Experiential Opportunities

Opportunities for Pre-Health Students

The following are recommended experiences for students planning to pursue careers in health professions.  For Allegheny specific programs, see K Peterson.

Pre Medical:

  • Clinical internship with patient contact
  • Preceptorship Program with MMC, available to sophomore and junior students
  • EL Health Care Shadowing Program, available every May, 3 week intensive shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
  • Volunteer in a nursing home – direct patient contact
  • Health Coach program, training available through INTDS 230 and 530
  • Shadowing physicians – observing both office practice, hospital rounds, surgery
  • CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant, direct patient contact,
  • EMT – emergency room and ambulance work
  • SHPEP summer program
  • Day care, camp, playground – working directly with children
  • Any “hands-on” work with disabled people

Pre Physician Assistant:

  • Same as above, but include shadowing with a physician assistant
  • Allied Health Internship for 2 or 4 credits
  • First aid, CPR, EMT, or nursing training is highly prized and often required

Pre Dental:

  • Shadowing in a dental office
  • Shadowing in a specialist’s office (endo-, perio-, ortho- dontist, oral surgeon)
  • EL Health Care Shadowing Program, available every May, 3 week intensive shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
  • Volunteer with Children’s Dental Health Fair
  • SHPEP summer program
  • Enhancement of fine motor skills – sculpture, model building, fine needlework, tying flies, tool & die work, etc.
  • General experience with people – camp counseling, waiting tables, sports, tutoring

Pre Veterinary:

  • Work with animals!
  • Work (volunteer) on a farm, dog sit, work at a kennel
  • Volunteer at an animal shelter or humane society
  • Volunteer with wildlife (such as at the Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation Center)
  • Volunteer at Hog Heaven
  • Shadow veterinarians – preferably both small and large animal
  • EL Health Care Shadowing Program, available every May, 3 week intensive shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
  • Volunteer at a zoo or animal park

Pre Physical Therapy:

  • 200+ hours of hands on PT paid or volunteer work in a variety of settings – hospital, private practice, clinic, rehab, work hardening
  • First Aid and CPR certification
  • EL Health Care Shadowing Program, available every May, 3 week intensive shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
  • Volunteer with disabled people (Special Olympics, exercise therapy, summer camps, special day care

Pre Occupational Therapy:

  • Volunteer or paid experience in at least two different OT settings – one treating primarily physical problems, one treating primarily psychiatric problems
  • EL Health Care Shadowing Program, available every May, 3 week intensive shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
  • Craft experience – preferably a variety of skills in crafting
  • Camp counseling, especially with disabled campers
  • Any “assisted daily living” experience – any age group