Hey everyone! I was wondering about getting volunteer or paid clinical experience in a hospital. The entirety of my clinical experience has been in a free clinic, not affiliated with a hospital. I was wondering if my application will be looked down on because I haven't had experience working inside a hospital or large health institution. I heard just that from a physician at my school who used to be on the ADCOM, but haven't found anyone else to back it up. It's tricky because all the major institutions around me have blanket bans on shadowing of any type. The only volunteer opportunity is serving as a greeter or running errands. Thanks so much for your input.
Question About Clinical Experience
- Thread starter sdbrice
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2005
- Messages
- 28,735
- Reaction score
- 53,853
In my almost 20 years, I've never heard an applicant criticized for a lack of hospital experience (volunteer or paid). Most medical care is now provided in ambulatory (outpatient) settings, not in the hospital, so a lack of hospital experience is not unreasonable for a future physician at this point in your career. Once you are in medical school, there will be opportunities for in hospital shadowing, etc before you begin your clerkships (3rd year).
Last edited:
