Atlantis

I wanted to do an international program for a few reasons. First, global exposure is both useful for self-growth and creating a more thorough and well rounded internal perspective. It also reflects positively on a student's willingness to step beyond their boundaries of what is comfortable and seek to experience the unfamiliar. Second, as medicine continually evolves to be more inclusive, team oriented, and globally integrated, shadowing outside of the U.S. allows for valuable insight into the many similarities and differences between American healthcare and the varying systems of other regions. Also, traveling to Europe for the summer tends to sound promising!

I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain in 2013 and had been trying to figure out a way to return to Spain ever since. Additionally, I have been studying Spanish for seven years so I knew I wanted to be able to use my Spanish during my internship. The Canary Islands offered me a chance to do that! Plus, you can’t beat the Canary Islands during the summer, beaches, mountains, and perfect weather.

I chose to intern abroad because I wanted to experience what medicine in a different country is like. Health care is a huge aspect of the American system and I have been able to be a part of that through shadowing and volunteering. I knew what it was like to work in an American hospital, but one thing I am interested in is medical missions. I want to go into rural areas of the United States and other countries and help those who cannot afford health care. One step in pursuing that dream was to try interning in another country.