I am a non-trad planning on applying to a 1 year post-bacc (career changer) this fall, with plans to pursue a DIY post-bacc if that doesn't pan out. I am curious as to how my previous work experience would be perceived by ADCOMs, both in post-bacc programs and at medical schools. I am concerned that my previous work experience won't be viewed as real clinical exposure since it was an elective cosmetic procedure (that some might even find controversial).
I worked as a clinical assistant at a medical skin care center for two years. This place only did cosmetic procedures. I was basically the doctor's assistant and in addition to administrative work had a lot of "patient" contact- giving patients instructions before/after the procedure, prepping the room/sterilizing equipment, greeting patients and getting them ready for the procedure, cleaning them up and getting them ready to go home at the end, and assisting the doctor throughout the procedure itself (i.e., handing him stuff, helping turn the patient, prepping areas for an incision). I only assisted with the one type of procedure (the only one that the doctor preformed there), which was basically a minimally invasive liposuction using local anesthetic (yes, the patients were awake and talking through most of the procedure- some fell asleep).
This was basically my first job right out of undergrad, and while I don't have any desire to do plastic surgery or cosmetic work in the future, it was a good experience. I wasn't dealing with sick people, but even with an elective cosmetic procedure many people are scared/anxious and were pretty loopy by the end of it (most procedures usually took around 3 hours or more and we did give some oral sedatives).
I am trying to get a volunteer position in a clinical setting, but I am working overseas at the moment in a country where I speak nothing of the native language. My only option is the local U.S. military base where I am trying to become a volunteer, but that will also be difficult to do more than a few hours a month as the clinic is only open during the week, and I work full-time with a LONG commute.
Do you think that adcoms will consider my previous work experience as actual patient care/clinical experience? I am still trying my hardest to do some clinical volunteering or shadowing here, but may have to wait until I return to the States this summer (which only gives me a month or two to shadow/volunteer before applying to these post-bacc programs). Any advice or insight is appreciated.
I worked as a clinical assistant at a medical skin care center for two years. This place only did cosmetic procedures. I was basically the doctor's assistant and in addition to administrative work had a lot of "patient" contact- giving patients instructions before/after the procedure, prepping the room/sterilizing equipment, greeting patients and getting them ready for the procedure, cleaning them up and getting them ready to go home at the end, and assisting the doctor throughout the procedure itself (i.e., handing him stuff, helping turn the patient, prepping areas for an incision). I only assisted with the one type of procedure (the only one that the doctor preformed there), which was basically a minimally invasive liposuction using local anesthetic (yes, the patients were awake and talking through most of the procedure- some fell asleep).
This was basically my first job right out of undergrad, and while I don't have any desire to do plastic surgery or cosmetic work in the future, it was a good experience. I wasn't dealing with sick people, but even with an elective cosmetic procedure many people are scared/anxious and were pretty loopy by the end of it (most procedures usually took around 3 hours or more and we did give some oral sedatives).
I am trying to get a volunteer position in a clinical setting, but I am working overseas at the moment in a country where I speak nothing of the native language. My only option is the local U.S. military base where I am trying to become a volunteer, but that will also be difficult to do more than a few hours a month as the clinic is only open during the week, and I work full-time with a LONG commute.
Do you think that adcoms will consider my previous work experience as actual patient care/clinical experience? I am still trying my hardest to do some clinical volunteering or shadowing here, but may have to wait until I return to the States this summer (which only gives me a month or two to shadow/volunteer before applying to these post-bacc programs). Any advice or insight is appreciated.
