Undergrad SummerInternshipOpportunities (besides volunteering/shadowing/lab research)

[rams1986]

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Hey all,

I'm currently a freshman and I'm a prospective medical student. However, I know for certain that I would like to do something more than just clinical/hospital practice- I'm not exactly sure what that is at this point, but im thinking along the lines of eiter biotech/healthcare venture capital or healthcare delivery/pharmaceutical industry/governmental adminstration in addition to practice. So I'm definitely looking at an MD/MBA, or possibly an MD/JD, though I've heard those arent as useful. I realize that I probably sound ridiculous thinking this far down the road, but just bear with me for a moment.

As far as major goes, I'm not entirely sure- I'd like to do something like economics or public policy, but premed reqs have essentially taken over my schedule for now, so I havent been able to get into those classes yet.

I've done lab research for the past 3 summers during high school, and have had one publication, and received some research awards during high school- but I'd really like to do something different from working in a lab, just as a change of pace, with more direct social implications . I've been looking at governmental/policy internships for this summer, but I'm afraid that if I stray too far from the medical vein, that the experience will be seen as "not relevant enough" by medical schools. With my goals in mind, can you all suggest any well-regarded internships/fellowships that would give me meaningful experience?

 

[watiswati]

hey, i'm in the same boat as you sorta. i've done lab research the past 4 years (all through high school) and am currently volunteering in a hospital just following doctors around and watchign certain techniques. as far as something different, i think this summer i'm going to try to volunteer at health clinics for the homless and poor.....i've heard its a lot more hands on and plus you get to experience something new. very recently i've also started becoming interested in pharmacy so i might even stray a little bit from medicine itself and try to work as a pharm tech somewhere to get that end of the experience. but in the end what matters is that you do somethign that you're good at. if your internships aren't medical related then so be it, it doenst mean you won't do well in med school, just find something that you can do well in and something that interests you. afterall, med schools do say they like well rounded applicants....

 

[vicinihil]

here is my .02 If you want to be just a MD, major in whatever but focus your free time more on volunteering. If you want MD/PhD, you have to major in a science and do a lot of research. Now if you want to do MD/MBA or MD/JD, i'd recommend doing some internships related to business or a law degree because it's a fact commonly known that you don't have to major in anything related to medicine to get into med school.

Personally, I'd look into the internship in DC because I've gotten the mail about it. THey offer internships at the capitol and also a 3 credit course. I think that would be very rewarding.

 

[rams1986]

Which internship in DC are you talking about?

 

[dr_pepper]

I think an internship with the US Department of Health and Human Services sounds perfect for you. You can look them up at studentjobs.gov, but you'll need to hurry since the deadline is Dec. 31.

Also, have you considered public health work?

 

[npp71681]

Hi!

I am a Pre-Pharmacy student, but I was wondering that if I do PharmD/MBA, then when someone ask for my MBA GPA only and PharmD GPA only, how can I calculate those, since their curriculum is combined? Is it good to do combine PharmD/MBA or PharmD and MBA seperate?

ThanX!

Thanx!

 

[aleezay]

Work for an NGO!! Seriously just google stuff online, DC and NYC based and you'll find a treasureload of stuff. Don't worry about straying from the med school vein, THIS is what will help define you from the rest actually. I speak from experience. Best of luck!

 

[rams1986]

Anyone have any other ideas? More input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Brain]

Perhaps consider some public health experiences. CDC, ACS, and others have summer internship programs. I spent a summer volunteering for a county health department where I got to interview people with notifiable diseases, go to senior centers to talk about West Nile Virus, and got to work for the state of GA at the G-8 summit. It made for a great and different experience.