<p>I have a question: is it necessary to have patient contact in volunteer work? I work in a lab now (as dealing mostly with cells) and I'm really enjoying it. I clock in about 16.5 hrs a week, but I know that's not what med school would be like. Unfortunately I'll have to weather clinicals, and, though I am working on a minor in communication, am proficient in communication (even fluid - I'm part of a NPHC Greek org), I'd much prefer to work in a lab setting. Also, if I were to make it out of an MD program, I'd prefer to work in a lab setting as a a pathologist.
Basically, should I try my hand at patient contact in order to prepare myself for clinicals in med school... would it make my application stronger if I were to do a patient contact kind of volunteering position? Or can I stick with what I'm doing?</p>
<p>You need to have patient contact as part of your medical volunteering for med school. Lab experience is fine, but as a physician you will be dealing with people, not cells.</p>
<p>Wait until your OB/Gyn rotation, you have no idea the extent of your contact.</p>
<p>Nah, keep the lab position since you enjoy what you are doing and you’ll get great LORs.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the assoc professor that runs the lab originally worked in the College of Medicine. I figure if I work hard I’ll not only be able to get solid Letters of Rec, but also improve on my project so much so that I’ll be able to apply for credit in the Fall and MAYBE (this is the goal) enter my work into a competition for lab funding.
Ack, I am really enjoying the lab experience so far…far more than any kind of patient contact (as I predicted, I’m definitely more introverted and focused on problem-solving as opposed to focused on relating to other people) but I guess I should try it out before judging the experience.
Volunteering at the local hospice? Something along those lines?
I definitely wouldn’t go the traditional doctor-sees-patients-in-office route if I were to make it in (and through) med school, however.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes - it is imperative that you work/volunteer/shadow in a clinical setting.</p>
<p>But from reading your post, it’s clear you won’t enjoy the clinical aspect of medicine (i.e. dealing with patients). But really, you can’t escape that part of medicine completely. Have you considered a research career in the medical sciences as a PhD? It sounds like thats what you enjoy.</p>
<p>
I was considering academic research until I took a course and was introduced to this video: [Naturally</a> Obsessed | THIRTEEN](<a href=“http://www.thirteen.org/naturally-obsessed/]Naturally”>Retired Website | THIRTEEN)
I fully admire and respect those researchers. But I’m not sure I have the ingenuity for the field. Certainly, my personality is set up for dedication to a field, and I feel as though I can be trained well in a known and well-studied field. But being on the edge of science, by myself (or with only a few other people?) ?..it’s intimidating.
Furthermore, two of those students covered had their personal lives wrecked by the pursuit of a PhD. This really makes me think about academic science.</p>
<p>Vertigo–</p>
<p>By all means keep the lab research position. It’s great thing to have on your resume. But get the patient contact too. You need both.</p>
<p>D2 in the 2 years she’s worked in her lab has gotten both credit AND an hourly wage. (Sometime one or the other; sometimes both at the same time. Next year–her senior year-- besides getting paid and getting credit, she will also be writing a honors thesis based upon her independent research project that she’s been working for more than 2 years.)</p>
<p>Hospice volunteering is fine, but be aware that hospice work is very emotionally difficult. (As D2 is finding out this summer. And she has had plenty of previous volunteer experience with patients, often with patients who have limited chances at significant recovery—e.g. severe head injury/stroke patients)</p>
<p>A career as an academic researcher is not for the faint of heart. It takes a certain type of very strong personality to be successful at it. (I can tell you all about it. My late husband was an academic scientist…All I can say it’s good thing I’m an understanding person. He got so involved in an experiment once, he didn’t show up for our wedding rehearsal. True story.) While being a academic scientist does require huge dedication, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice a personal life. You have to learn how to balance both your personal and professional life. Some people are more successful at it than others. Still as an academic researcher you will have those 70-90 hours weeks…</p>
<p>As an academic scientist today, you will have to good people skills since science is now a very collaborative effort. The lone scientist in his lab is a thing of the distant past. (Not to mention you need good people skills to woo funding from various committees. Funding is not a matter of the innate genius of your ideas; it’s very, very political.)</p>
<p>That’s one thing I really enjoy about the lab - the collaborative efforts that come into play. Don’t get me wrong - I enjoy socializing. I have friends, I’m in a sorority, etc…I just also enjoy working by myself. The lab gives me the opportunity to gauge the amount of socialization I get out of a work experience very very effectively I feel.
I’ll have to consider the research scientist bit. Though it’s definitely a possibility that I’m now reconsidering.
Thank you for all of the advice/help!</p>
<p>D. did both internship in Med. Research Lab and volunteering, both overlapping 2 -3 years both at her UG and some volunteering in home town during summers. She has enjoyed both. She has also enjoyed her sorority and all kind of various events at college.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll look into clinical things too. Maybe I’ll like them…I guess I’ll just have to keep an open mind!
Thanks everybody for the responses.</p>