Medical schools are interested in well rounded, broadly educated
students. The classroom is only one component of the educational experience. A
strong community service record and experience in a health-related field
are important components of an application to a health professional program.
Opportunities can be found through community involvement, medically related
activities, undergraduate research, and campus organizations, as well as
national and international exchange programs. Find something you like to
do, not just something you think will look good to an admission committee.
In addition to health related volunteering, extracurricular activities should
demonstrate a commitment to caring, encourage personal growth, leadership and
teamwork, and show that you are people centered. Five hundred hours of sustained
involvement is generally the accepted minimum, and a significant portion of
an applicant's experience should involve direct patient contact. Participating
in a formal “internship” is not required. Medically related
experience may be paid as well as volunteer. Seek out opportunities that help
you learn more about the medical field. Admission committees want to know that
your decision to become a health care professional is well informed and based
on actual exposure to the profession.
Health-related experience can be found by volunteering at local hospitals,
hospice centers, Aids prevention programs, community health clinics, rehabilitation
centers, long term care and skilled nursing homes, etc. Many organizations
will expect a set time commitment from the volunteer over a period of months.
Although a volunteer, organizations depend on your reliability and commitment
to the schedule. Volunteers should expect to attend training sessions and,
in most hospitals, will be required to obtain specific immunizations.
Job shadowing, or volunteering, with an individual practitioner is another means of gaining experience/knowledge. You may want to approach your family practitioner or a doctor who has seen you previously as a patient. The experience may allow more one-on-one in-office exposure. In addition, your family doctor may be willing to recommend you to other colleagues who can offer additional opportunities.
Students are usually asked to make a commitment for the semester to volunteer for up to four hours a week.
• Portsmouth Hospital: 433-4002.
• Exeter Hospital: 778-7311, ext. 6331.
•
Volunteer Services Assistant, (603) 332-3100 ext. 8329
http://www.frisbiehospital.com
York (ME) Hospital: 207-351-2224.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (
Wentworth Douglass Hospital Dental Center http://www.wdhospital.com/about/news/press.php?NewsID=428
Check the yellow pages/or do an on-line search for Clinics, Hospitals, Hospices, Nursing Homes, and Physicians to find other local health-related settings in which to volunteer.
Local Opportunities
Office of Community Service and Learning, Community service at UNH
Student Service Organizations
The Leadership Center
Families First Health and
Support Center: MEDICAL AND DENTAL
Compass Care: A nonprofit organization
with a clear and unwavering focus: to enhance the health and quality of life
of seniors
Coalition
For New Hamphsire Oral Health Action
New Hampshire Health Care Association
Avis Goodwin Community Health Center
The Homemakers Of Strafford County Aka The Homemakers Health Services
Riverside Rest Home Dover, NH
Jerry Reese, Director Of Volunteers, (603) 742-1348
New Hampshire Health Policy Institute
International Medical Equipment Collaborative - based in Portsmouth, NH
McGregor Memorial EMS (formerly Durham Ambulance Corps) (DAC) 862-3674
A volunteer organization, located on the UNH campus, providing
primary emergency medical care to the communities of Durham, Lee, Madbury
and UNH. Currently about one third of the 55 volunteers are UNH
students. Volunteer opportunities are available for UNH students who
have an interest in medicine and either have obtained or are interested
in obtaining their EMT certification. DAC provides a unique opportunity
to gain valuable field experience and provide actual hands-on medical
care.
EMT Certification
Some health professions students gain paid experience by working as a certified
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The UNH Kinesiology Department offers
a 5-credit course (KIN 684/685) called Emergency Medical Care: Principles
and Practices that prepares students to take the EMT certifying exam. This
course is very popular, so students should obtain a permission slip from
the Kinesiology Department as soon as registration begins.
Volunteer Action Center, United Way of Greater Seacoast, Portsmouth NH (603) 436- 5554
National Volunteer Opportunities
The Corporation for National and Community Service
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps
International Volunteer Opportunities
The following organizations provide opportunities for exposure to healthcare in a wide variety of settings. A listing here in no way endorses a program. It is simply a resource for students to explore.
Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS)
Child and Family Health International
International Medical Volunteers Association
International Service Learning.
Medical Ministry International
Projects Abroad - Medical and Dental.
Remote Area Medical U.S. and International
School for International Training
USC Somos Hermanos Student Immersion Program
Visions in Action
Institute for International Cooperation and Development
→ Most summer programs have application deadlines in February and March if not earlier.
Summer Medical Education Program (SMEP) SMDEP is a free (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer medical and dental school preparatory program that offers eligible students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation.
Department of Emergency Medicine
Bellevue Hospital Center/ NYU School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Summer PremedicalAcademicEnrichment Program SPAEP Level II is a summer research program that includes admission skills seminars and MCAT prep. Programs are targeted toward underrepresented and disadvantaged premedical students, and feature clinical shadow time, a great range of enrichment activities, and a bus trip to tour the NIH. See the red link under the student profile
Univ. of Cincinnati Summer Surgery Experience
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Summer Programs: Click on "Special Programs" or "Prospective Students" and then on "Summer Programs"
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Summer Institute in Anatomy, the Institute will offer a four week Human Anatomy course in June, on the campus of the JHU School of Medicine in Baltimore
Health Professions Summer Programs Listing from
Podiatry Internships
The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Univ. of California Berkeley Optometry Opto-Camp
UNH Research Opportunities
Research may be an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of your academic commitment. You may develop your own research project, work as part of an ongoing research project or develop an independent study supervised by a professor. The value is not solely in the research itself but the quality of your personal involvement. Opportunities are available in all disciplines. Talk with your professors/advisors and investigate UROP and IROP:
External Research / Clinical Opportunities:
→ Most summer programs have application deadlines in February and March if not earlier
Maine Medical Center Research Institute Summer Student Research Program
University of Connecticut Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
Research Associate (RA) in the clinical research program at St. Vincent 's Medical Center Emergency Department in
New York University Medical Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
National Institute of Health Research and Training Opportunities, Lists multiple opportunities for undergrads and grads.
NIH: Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
MayoGraduateSchool Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Summer Program, Buffalo, NY Click on Education, then Summer Programs
Sloan-Kettering Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program Freshman and sophomore underrepresented minority and/or disadvantaged students experience life as a MD-PhD student.
PostBaccalaureat Opportunities:
For more information on post-bac programs:
Postbac Programs for Medical School Applicants and search for programs at: http://services.aamc.org/postbac
National Institute of Health Research and Training Opportunities
Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award
For recent college graduates who plan to apply to graduate or professional school.
NIH Graduate Partnerships Program MD/PhD programs
