlantis '18
- Notre Dame '21
- Indiana U. MD '25
Grace Scharf
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Dayton '21
- UC MD '25
Augusto Roca
- Atlantis '17
- Notre Dame '20
- UC MD '24
Aastha Pokharel
- Atlantis '19
- UMass Amherst '19
- UMass MD '25
Beau Mansker
- Atlantis '18
- Indiana U. '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Mateo Cardona Mejia
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Miami '20
- U. of Miami MD '24
Mary Van Schaick
- Atlantis '17
- Scripps College '19
- MCW MD '23
Marissa Vander Missen
- Atlantis '18
- Notre Dame '21
- Indiana U. MD '25
Alexander Pai
- Atlantis '19
- UC Irvine '20
- UC Irvine MD '24
Elizabeth Botto
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Rochester '18
- USF MD '25
Jonathan Trout
- Atlantis '17
- BYU '19
- U. Texas S.A. MD '24
Amira Ishag-Osman
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Chicago '20
- Tufts MD '25
Gaspar Pina Jr
- Atlantis '18
- UT Austin '21
- U. Texas McGovern MD '25
Avi Patel
- Atlantis '17
- UConn '19
- Tufts MD '23
Benjamin Pradell
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Delaware '20
- Thomas Jefferson MD '24
Nalin John
- Atlantis '17
- UIUC '18
- U. of Illinois MD '22
Aleena Dar
- Atlantis '18
- Rutgers - Newark '20
- Rutgers NJSM MD '24
Angeline Rivkin
- Atlantis '17
- UC San Diego '17
- U. of Illinois MD '23
Clara Farrehi
- Atlantis '17
- Haverford '20
- Thomas Jefferson MD '24
Madison Fraser
- Atlantis '18
- Columbia '19
- Hofstra U. MD '23
Molly Wallace
- Atlantis '17
- Northeastern '18
- Thomas Jefferson MD '25
Johnathan Beldin
- Atlantis '17
- Notre Dame '18
- U. of Illinois MD '23
Nancy Elise Venter
- Atlantis '17
- Penn State '19
- Temple U. MD '23
Adam Loeser
- Atlantis '17
- UNC Chapel Hill '18
- Temple U. MD '24
Neil Al-Saidi
- Atlantis '18
- Michigan State U. '20
- Central Michigan U. MD '24
I believe that highlighting the Atlantis experience significantly bolstered my candidacy and helped lead to numerous eventual [medical school] acceptances I was fortunate enough to receive. Whether it was juxtaposing different healthcare models, witnessing a captivating medical procedure, meeting an extraordinary physician, or being deeply moved by a patient’s heartwarming story, the extended clinical shadowing experience offered by Atlantis provides fantastic opportunities for prospective health students in a variety of interests. I am very glad to have had the chance to broaden my medical and cultural horizons with Atlantis before beginning medical school.
Some of Our Alumni in PA Programs
Kelsie Krahenbuhl
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Utah '15
- U. of Charleston PA '21
Caroline Wells
- Atlantis '18
- Appalachian State University '19
- Emory University PA '23
Reena Patel
- Atlantis '17
- UT Austin '19
- UNT HSC PA ’23
Justine Blide
- Atlantis '18
- San Diego State '18
- UC Davis PA '23
Esten Walker
- Atlantis '18
- UNC Chapel Hill '19
- Hofstra U. PA '23
Aaron Phillips
- Atlantis '14
- UC Santa Barbara '16
- Yale PA '23
Kaizeen Badshah
- Atlantis '18
- UIUC '19
- Emory PA '23
Michala Peltak
- Atlantis '18
- U. of New England '18
- Tufts PA '22
Brianna Hackbarth
- Atlantis '18
- Texas A&M '19
- Bethel U. PA '22
Some of Our Alumni in DO Programs
Audrey Barkeloo-Carter
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Tennessee '21
- Lincoln Memorial DO '25
Megan Parod
- Atlantis '18
- UIUC '19
- Marian University DO '23
Daniel Human
- Atlantis '17
- Cal State U. Chico '19
- Pacific Northwest U. DO '24
Daniel Human
Trieste, Italy ’17 || Cal State University, Chico
Program:
Trieste, Italy, Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
University of California, Chico State class of 2019
Major:
Biology
Honors:
Honors program, Dean’s List, Senator of Chico State, National Honor Society
Extracurricular Activities:
Backpacking, hiking, camping, running, boxing
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Organized. Resourceful. Prepared.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
I really enjoyed my time shadowing in the cardiology department and learning about the Italian approach to healthcare as compared to ours in the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
In Italian culture, patient interaction is much more intimate and compassionate. This is something that I definitely want to include in the way that I treat patients during my future career as a doctor. This was a really valuable thing to learn and an aspect that I will always incorporate in my patient care.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Along with learning about healthcare, through the Atlantis program I developed connections with several other pre-medical students.
I was exposed to a different approach to medicine – both the good and the bad of it. I was allowed to see parts of patient care that I had never seen before.
Mikaela Williams
- Atlantis '17
- U. of South Florida '18
- Lake Erie DO '23
Marichelle Pita
- Atlantis '18
- Lehman '15
- NYITCOM DO/MBA/MS '23
Danielle Lehman
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Delaware '19
- Rowan SOM DO '24
Some of Our Alumni in Public Health, Dental, Nursing, and Other Healthcare Programs
Mallory Rickett
- Atlantis '19
- U. of Oklahoma '21
- Rosenberg School of Optometry OD '25
Scarlett Bergam
- Atlantis '18
- Brown '20
- Brown MPH '21
Jackson Mace
- Atlantis '19
- U Delaware '20
- Johns Hopkins PhD '25
Lyndsey McLain
- Atlantis '18
- UNC Chapel Hill '19
- UPenn MPH '21
DeYante Prince
- Atlantis '18
- Morehouse '20
- Boston University MPH '22
Madeleine Burkholder
- Atlantis '17
- Taylor University '19
- SLU MPH '22
Jordyn Britton
- Atlantis '19
- Howard U. '21
- Johns Hopkins MPH '23
Niarah Russell
- Atlantis '17
- Spelman '20
- Johns Hopkins MSN '22
Claudia Fernandez Perez
- Atlantis '19
- UMiami '21
- Johns Hopkins MHS '22
Matthew Wittstein
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Delaware '19
- UConn DMD '23
Rachel Perkins
- Atlantis '18
- Furman University '21
- Georgetown MS Global Health '23
Jennifer Bachar
- Atlantis '18
- U. Maryland '14
- Emory University PA '21
Watch Video: 20+ Alumni Now in Med/PA School Explain: Atlantis Is a Major Reason I Got in Here
This video includes over 20 Alumni, using their own phones, talking on their own terms about Atlantis and why it helped to get them where they are now. Notice how med/PA school interviewers often asked these alumni about the uniqueness of their experience comparing healthcare systems, and notice how these alumni believe these conversations in interviews helped them get in to medical/PA schools. Note that you may have seen several of these alumni speaking, if you played them in the alumni profiles section above.
Written Testimonials Below: Read Almost 100 From Alumni and Others
In addition to the ones above (inside of several alumni profiles), there are almost 100 more written testimonials below. Read alumni, university administrator, and parent testimonials to get to know the program from all different perspectives. Also, we can connect you with one of our pre-health alumni, for either a video call, phone call, or just an email exchange.
Student Testimonials
Are You Pre-Health But Not Pre-Med?
See testimonials specifically from similar students.
Faculty & Administrator Testimonials
Parent Testimonials
See How Atlantis Impacts The Interview
The medical school interview is one of the most important steps towards acceptance. Performance in interviews varies widely, and two candidates with equally strong applications on paper can perform very differently. Consider how Atlantis can help you in your interview.
Feel Free to Also Check Out Reviews About Atlantis on Independent Review Sites
4.96
/5Go Overseas
9.72
/10Go Abroad
An Effective Investment
- Alumni are in 40 of the top 50 MD programs, and also in DO/PA & more
- 93% of Atlantis alumni believe they have progressed on the AAMC competencies on which medical schools assess candidates
- 1/10 of U.S. pre-health advisors has visited our programs in person