- Dates
- June 1 – 22, 2027
- Location
- Athens, Greece
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Shadowing
- 100+ hours
- Program cost
- $3,957
Program Overview
From June 1 – June 22, 2027, the Melissani Foundation Medical Shadowing in Greece program invites you to step inside a Greek public hospital and see what life in medicine is really like. Over 3 weeks, you will complete at least 100 hours of supervised medical shadowing, observing physicians and clinical staff as they care for patients in a European public healthcare system.
You’ll finish the program with two certificates: a certificate confirming your shadowing hours and a certificate of participation in the program, both of which can strengthen future applications to medical school, other health programs, or global opportunities.
Inside the Hospital
This experience is designed to help you move beyond the classroom and into the clinical environment. You will:
- Observe daily clinical routines in a Greek public hospital, seeing how teams coordinate care, communicate, and make decisions in real time.
- Watch patient interactions, diagnostic workups, and treatment planning, gaining a clearer sense of what physicians and other health professionals actually do each day.
- Practice professional behavior, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity as part of a real healthcare team’s environment.
You will not perform any medical procedures, but you will stand close enough to see the realities of hospital life—both the rewarding moments and the challenges. Many students use this kind of structured shadowing to clarify whether a medical or health career aligns with their strengths, values, and long-term goals.
Beyond the Hospital: Greece as Your Classroom
Your learning does not stop at the hospital doors. The program includes two curated excursions that let you experience Greece’s culture, landscape, and rhythm of life:
- A one-day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Spetses, with time to explore historic ports, walk through island streets, and relax by the sea between intensive shadowing days.
- A day trip to Chalkida, where you can enjoy coastal views, local neighborhoods, and authentic Greek food.
Beyond these excursions, you will be immersed in Greek daily life—from navigating local shops and cafés to observing how families, communities, and healthcare providers interact. This day-to-day experience helps you develop intercultural competence, including greater cultural awareness, adaptability, and comfort communicating across language and cultural differences, skills that are increasingly valued in healthcare and global professions.
As you learn about Greek customs, traditions, and social norms, you will also see how culture influences health behaviors, expectations of care, and patient–provider relationships. These insights encourage you to think more deeply about what it means to offer patient-centered care in diverse settings and to carry that perspective into your future studies and career.
These experiences give you space to reflect on what you’ve seen in the hospital, connect with peers from different backgrounds, and build a more global mindset—one that will serve you in medical school, graduate programs, and any internationally oriented career path.
Who This Program Is For
This program is a strong fit if you:
- Are planning to apply to medical school or other health-related programs and want substantial, documented shadowing hours that stand out.
- Are exploring global health, public health, nursing, physician assistant studies, or other health professions, and want to see how care is delivered in another country.
- Are curious, adaptable, and excited to learn in a new cultural and clinical environment.
While the program especially targets students interested in medicine, students from any academic background are welcome to apply as long as they meet the requirements and have a genuine interest in healthcare or global learning.