Submitted by Elizabeth Brown-Cordero on the 2019 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences…
I was the first one in the apartment in Athens, Greece waiting for my three roommates to arrive. I was nervous about many things. The first thing was meeting them for the first time because I didn’t think we would get along. Fortunately, I am becoming close friends with them and we have bonded over a lot. Another thing I was very nervous about was shadowing at the hospital. It was my first ever experience working at a hospital and the first time I ever got to truly understand the daily life of a doctor and everything they go through. Before joining the program, I was going back and forth with the idea of becoming a medical professional such as a doctor. I was going to utilize my experience at the hospital to see if I can see myself living the life of a doctor. I was relieved to discover that I can! I can picture myself becoming a pediatrician and working with hospitalized children to better their conditions. I even came to realize why I wanted to work with children so badly. Children are so naïve and untouched by the horrors of this world. All they can do is smile and laugh and look at everything through a positive lens. Coming from a history of depression and anxiety, working with children reminds me to stay positive, keep an open mind, and live life to the fullest.
Something else I realized about my experience in the hospital is that I definitely don’t want to become a surgeon. Although I am the type of person who loves horror movies, I can not watch a surgery in real life without cringing. It is not for me. I am more of the type of person to interact with a patient. Aside from the hospital, I was surprised at how much I would love Greece. It is absolutely beautiful here. I am so appreciative of my time here. I love how I can just walk outside my apartment complex and find a beautiful street with lots of restaurants and shops. The people here are so friendly and welcoming. Everywhere I look, there is much more beauty compared to America.
However, something that really caught my eye and shocked me was how different hospitals in Greece are compared to hospitals in America. The hospital I am currently shadowing at, Attikon General Hospital, is a bit disorganized. I was surprised to find out that the ER only runs once every four days, there is no specified staff for the ER (only surgeons from all different types of departments), surgeries are a lot cheaper than in the United States because there is free health care and medical school is free. I was absolutely baffled to find out that last piece of information because I will be in student debt for the rest of my life. Anyway, I am excited to continue learning about this beautiful country and the health care system during my next two weeks here.
