Medicine is a hands-on career where you’ll almost always have to do practical work. So, while theory and classwork are essential, it’s the clinical experience that truly distinguishes you as a career-ready candidate. But this journey toward practical competence doesn’t start when you’re already ripe for employment; it starts way back before you even join medical school.
As an aspiring medical student, there are different ways to gain meaningful, practical experience and prepare for a successful medical career. And starting this process early offers multiple benefits; you acquire practical knowledge, strengthen your medical school applications, and gain insights that can help you decide on what to specialize in.
Continue reading as this post explores how you can get valuable pre-med experiences to enhance your professional competence and readiness.
Completing Pre-Medical Internship
Internships are one of the best ways to gain clinical experience because they are structured and considered a positive addition to your education credentials. During pre med internships, you get to build your clinical competence, communication skills, cultural awareness, and empathy. All these will be helpful during your study and career.
Internships also often include clinical rotation opportunities, allowing you to work in different departments. Perhaps you could assist in dietetics one day and pediatrics the next, providing valuable cross-disciplinary exposure. Through these varied experiences, you’ll develop essential patient care skills across multiple specialties. You can then highlight these practical skills in your medical school applications and increase your chances of admission.
Most importantly, internships can boost your chances of getting a job after you complete your medical studies. In fact, statistics indicate that an internship experience is 35% more likely to get you a job offer than without. This is because internships give you hands-on skills needed to practice in the healthcare sector.
Shadowing Medical Professionals
Practicing medicine requires a lot of confidence, as life is always at stake. Imagine an emergency requiring immediate care, but you’re not confident enough to intervene. As such, it’s essential to build your confidence early enough. A great way to do it is through working with experienced medical professionals and learning from them.
Shadowing a physician allows you to observe them throughout their daily routines. This opportunity provides a safe environment for you to experience the realities of real-world medicine, such as patient interaction, diagnosis, collaboration within the hospital setting, and any other challenges.
If you’re seeking shadowing opportunities, begin by reaching out to your existing network—local physicians, rural clinics, or friends working in the medical field. Once connected, you can learn more about their daily responsibilities and observe and master clinical skills. You can also ask to be involved in minor tasks such as dressing wounds.
Participating in Research
Gaining research experience before medical school can also be invaluable, as research fundamentals will be integral to your education and practice of evidence-based medicine. This early exposure to clinical medicine will deepen your understanding of healthcare practices, including clinical trials, laboratory experiments, and public health initiatives.
While research may not carry the same weight as internships and clinical experience, there are instances where excellent research skills become essential. For example, if you want to join a research-heavy institution or pursue an MD program, then be sure that research will be a huge part of your curriculum.
Finding and participating in research isn’t complicated. You can look for research positions through school programs or dedicated research institutions. Begin with low-skill level jobs such as data collection and slowly climb the skills ladder, gaining more experience. By participating in research, you can enhance your critical and analytical skills and demonstrate a strong commitment to the science aspect of healthcare.
Consider Volunteering
Volunteering offers a valuable opportunity to gain clinical experience and skills while contributing to the community. The importance of volunteer experience is underscored by a 2019 survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which revealed that such experience carries greater weight in medical school applications.
There are different volunteer opportunities you can consider. Hospice volunteering, for example, offers experience in end-of-life care, developing your compassion and understanding of palliative practices. Alternatively, volunteering in an emergency room can prepare you for the diverse challenges that medical doctors routinely face.
Moreover, volunteering exposes you to a range of emotions and helps develop essential soft skills that will be useful during your studies and throughout your medical career. Communicating these experiences in your application letter can also make you a standout candidate as you appear ready to deal with the emotional roller-coaster common in healthcare settings.
Final Thoughts
Gaining hands-on experience as a pre-med student can help you prepare for a successful career in medicine. If you’re seeking to enhance your profile through internship opportunities, you can check this page for comprehensive information on securing award-winning internships abroad.
