Hello,
I recently graduated high school in San Jose, California. Unfortunately, I just started looking into summer internships and programs that would help me gain medical/clinical experience. I plan on doing something this summer, but I have a hard time looking for opportunities that will allow me to start working soon (because some opportunities require me to apply 1-2 months in advance).
Do you know any way to get medical/clinical experience as a recent high school graduate that will allow me to start working for this summer? Thank you in advance.
I’m a rising senior, and I was sort of in the same boat. I tried applying to SIMR and RSI to no avail, and even applied to a volunteer programme at a local hospital in the summer. However, I did apply to all of these in like early spring so I doubt there will be any open places. What I opted for was to shadow a doctor for a month, as I believe it will be a worthwhile experience. You should get in contact with your doctor or just go to a hospital and talk to the department that you are interested in.
Formal clinical summer programs for newly graduated high school students are few and very far between.
Aside from hospitals (which are always flooded with wannabe pre-med volunteers), you should look for volunteer opportunities at at nursing homes, walk-in health clinics (try local public health clinics, clinics that serve the homeless or mentally ill, Planned Parenthood etc), hospice centers, group homes for the physically or mentally disabled, cancer treatment center. Even blood donation centers. All of these will provide excellent opportunities for clinical experience.
I would also suggest looking for paid employment that puts you into directcontact with the public. (Waiter/waitress, retail sales, host/hostess, summer camp staff, fast food counter, summer program leader, etc) Why? Previous paid employment is s plus when looking for future jobs (even as lab volunteers or for work study at college) AND it provides you with an opportunity to improve your personal public interaction skills (vital for physicians who must deal with a wide variety of different personality types/different people and are judged on their patient satisfaction scores).