Can my hours as a surgical tech in the Navy be counted towards the clinical hours when applying?

[Coterra]

I was a hospital corpsman/surgical tech in the Navy for about 4-5 years, and I think I've accumulated a total of roughly >7k hours of being scrubbed in. I'm kind of sure those hours will help me, though not 100%. And if they do count, is it safe for me to focus more on non medical volunteering hours instead? My volunteer hours for non medical work is extremely low. I also don't have many hours as shadowing a physician yet, so I've been looking at scribing.

Thank you all!

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[Goro]

Absolutely!!!

And many thanks for your service to our country.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

I was a hospital corpsman/surgical tech in the Navy for about 4-5 years, and I think I've accumulated a total of roughly >7k hours of being scrubbed in. I'm kind of sure those hours will help me, though not 100%. And if they do count, is it safe for me to focus more on non medical volunteering hours instead? My volunteer hours for non medical work is extremely low. I also don't have many hours as shadowing a physician yet, so I've been looking at scribing.

Thank you all!

Not only will they help you, they'll move you near the top of clinical experiences. Not to mention, probably brings some great stories and experiences you can talk about in an interview.

So yes, fill in the rest of your app but you're solid here. Thank you for your service.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[MisterMukwa]

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[LizzyM]

Your corpsman work was with patients so it absolutlely counts as clinical. Non-clinical volunteering is great but given that we have an all-volunteer Navy, you will certainly get brownie points for your service to our country.

Get some shadowing with non-surgical specialities and you'll be golden.

 

[deleted599599]

Fellow HM applying right now, definitely include all your hours as clinical. I have minimal "shadowing" but your relationships with physicians can be huge in LORS and your experiences.

 

[Coterra]

Your corpsman work was with patients so it absolutlely counts as clinical. Non-clinical volunteering is great but given that we have an all-volunteer Navy, you will certainly get brownie points for your service to our country.

Get some shadowing with non-surgical specialities and you'll be golden.

Thanks! I wasn't too sure if medical schools looked down on veteran applicants, but I will definitely find a position to shadow in non surgical areas

 

[Coterra]

Fellow HM applying right now, definitely include all your hours as clinical. I have minimal "shadowing" but your relationships with physicians can be huge in LORS and your experiences.

Awesome! Unfortunately I've lost contact with most of the physicians I worked with, but I'm looking into getting more shadowing experiences around my current area

 

[exfc1]

looked down on veteran applicants,

dude med schools love vets.

 

[deleted599599]

Awesome! Unfortunately I've lost contact with most of the physicians I worked with, but I'm looking into getting more shadowing experiences around my current area

If you could track down one that could speak to your work that would be extremely helpful. Also, being prior mil is going to help you undoubtedly. I've been surprised this cycle by what my results have been, and know a large part has been my mil service.

 

[Coterra]

dude med schools love vets.

That's really nice to hear, sorry it's just there's a good handful of times when my veteran status was not appreciated, I'm happy that's not the case for med school applicants