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
- 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 (at MMC and with alumni physicians)
- 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 people with disabilities
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
- Clinical experience – up to 2,000 hours with 500 – 1,000 being the most frequently required
Pre Dental:
- Shadowing in a dental office
- Shadowing in a specialist’s office (endo-, perio-, ortho- dontist, oral surgeon)
- 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
- 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
- Shadow experience with an Allegheny alumnus or friend of the College
- Volunteer with people with disabilities (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
- Craft experience – preferably a variety of skills in crafting
- Camp counseling, especially with campers with disabilities
- Any “assisted daily living” experience – any age group