Clinical
Experience
Clinical
experience is weighing more heavily in medical school admission
decisions. Most medical school admissions committees want
to know that you have spent a considerable amount of time
within a clinical setting, and actually "know what
you are getting yourself into." This experience can
take on several forms. Three of the most common ways to
gain clinical experience are to shadow a physician, earn
a clinical certificate as a C.N.A. or paramedic (E.M.T.)
and to volunteer your time at a local hospital or clinic.
Shadow a physician
Simply contact
a physician in your home area and explain that you are a
pre-medical student at Wartburg and would like to "shadow"
the physician for a couple of days. A reference may be provided
on your behalf if requested. It is highly recommended that
you begin shadowing a physician as soon as possible!
Shadowing accomplishes several things:
- It gives you an understanding
of what the day-to-day tasks of being a medical doctor
are like.
- It helps you establish
a relationship with a physician that could perhaps lead
to a part-time job and/or someone to write you a letter
of recommendation for medical school.
- It provides an opportunity
for clinical experience for your medical school application.
- It is recommended that
you do this for a couple of different physicians working
in areas that you might be interested in (family practice,
orthopedics etc.) This gives you a "heads up"
on the type of medicine you are interested in.
Clinical certificate
Becoming a
certified nurses assistant, paramedic or E.M.T. is a great
way to get paid to gain clinical experience! Many, many
Wartburg grads who have successfully matriculated to, and
graduated from, medical school were either a C.N.A. or E.M.T.
They made extra money, gained valuable clinical experience,
and increased their knowledge of the field of health professions
all at the same time! Some individuals have also worked
as a phlebotomist for pay and experience as well (many hospitals
will train you!).
Here are some links to where
you can obtain education for these programs:
Des
Moines Community College C.N.A. program:
http://www.dmacc.cc.ia.us/pibs/certs/nurseaid.pdf
Kirkwood's
Continuing Ed. Health programs, including C.N.A., E.M.S.
etc;
http://www.kirkwood.cc.ia.us/continuinged/health/index.html
University
of Iowa's E.M.T. training program:
http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/emslrc/emttraining.html
University
of Iowa's Paramedic training program:
http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/emslrc/paramedi.html
Questions
regarding this site or its content should be directed to
Dr. Ed Westen
