Scribe, Public Health, or Research?

[HCHopeful]

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Hey everyone! This summer is winding down, so I'm starting to look ahead towards the next summer. I am going to be a junior this year, so time is starting to become limited. I am currently trying to decide between doing a Public Health Internship through a local district in my hometown, research through an undergraduate summer program, or getting certified as a scribe during the school year and working as a scribe.

As far as what I've already done... This summer I did a research internship at the United States Meat Animal Research Center. Last summer I did the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.

In terms of hours, I have 132 hours shadowing and completed a 3-week internship at my local hospital. My research experience is limited to this summer, but it has been 8 hours-a-day/5 days-a-week, which will be 520 hours. I enjoyed research much more than I anticipated, so I am doing research this fall/next spring and into my senior year as well. As far as the public health internship, it would be involved in rural medicine, which I am immensely interested in.

As you can see, I am equally intrigued by all of these opportunities. I am looking for some opinions on which you think would be most beneficial! I would enjoy all equally, so it is a bit hard to make the decision simply based off of that. Thank you for the advice in advance everybody!

 

[3838]

Public Health!

 

[FutureSurgical]

The only reason I would see you doing the scribe job is for a LOR from a physician you would be scribing for. At this point I would limit the shadowing down to summers in between school years. Go for research or Public Health if you're interested. Public Health could open doors for you to get good LORs, improve your application to state schools that serve the underserved (if going for CA, then learn spanish), and so on. Research at this point isn't needed and it looks good on your end.

 

[mehc012]

Go for public health if you're truly interested.
Scribing isn't seasonal work anyway, it would be unbearably frustrating to have you join a hospital for only a few months. We've had a ridiculous amount of turnover at my location recently and it's really made things hellish for everyone else.

If you're actually in it for a longer duration, scribing is an AWESOME experience, though.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are interested in rural health, doing the public health program that involves you in rural health would show that you've walked the walk and I would consider that exceptionally powerful in making a point to an adcom that you really are interested in rural medicine.

 

[HCHopeful]

Thanks for the responses everybody. I think the public health opportunity is looking like the best right now. If I had a lack of research, that may change my decision, but I believe what I have is acceptable for the schools I'm shooting for. I appreciate the advice.

 

[SouthernDoc2Be]

Not to hijack this thread but I'm somewhat in a similar situation. I work as a scribe now but have been offered a full time research position. My problem is that I always bite off more than I can chew and with this predicament, I was actually considering working both jobs but I just don't think it's feasible. I've worked as a scribe now for 3 months in addition to the extensive amount of clinical experience I already have.
The only research I have done prior to this was volunteering for about 1 months one summer; I got my name on some abstracts and that's about it. I am leaning towards the research position right now but just wanted some opinions. The research position is at my state medical school.

 

[zzxxzz]

Hey everyone! This summer is winding down, so I'm starting to look ahead towards the next summer.

Good luck finding a scribing job only for the summer. Most organizations will ask for a one-year commitment, and some want two years. Keep in mind that depending on your location/hospital the training/badging process can take 6+ weeks.

Also, another factor is that many scribe jobs start out at minimum wage w/ no lunch break.

 

[SouthernDoc2Be]

Yeah my training took an entire month and the pay sucked.