anyone do any volunteering while in med school?

[TexasTriathlete]

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I am currently a volunteer at a high-traffic level II trauma center. I volunteer late nights on the weekends. In fact, I am there right now, posting from my blackberry.

Does anyone do anything like this while in school? I was thinking maybe 1-2 short shifts per week, just as kind of a stress relief.

Another possible bonus could be getting to know people. If it is a big hospital with a lot of residency programs, maybe I could meet people and talk to them about elective rotations, residency, etc?

For what its worth, this is fun for me. I'm not necessarily looking to get a leg up on clinical skills or anything. Just looking for an outlet that could possibly have some benefits down the road.

Any thoughts?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Obviously, I am talking about years 1-2

 

[cyclohexanol]

I am currently a volunteer at a high-traffic level II trauma center. I volunteer late nights on the weekends. In fact, I am there right now, posting from my blackberry.

Does anyone do anything like this while in school? I was thinking maybe 1-2 short shifts per week, just as kind of a stress relief.

Another possible bonus could be getting to know people. If it is a big hospital with a lot of residency programs, maybe I could meet people and talk to them about elective rotations, residency, etc?

For what its worth, this is fun for me. I'm not necessarily looking to get a leg up on clinical skills or anything. Just looking for an outlet that could possibly have some benefits down the road.

Any thoughts?

Almost everyone I know does some sort of volunteering during years 1-2. For me, it's a chance to get out and actually use some of the skills we're supposed to be learning, and to remember why the hell I decided to do this.

As an aside, at COMP we are also required to do community service projects during first year, and either community service or professional conferences during second year (at least for our class). However, many (including myself) do much more than that on their own accord.

 

[psychbender]

It's not too hard to continue some form of volunteering (or work) all the way through medical school. I worked in EMS probably 30-60 hrs per month during first and second years, and volunteered with a different squad 150+ hrs per month for the first two years. Now, I changed membership status, and only pull 75-100 hrs per month at that squad while I'm out on rotations. It's a great way to maintain clinical skills and critical thinking, while also getting to know the staff and physicians of the neighboring EDs. Also, if we're not too busy, I can study or sleep. I also don't have a family, though, so school and the squad are pretty much the only major things in my life at this time.

 

[Jesus DO]

I am currently a volunteer at a high-traffic level II trauma center. I volunteer late nights on the weekends. In fact, I am there right now, posting from my blackberry.

Does anyone do anything like this while in school? I was thinking maybe 1-2 short shifts per week, just as kind of a stress relief.

Another possible bonus could be getting to know people. If it is a big hospital with a lot of residency programs, maybe I could meet people and talk to them about elective rotations, residency, etc?

For what its worth, this is fun for me. I'm not necessarily looking to get a leg up on clinical skills or anything. Just looking for an outlet that could possibly have some benefits down the road.

Any thoughts?

A great place to help out is your local public school.

The kids are great to help tutor and get to know. I've been to poverty striken urban schools to beautiful suburban schools as well. Great way to unwind, relax, and most of all - be a kid again!

 

[Jamers]

I am currently a volunteer at a high-traffic level II trauma center. I volunteer late nights on the weekends. In fact, I am there right now, posting from my blackberry.

Does anyone do anything like this while in school? I was thinking maybe 1-2 short shifts per week, just as kind of a stress relief.

Another possible bonus could be getting to know people. If it is a big hospital with a lot of residency programs, maybe I could meet people and talk to them about elective rotations, residency, etc?

For what its worth, this is fun for me. I'm not necessarily looking to get a leg up on clinical skills or anything. Just looking for an outlet that could possibly have some benefits down the road.

Any thoughts?

volunteering is very easy in medical school. However, few people I know actually do it. I volunteer on a monthly basis with Habitat. I also do work through our community awareness program (going into schools and doing organ demos or just talking about medicine), school physicals program (highly recommend if your school has one of these) and numerous other things here and there. I know of a few people that TA and consider that to be volunteering...how paid work is volunteer work is beyond me but, eh..

 

[nlax30]

I'd say go for it. There is something to be said for networking and making contacts at residency programs..... I've already been able to go to a state convention and sit in on some lectures and meet some docs around the area.

For me doing little clinical type volunteer activities keeps my motivation up. The other day was just at a local health fair taking blood pressures. Just nice to get out a little bit.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I've contacted the chief of surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta (Level I trauma center, and a big one. Core site for Emory and Morehouse students). She says that they would be happy to have me volunteer there. And they have a surgical critical care residency too.

 

[deleted407021]

*poof*

 

[IslandStyle808]

Volunteering requirement for residency? Oh boy...

I hate to break it to man, but ECs don't mean much at this stage of the game. You do it because you like it and are passionate about it. I would see this more as a talking point in a residency interview.

I repeat do not do this to score brownie points for residency, do it for you!