Medical How does working for a private Lasik company look on an application?

[Goro]

Hello!

I am currently looking at different gap year opportunities. Recently, I was offered a job working as a clinical assistant at a large private Lasik company, like Lasik plus or Lasik Vision institute. I was initially skeptical after reading some reviews of people having bad experiences at this company. Some former employees stated problems of high turnover and more concerning, a lack of patient care. There are also some reviews from patients being unsatisfied with their experience. However, the specific site I would be working at has good reviews from both patients and employees (none of the reviews on lack of patient care or even high turnover were about this site). The ophthalmologist I would be working with also has good reviews. Would working at a place like this look bad on an application to MD or DO schools? Is there some type of stigma around it? Or am I overthinking this?

I really appreciate any advice you are able to give!

You're overthinking this.

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[Mr.Smile12]

List it as employment.

 

[lord999]

No, this is not a problem, like the above. Even we have to make a living somehow, and that's honorable work despite the company. I can empathize with your situation, I really don't like to say that I work for the VA among my veteran outside friends, because I'll be subjected to endless "The VA screwed me..." conversations!

Even if I worked for Countrywide as a mortgage advisor, I'd report it as work. Anything that you got a formal 1099 or W2 is work.

Also though for a gap year, you might want to do something less capitalistic as well.

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you everyone for the responses!
I plan on continuing two different volunteering positions, one clinical and one non clinical. I also plan to start volunteering at a food pantry. I hope this is enough to neutralize my capitalistic endeavors lol.
Also just to clarify, I would still be able to list this as clinical employment, right?

It depends on your role. If you're in a back room doing paperwork, then no. Even if you are working directly with patients, which adcomms would consider "Clinical," this experience should not stand alone on your application, as these patients are not sick or injured. You need a broader experience than one with healthy folks experiencing an elective cosmetic procedure.