Clinal Experiences on Campus and Around Tucson
- Banner University Medical Center Volunteer - Volunteering at Banner University Medical Center provides students the opportunity to gain clinical experience by working alongside various medical professionals in a hospital setting. Volunteering at the Banner Hospital on campus allows students to have access to hands-on learning and creates unique experiences . Shadowing physicians, OR observations, participation in clinical trials, and going on rounds with medical professionals can all be done through this volunteer opportunity. Visit the attached link and fill out the interest/application form to begin the next steps of becoming a volunteer at Banner.
- Campus Health Volunteering - As a volunteer at the U of A's campus health clinic, volunteers are exposed to first-hand patient interactions and can witness what working in a clinic is like on a day-to-day basis. The Campus Health Services at U of A have a variety of departments that you can work in to further gain clinical experience and exposure. Through taking patient vitals, performing various clinical tasks/needs, and shadowing all kinds of medical professionals, volunteers have a unique opportunity to understand what working in a medical clinic is like. Click on the attached link to view all the services that UA's Campus Health offers. If interested in volunteering, please visit their Training & Internship Opportunities website.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - Becoming a CNA is one of the best ways to gain direct patient care in your undergraduate pre-health career. As a CNA, you are responsible for assisting nurses in their daily responsibilities. This includes taking patient charts, administering direct care and treatment, helping patients dress, bath, move, and exercise, and any other clinical responsibility needed by the patient. Becoming a CNA is an extremely respectable position that demonstrates you are willing to put in the work to help those in need. In order to be a CNA, a certification is needed, which can be obtained at most community colleges. Simply search up CNA courses near me, and certainly you should be able to find one.
- Flying Samaritans - Flying Samaritans at the U of A provides free medical and dental care and education to the underserved population of Agua Prieta, Mexico. These monthly clinics entail taking a day-trip down to Mexico to offer health services to an underserved population. This pre-health club teams up with U of A medical students, physicians, and dentists to achieve the mission of helping underserved communities. If interested in volunteering and gaining hands-on clinical experience, click on the provided link or email flyingsamsua@gmail.com for more information.
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Becoming an EMT is an excellent way to gain clinical experience and have direct patient care and treatment. As an EMT, you are responsible for answering emergency phone calls and caring for patients who are desperately in need of care. Being an EMT is a respectable and demanding position. In order to become an EMT, an EMT certification must be obtained. Courses that offer the training needed are available at most community colleges, such as Pima Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, and Scottsdale Community College. The U of A also offers an EMT course throughout each semester called EMD 147, where students can obtain their EMT certification by completing the course and national exam.
- Medical Scribe - Medical scribing is one of the best ways to gain clinical experience while learning about the medical field as a whole. As a medical scribe, you are responsible for following physicians around their clinic and entering patients' rooms to take all charts/notes of patient interviews. Through scribing, you will learn lots of new medical vocabulary/jargon and will be able to see what working in the medical field is truly like. Scribing is also a paid job, which is great if you are looking to make some money while gaining clinical experience. If you are interested in becoming a scribe, look online for job postings on websites such as Indeed, Handshake, and ZipRecruiter to find open spots for scribes. Once on these websites, simply search for Medical Scribe jobs in the Tuscon area! ScribeAmerica is also a very commonly known organization that can help assist you on your scribing journey. Scribing is a very demanding responsibility that includes 8-10 hour shifts and usually a commitment of a consecutive 6-month period, with no time off.
- Mexzona Medical Services - UA Mexzona Medical Services is a student ran club that aims to provide free medical care to the community of Rocky Point, Mexico. MexZona holds monthly clinics that last a weekend located in Rocky Point where students will have the opportunity to shadow and work alongside physicians offering medical care to the Rocky Point underserved community. Mexzona offers students clinical experience while providing first-hand opportunities to give back to an underserved population. If interested in joining this organization, email the Co-Presidents Mina Alaaldin, Gina Hoskin and Lillian Wu at uamexzonamed@gmail.com for more information.
- Patient Experience Volunteer Program through Banner - The Patient Experience Volunteer Program through Banner University Medical Center provides students with a unique clinical experience like no other. Through this program, volunteers will round with medical professionals and engage in patient bedside interviews. Through this, volunteers will learn how to work on their bed-side manner and properly talk to patients. This opportunity also entails volunteers provided patients with their basic needs such as relaying information to medical professionals, as well as countless shadowing opportunities. If interested, fill out the application attached to begin the the journey of this amazing experience.
- Phlebotomist - As a phlebotomist, you are responsible for taking and collecting patient's blood for testing and donations. Phlebotomists gain direct patient interactions and is a great way to gain clinical hours and experience. To become a phlebotomist, you must receive a certification which be obtained through phlebotomy courses. Most of these courses are not too lengthy and are a great way to be able to directly interact with patients in your pre-health years. To find a course simply look online for phlebotomy courses near me and sign up! This is an excellent way to strengthen your application for post-graduate programs!
- Shadowing Medical Professionals - Shadowing all kinds of medical professionals is an excellent and easy way to gain clinical experience. With no background, certifications, or preliminary experience necessary, shadowing provides students with first-hand experience to what working in the healthcare field is truly like. Through shadowing, students can follow medical professionals throughout their daily tasks, observe various procedures (even surgeries!), ask questions about their pre-health journey, and gain exposure to different medical cases and backgrounds. To gain shadowing opportunities, simply reach out to medical professionals via email (visit https://kmap.arizona.edu/ to find some), or connections you may know. Most medical professionals are very happy to take shadows alongside them for a day, so do not be scared or intimidated to reach out!
- Street Medicine Tucson (SMT) - SMT is a student-ran club that teams up with U of A College of Medicine Tucson to provide free medical care and education to those experiencing homelessness in the greater Tucson community. Holding free healthcare clinics every month, this club allows undergraduate students to receive hands-on experience in a medical setting while giving back to the underserved population. Click on the provided link or reach to streetmedicinetucson@gmail.com for more information.
- University of Arizona Emergency Medical Services (UAEMS) - UAEMS is a 24/7/365 emergency response team that is entirely staffed, managed, and ran by University of Arizona students. UAEMS has responded to 9-1-1 emergency calls from students, faculty, staff, and on-campus visitors. Being apart of UAEMS is an honorary position that requires lots of dedication and passion to provided emergency healthcare services to those in need. Having an EMT certification provides students the opportunity to gain direct clinical patient care and is a great way to learn more about emergency response teams. If interested in being a part of this highly selective and admirable team, visit the attached website and fill out the application to begin the process of potential onboarding or email uems@email.arizona.edu for more information. This organization provides one of the most unique opportunities here at U of A and is respected by students, faculty, and staff all across campus.