Finding Clinical Experience Opportunities

Camps exist across the nation for children afflicted with life-altering illnesses, ranging from cancer to diabetes. They provide a safe structured environment for children battling these diseases to have fun and learn from others going through the same struggles. For many of these children, the camp environment can turn out to be a lifesaver, keeping them grounded through their treatment and giving them an outlet to deal with the complex emotions that come along with having a chronic illness.
Pre-med students interested in joining the medical field, just like you, often work as counselors at these camps. Medical students are also typically among the camp volunteers. So, if you’re able to get involved as an undergraduate, you can not only gain clinical experience caring for sick children and working with the camp physicians, but you’ll also have the opportunity to talk with the medical students and learn from their more seasoned perspectives on the medical school application process and the profession.
These camps often take a lighthearted and fun approach to the diseases they sponsor. For example, Camp Wannaklot, the camp for children with bleeding disorders, uses Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” as a theme song (no lie). Volunteering at these camps can not only offer you the clinical experience you’re looking for, but it can also transform your career path, perhaps piquing an interest you didn’t even know you had.

Residents of assisted living centers are usually grateful for projects and performances designed to entertain and reach out to them. Yet pre-med students often overlook this as an opportunity to gain exposure to the medical field. These residents are not patients in the strictest sense, but if you volunteer your time and voice your interest in the medical field, the nurses and staff that run the center will likely be more than happy to teach you about geriatric medicine and palliative care. What’s more, these two fields are sorely in need of medical professionals. Gaining some experience in these areas early on will be extremely helpful when interviewing for jobs once you enter the medical field.
Don’t draw the line at medically-focused volunteer work. Assisted living centers also have musical performances for the residents, fitness activities, and arts and crafts. Work up a proposal for something fun for the residents to take part in and present it to the director. This will show initiative and, more importantly, your creativity and devotion to the patients beyond merely gaining a line on your medical school application. You might be surprised by what the experience gives you.

Between Relay for Life, the AHA Heartwalk, and various local organizations, fundraising opportunities for medical charities abound. By joining such causes, pre-med students can gain meaningful clinical experience and bolster their medical school application while also serving the community.
As you volunteer your time, express your desire to work directly with both disease survivors and current patients. Offer to coordinate survivor outreach, which will give you the chance to talk with and learn from those who have battled serious illnesses and won. Help connect survivors to one another to share their stories. You might also offer to work with the families of those who have lost loved ones to disease. Remember, joining these causes isn’t just about securing donations—it’s an often overlooked way to connect meaningfully with those affected by disease.