CEA CAPA Directory

My favorite experience abroad was my time in the cardiology department. I loved the pace of the department and seeing how quickly physicians and the medical team had to think, communicate, and respond to changes in a patient's condition. One of the experiences that impacted me most was observing a procedure that did not go as expected. Instead of panicking, I watched the medical team immediately adjust, communicate, and work together to respond to the complication. Seeing their ability to remain focused under pressure fascinated me and gave me an entirely different perspective on medicine. That experience also taught me something important about myself. For most of my life, I thought I wanted to become an OB-GYN. However, after being exposed to cardiology and experiencing the intensity, complexity, and fast-paced nature of cardiovascular medicine firsthand, I realized that OB-GYN was not the field for me. My experience in Croatia helped me discover how strongly I am drawn to the heart and ultimately gave me greater confidence in my goal of pursuing cardiothoracic surgery. I went abroad expecting to learn more about medicine, but I did not expect the experience to provide so much clarity about the type of physician I hope to become.

One of my favorite parts of studying abroad in Croatia was experiencing Zagreb beyond the hospital and really getting a feel for the local community. My roommates and I spent time exploring the city together, but I also challenged myself to spend a few days exploring on my own. I visited an outdoor food market, went inside a local church, learned how to navigate the train system, and traveled to see the beautiful mountains and scenery surrounding the city. Those moments gave me the opportunity to slow down, observe everyday life in Croatia, and appreciate the culture outside of the traditional tourist experience. Soccer was also a huge part of the atmosphere while we were there, and we had the opportunity to celebrate alongside locals as matches were being played. Seeing how the community came together through sports, food, faith, and everyday traditions made me feel more connected to Zagreb and made the experience much more than simply traveling to another country.