Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community while exploring your intended career
Internship and Volunteer Opportunities Directory
Here are internship and volunteer opportunities related to medicine, mental health, dentistry, animal care, community outreach, and more. We encourage each student to learn more about these experiences.
Clinical Opportunities
Volunteer at medical centers, hospitals, clinics, health centers, and other organizations.
Pre-Vet
Participate in animal care at humane societies, shelters, and adoption centers.
Community Outreach
Take part in other community service opportunities including food pantries, tutoring, family services, and more.
Benefits of Volunteering
Pre-health students should plan to volunteer for a couple of hours each week for several years, during breaks from school, and during summer months. As a future applicant to health professional school, you should demonstrate the following:
- You understand the profession and the role of healthcare professionals.
- You understand what is required to work with patients daily and are professional.
- You thrive in a dynamic, health-centered environment.
- You have had multiple experiences in various settings to test your fit for your intended career.
- You have qualities and skills that are well-suited for the profession.
- You can work in teams, possess leadership skills when needed, communicate effectively, and be proactive.
- You are invested in bettering the lives of others.
- You have made connections with people who work in a healthcare setting who can endorse your application through a strong letter of recommendation.
While all volunteering is encouraged, make sure that some of your work gives you clinical experience (direct patient contact). This experience teaches you what patients experience, what challenges exist, how to interact with sick people, and who does what in the realm of healthcare delivery.
Additionally, some of your volunteer work should be specific to your intended profession (i.e. a pre-dental student should work with a dentist and so forth).