I’m joana, a Portuguese UK-based dentist since 2009. I have been working closely with international patients who are considering healthcare abroad and over the years, I’ve realized that many of the questions people have are not strictly clinical — they’re about trust, safety, travel, recovery, and how healthcare fits into real life.

This blog is a space for reflection and guidance. It’s not intended to provide medical advice or replace a consultation. Instead, it shares my professional perspective on health tourism, the experience of travelling for care, and why Portugal has become such an important part of these conversations.

For clinical decision-making, I’ve created separate patient guides.( fell free to have a look…………………) Here, I write more personally — about context, experience and the human side of choosing care abroad.

If you’re exploring this path, I hope these reflections help you feel more informed, calmer and supported as you take your next steps.