Volunteering question

[Orbert]

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Hello, long time lurker. I am currently a junior in a Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program expected to graduate 2025 (this is an undergraduate program). I am currently volunteering in the pathologist laboratory working on grossing specimens (around 150 hours so far). My MLS program allows me to do a preceptorship for around 5 months which will total about 500 hours but once again that will be in a laboratory, with very little patient contact. I know this is "clinical experience" but it has little to no patient interaction. I'm not sure what to do, I love working in the lab and my goal for medical school is to go into pathology but from what I've researched medical schools want more patient interaction experience. For my MLS program I did a phlebotomy rotation (25 hours), but that is all my patient interaction hours.

I already have around 150-200 hours of non-clinical at my local church working in the food bank and development projects for the community (I do this every Saturday and plan to continue till I apply after graduation).

So I am asking for advice, should I cut down on these pathology lab hours to volunteer in more patient orientated roles or stay in the pathology lab, since my main goal is to be a pathologist. I appreciate any feedback thanks!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Would you be interested in

https://www.pathassist.org/page/Become_PA

Hopefully you can arrange to find some independent shadowing experience in a hospital, community clinic, or private practice.

 

[Orbert]

Would you be interested in

https://www.pathassist.org/page/Become_PA

Hopefully you can arrange to find some independent shadowing experience in a hospital, community clinic, or private practice.

Yes, I actually received the assistant opportunity from shadowing a pathologist assistant, and then shadowing some of the pathologists after. I have looked into the masters program especially UTMB in Galveston. My main enjoyment in the lab was shadowing the pathologist and listening to them diagnosing based on the tissue appearance and their explanations on that. It is for sure a possible back up, but my main goal is medical school.

The lab is in a public hospital it is just a department. So I should look into different volunteering opportunities?

 

[Goro]

I already have around 150-200 hours of non-clinical at my local church working in the food bank and development projects for the community (I do this every Saturday and plan to continue till I apply after graduation).

One is supposed to help one's house of worship. But this doesn't sound like you're actually working wiyh people less fortunate than you.

So I am asking for advice, should I cut down on these pathology lab hours to volunteer in more patient orientated roles

YES!!!!!
You need to show that you know what you're getting into AND that you with to be in a career that deals with patients for the next 30-40 years.

 

[Orbert]

One is supposed to help one's house of worship. But this doesn't sound like you're actually working wiyh people less fortunate than you.

YES!!!!!
You need to show that you know what you're getting into AND that you with to be in a career that deals with patients for the next 30-40 years.

Thank you I will do that.

It is a homeless resource center, they do free clinics, go out to the community and paint peoples houses, or fix it up etc, basically whatever someone needs. It is only for the less fortunate. We also go to the local prison rehabilitation house and help them with whatever they need. It is not just handing food out to people in the congregation. I asked my local health sciences center if I should include them as non-clinical and they said yes. If you think otherwise I can look into other possibilities, on top of it.