Find a Summer Opportunity in Medical School
Written by Alisa Malyavko
The first summer in medical school poses a challenge to all first-year students. Should I dive headfirst into research? Should I find that one mentor who I click with? Or should I just take a breather and enjoy this “last summer”? The term “last summer” was used a lot by my professors. Everyone told us to “go enjoy these last two months of free time”, but to my classmates, that was code for “go be productive”.
It’s hard to ignore the peer pressure of doing something phenomenal during your summer months. And alongside that peer pressure are anxiety and worry of what that phenomenal thing will be.
Although every medical school offers unique summer experiences, I wanted to give a brief overview of opportunities I’ve come across that you can take advantage of between your first and second year.
#1 Research Endeavors
Whether you have prior research experience or not, finding a project can be daunting. The first step is to identify whether you would like to work in a wet lab or get involved with clinical research. From there, reaching out to professors whose lectures you enjoyed, physicians you shadowed, or residents you’ve interacted with could lead you down the path of finding available projects. Sending an email that introduces yourself, states your interests, and provides a CV or resume is a great way to show interest in a project or research group.
#2 Clinical Experience
Aside from research, you can also contact attendings or residents via email or in-person and inquire about shadowing opportunities. The summer between the first and second year can be a great time to practice your patient history taking and physical exam skills in the clinic as well as learn how to scrub into surgeries and the general flow of the operating room. Shadowing will not only allow you to learn more about fields of medicine that interest you but will also give you the chance to form relationships and find individuals you can turn to for advice and guidance.
#3 Community Involvement
Volunteering with a medical team at events such as races, fundraisers, and blood drives can be a great way to meet other individuals in the medical field. Regardless of your training or certifications, extra hands are always needed at big events. Facebook event pages can be a great resource for finding information about events happening in the area you live. Many events will also have websites where you can find if they’re looking for help with the event. Your peers and upperclassmen can also be great resources for information about recurring events that need medical student volunteers. Additionally, spending time at a free clinic or a food kitchen can be a great way to gain hands-on experience and give back to the community.
#4 Volunteering Abroad
Although medical mission trips have been put on hold due to COVID-19, these trips can be great learning and bonding experiences. In addition to seeing medicine in action, traveling to a different part of the world and learning about a new culture can be an eye-opening and humbling experience. Reaching out to your school’s office of international medicine or office of student opportunities could be good places to learn more about trips that your school offers. Other organizations such as Projects Abroad and Doctors Without Borders also have opportunities for medical students and information regarding their mission trips can be found on their respective websites.
#5 Rest and Relax
Finally, it is okay to take the summer off. Finishing the first year of medical school is a huge accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. The path to becoming a physician is long and demanding. The work will always be there so don’t feel guilty taking time for yourself. Close that First Aid book and get some much-needed rest, relaxation, and most importantly – sleep!
