If you’re a high school student interested in pre-med and a career in medicine, it’s a good idea to “take a test drive” of work in the medical field.
Building experience in the medical field now can help you determine whether this is truly the right career path for you.
In addition, you’ll develop valuable skills, knowledge, and experience that will benefit you in the future. Gaining experience in the medical field now also demonstrates that you’re serious about medicine and can make your college applications more competitive.
Volunteer at a hospital, homeless shelter, or health clinic. One of the best ways to build experience in the medical field is by volunteering at a local hospital or health clinic.
Of course, volunteers don’t take on the same duties as a medical professional or medical student, but you may be able to greet and provide customer service to patients, answer phones and file paperwork, or help make patients comfortable. Volunteering in a hospital or clinical setting allows you to interact with and observe doctors, work with patients, and experience a real-world medical environment. This experience can help you gauge whether you would really like to work in the medical field on a daily basis. If you know that you’d like to practice medicine in rural areas or in underserved neighborhoods, volunteer in communities that reflect the populations you’ll be working with in the future.
Apply for a research or internship Program
Many medical associations, colleges, and universities offer internships and research positions for high school students. These programs typically occur at various times throughout the year. Your duties and experiences will vary, but many programs include a job shadowing component, as well as hands-on practice of skills or research alongside noted scientists and medical professionals.
Job shadow/tour Job
Shadowing allows you to spend a day or several days observing a professional in a job that interests you. You may have the chance to perform some basic job duties, and you’ll get to discuss the career with a professional and learn about their schedule, day-to-day experiences, and responsibilities. It gives you the necessary clinical exposure and behind the scenes look at the nitty gritty of dealing with patients. You can build connections, gain knowledge and skills, and have experiences that will serve you well in medical school and in your future career as a physician. You’ll also make your college application more competitive.
Earn a certificate
Today there is a certificate program for pretty much all industries, as technology and industry standards continue to evolve. Ranging from global health to nutrition, informatics to information security, healthcare certificate courses cover a range of careers. Unlike certification programs, a healthcare certificate, may result in a certificate of completion rather than a certification in a specialty or advanced skill acknowledgment. Shorter than full undergraduate degrees, online healthcare certificate courses may last a few weeks to around 18 months.
Don’t wait
No matter how you do it, gaining experience in the medical field is extremely beneficial for medical school hopefuls. You can gauge whether medicine is the right career for you and perhaps even find a specific population you’d like to work with or type of medicine you’d like to practice. You can build connections, gain knowledge and skills, and have experiences that will serve you well in medical school and in your future career as a healthcare professional. You’ll also make your college application more competitive. So, volunteer at a hospital, apply for a research or internship position, attend a summer medical program, job shadow a doctor, or even find other volunteer work serving others. Taking these steps now can make your road to a medical career a smoother and easier path to travel..
