While shadowing I observed a ton of surgeries, face-to-face patient interactions, and even got to spend time in the neonatal unit working with newborn babies. I was blown away by the professionalism, kindness, and willingness of the physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals I worked with; they were extremely helpful in explaining procedures to me in English and ensuring I was getting the best experience possible.
Outside of the hospital on the weekends, my peers and I would make plans together to see what fun activities we could come up with to do. My favorite experiences were going to Lake Como and Venice for day trips; we saw so many beautiful places and enjoyed the most amazing food together on these trips, especially the gelato!
Overall I am extremely grateful I was able to participate in this program and immerse myself in the Italian healthcare system and culture. Because I have experience growing up in a medically underserved community and working heavily in clinical settings with adjacent communities, I am a huge advocate for cultural humility in the medical field. This is why I feel so passionately about this program and the opportunity it provides students to travel and immerse themselves in a world culture that they may be unfamiliar with.
I believe that my experiences shadowing abroad has strengthened my cultural humility and taken me out of my comfort zone; this will not only aid me in becoming a knowledgeable, culturally-sensitive physician in the future, but it will also aid me in becoming a simply better individual in my present life.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Doctors in Italy team for providing such an amazing experience. And to my fellow pre-health students, I highly encourage you to participate in this program; if you are looking to increase your cultural awareness, immerse yourself in the medical field, and make some life-long connections, you have found the right place!
To read more about Amrit’s journey as written by UC Davis College, click here.