Internships, Experiences, & Placements
Internships for pre-health students are opportunities to gain practical knowledge, develop skills, and enhance your resumes as you prepare for medical or healthcare-related graduate programs.
- Clinical Internships: These internships involve working in hospitals, clinics, or private practices, where students assist with patient care, observe medical procedures, and sometimes interact directly with patients under supervision. They help students understand the clinical environment and improve communication and patient care skills.
- Research Internships: These opportunities typically involve working in labs or research institutions, assisting with scientific studies or medical research. Students might help collect data, analyze results, or support experiments related to medical breakthroughs, disease treatments, or healthcare innovations.
- Public Health Internships: For students interested in the broader scope of health, these internships involve working with public health organizations, government agencies, or nonprofits. Interns may assist in health education, policy advocacy, epidemiology, or community health projects, gaining insight into preventive healthcare and public health initiatives.
- Medical Scribe Positions: Medical scribes work alongside physicians in clinical settings, documenting patient encounters, assisting with administrative tasks, and gaining an in-depth understanding of patient care workflows. This role is often ideal for students looking to enter medical school.
- Healthcare Administration Internships: These internships involve supporting the management side of healthcare, such as working with hospital or clinic administration. Tasks may include assisting with operations, data management, policy implementation, and improving efficiency in healthcare delivery.
- Shadowing Opportunities: While not always formal internships, shadowing healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc.) offers pre-health students a chance to observe the day-to-day responsibilities of medical professionals, which can be essential for making informed career decisions.
Internships can be paid or unpaid and may be available year-round, though many students pursue them during the summer months. They are often competitive, so pre-health students should start looking early and ensure they meet any application deadlines or prerequisites.