Volunteer at the VA Hospital or Non-clinical

[bajastapler]

Hey guys I had a question:

So I've been volunteering at a local hospital the past year and I enjoy it, but I think it's time to take on a new EC and let another pre-med get the chance I did.

Anyways, I have a very strong interest in applying for the Military Med. School (USUHS). I was wondering if you think volunteering at my local VA might be a good way to show interest in military medicine.

I'm wondering if my time would be better spent
1) Volunteering at the local VA hospital (which I assume would be similar to my experiences at the hospital I currently volunteer at)
or
2) Non-clinical volunteering. I have a few places in mind that I want to volunteer at.

thanks for the advice in advance. 😀

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[flatearth22]

VA Hospital --> USUHS --> cushy job as a chAir Force doc

 

[MyCarIsDirty]

Hey flatearth, why are you so famous around here?

 

[bajastapler]

who ever said I wanted to be in the Air Force?

 

[MyCarIsDirty]

who ever said I wanted to be in the Air Force?

Clearly, flatearth just did.

I couldn't resist.

 

[bajastapler]

Clearly, flatearth just did.

I couldn't resist.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are going down a path that will lead to serving active duty personnel and their dependents, then it might be a good idea to try it out by serving those who have been separated from the service and eligible for care through the VA (mostly prisioners of war, those with service connected disabilities and the poor). There is a level of bureaucratic bull**** in the VA that I imagine is something like the military (I've been a VA employee and several of my family members have been too, both clinical and research.)

 

[DNAdude120]

I shadowed a doc at a VA and there were very interesting patients. I say go for it.

But yes, there was some bureaucracy to work around at first.

 

[romanjetfighter]

william?!?!?!?!

 

[Frazier]

I shadowed a doc at a VA and there were very interesting patients. I say go for it.

But yes, there was some bureaucracy to work around at first.

I quickly read this as: "I shadowed docs at a VA and they were very interesting patients."

First, I lol'ed.
Then realized that you weren't being clever and I can't read. 🙁

Time for bed.

 

[senorsquishie]

Do you have time for both? Esp. a low amount of hours per week of both? All I can say is do what you love and it will all work out.

 

[SissyAlice]

Depending on where you live, getting in to volunteer at the VA might be hard, the volunteering is not the same as other hospitals, and they generally want 4 to 5 hours a day.

I enjoy it, and my interest in military medicine is one of the reasons I decided to volunteer there.

 

[SissyAlice]

If you are going down a path that will lead to serving active duty personnel and their dependents, then it might be a good idea to try it out by serving those who have been separated from the service and eligible for care through the VA (mostly prisioners of war, those with service connected disabilities and the poor). There is a level of bureaucratic bull**** in the VA that I imagine is something like the military (I've been a VA employee and several of my family members have been too, both clinical and research.)

Defiantly a loooot of bureaucracy. And the place is a lot shabbier than my cushy 'normal' hospital volunteer spot. I enjoy working with the people there though, a lot of them are older and just want to talk. The VA also provides awesome non-health services to vets, especially the homeless ones.