“Observing healthcare in a different country widened my understanding of how medicine can be practiced in various clinical environments. This experience also challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and learn in an unfamiliar setting, which will be a very useful skill in the future,” reflected Kate Fuller, a biology major who participated in the Atlantis - Pre-Health Shadowing Experiences program in Rome, Italy.
Fuller and a cohort of other students shadowed various physicians at the Istituto Fisioterapico Ospedaliero, a hospital specializing in oncological diseases. As someone on the pre-medicine track at Ohio State, she found the program beneficial both personally and professionally.
“Through this experience, I learned many things about myself. One of which is that I am a bit more independent than I thought I was. Navigating a foreign country that uses a different language is something that I have not experienced before by myself, and I was a little nervous going into the whole experience,” said Fuller, also an honors student in the College of Arts and Sciences. “When you are in a country by yourself surrounded by people and places that are new, adaptability is key, and I learned that it's important to approach uncertainty with confidence and flexibility.”
Outside of the hospital, Fuller immersed herself in the local culture of Rome, getting to experience the landmarks, food and people that make it such a unique place.
“I love to travel, and since I was young, I knew I wanted to spend time abroad. Knowing that Ohio State has such a strong study abroad program, I knew I needed to take advantage of the opportunity. I also wanted to use this program as a chance to meet and connect with people with varying backgrounds and experiences,” she shared.
Some of Fuller’s favorite moments including interacting with the doctors, nurses and patients in the hospital which she shadowed, getting a unique perspective of international healthcare. She also enjoyed making new relationships with the people on her program and exploring surrounding areas.
“During this experience, I loved walking around the city with the girls that I met through the program. It was fun to explore the area and see what it was like to live there as a local. Rome is a beautiful city, and I am very grateful I was able to spend my time there. On the weekends, we had free time, and we used one to visit Positano. It was a very nice change of scenery and was an overall really cool experience.”