Anna Julia Simonini Pereira
University of Florida- College of Liberal Arts and Science
Anna Julia, ready to step into the OR at Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna.
"I remember being in the OR and observing the surgery while some music faintly played in the background thinking that this is what I wanted to do and how glad I was that I got to experience it. "
Ana Julia with her fellow fiends, posing at one of the main entrances of the hospital.
Anna Julia and her friends exploring Bologna ontheir free afternoons.
Anna Julia starting her clinical shadowing day in Pediatrics at Sant’Orsola Hospital.
When Anna Julia Simonini Pereira, a Brazilian-born student at the University of Florida, came across the Doctors in Italy Fellowship program, she immediately recognized it as a unique blend of her passions: medicine, language, and cultural immersion.
As a Psychology major with a minor in Italian Studies, and an Italian citizen herself, Anna was eager to deepen her understanding of healthcare while exploring her heritage. Her time shadowing doctors at the Policlinico Sant’Orsola-Malpighi in Bologna offered not only professional insight and surgical inspiration but also daily adventures with fellow international students, sparking personal growth and unforgettable memories along the way.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you’re studying now?
My name is Anna Julia Simonini Pereira and I was born and raised in Brazil and then I moved to the United States when I was 11 years old. I am a Junior at the University of Florida, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Italian Studies.
Why did you choose to join the Doctors in Italy Fellowship program?
I learned about the Doctors in Italy Fellowship program through social media during a time where I wanted to learn more about the medical field and different areas within that. Additionally, I am an Italian citizen and have been learning Italian over the past few years and thought that this would be an amazing experience to get to learn more about medicine and the Italian culture whilst practicing my Italian. This program combined so many areas of interest to me whilst providing me with a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What did a typical day look like for you during the program?
A typical day for me during the program started with me and my friends from the program going to eat breakfast together and then getting on the bus that would take us to the hospital. Our amazing Program Coordinator, Marie, would then meet us at the bus stop by the hospital and tell us what specialty each one of us would shadow on that day and then walk us to each of our specialties. Our shadowing days typically started at 08:30 and ended around 13:00. During that time we would follow doctors around and they explained to us the cases and sometimes would let us be more interactive with the patients. After that we would meet by the bus stop and go get lunch together. The later part of our days were spent exploring Bologna and spending time together at the living hall we were staying at. The days were a perfect mix of shadowing, cultural exploration, and socialization with the other members of the program.
What was the most memorable experience you had while shadowing?
One of the most memorable experiences I had while shadowing was the first orthopedic surgery that I watched alongside two of my friends from the program. Orthopedic surgery had long been one of my fascinations and specialties that I was the most interested in. We were in the OR observing the surgery while one of the doctors explained to us the case, the procedure and he made it so that we would have a clear view of the surgery. The surgery consisted of a humeral prosthesis removal and replacement due to infection and I felt as if I was watching a scene in a movie. It was absolutely fascinating from start to finish. I remember being in the OR and observing the surgery while some music faintly played in the background thinking that this is what I wanted to do and how glad I was that I got to experience it.
What new skills or knowledge did you gain from this experience?
This experience taught me a lot about different specialties, procedures, conditions, exams, patient care, and so much more. The days where I felt like I learned the most about many different topics were the days where I was shadowing Pediatrics. On those days I got to do rounds with the doctors and observe multiple different cases. The doctors made sure that I had the breakdown of each case and explained to me each case before seeing the patient and explained what their exams had found following the visit.
Do you feel better prepared for medical school/your next step because of this program?
I do feel better prepared for medical school and my next steps because of this program. This program allowed me to be immersed in the medical field and I learned so much from that experience that I will use in my future.
What advice would you give to future students considering the Doctors in Italy Fellowship?
To future students considering the Doctors in Italy Fellowship I would say to put yourself out there and to join the program because you will learn so many things while making amazing memories in Italy. You will learn so much from so many specialties and doctors and you will get to learn about Italian culture and about yourself throughout the course of the program.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with future students or our community?
The Doctors in Italy Fellowship Program has brought me so many amazing memories and experiences that I will forever cherish. It gave me the opportunity to learn so much about different cultures from living Italian culture for a few weeks to learning about my program friends’ cultures. I would just like to thank the Doctors in Italy Program, Marie, and my new friends for making this experience into what it was.
