The six-week program offered through the Atlantis Project (AP), a provider focused exclusively on healthcare internships, consists of a 20+hours per week hospital shadowing experience at a hospital in Spain. It is the ideal experiential learning opportunity for pre-med and pre-nursing students as well as those interested in clinical health areas such as physiology, developmental biology, exercise science, medical diagnostics, microbiology, neuroscience, physical therapy, and other allied health fields.  Participants will gain extensive observation experience in a hospital setting, a broadened perspective on the medical vocation, and a comparative lens to examine global healthcare. 

Students selected as AP Fellows will shadow four days per week (a min. of five hours daily) from early morning to early afternoon and rotate through different clinical areas on a weekly basis.  All Atlantis Project partner hospitals, from the smallest to the largest, offer a large array of medical departments to observe, however, it is important to note that some specialties may not be available.  In addition to shadowing, students will have the opportunity to give back to their community by teaching English to medical professionals or volunteering in other capacities at the hospital for 3-5 hours per week.  

It is important to note that, unlike other global health experiences which send students to developing nations, this program operates in Spain where the hospitals and healthcare practice standards are comparable to those of the United States. Though AP Fellows often see more than they typically would in a United States hospital, they are expected to only do that which they would be permitted to do in the United States. The Atlantis Project is committed to adhering to AAMC guidelines for pre-health students participating in a clinical experience abroad and so the fellowships are observational-only (clinical skills are not practiced). 

AP Fellows will also have ample opportunity to experience the cuisine, immerse themselves in the culture and history of Spain, and explore its breath-taking natural beauty. Two cultural immersion events will be offered weekly (one all-day on Wednesdays and one half-day on Sundays), typically to locations of cultural and historical significance near the program site.  Depending on the program location, excursions may include hiking, whale-watching, beach trips, attending local festivals, caving and canyoning, visiting historical sites and national parks, and more.