Health Professions
Exploring the Health Professions
Anyone who plans to pursue a career in the health professions needs to do
some research: read this guide and other materials on the health professions
in the CRC library, look at Internet resources, talk to friends and alumni
who work in the field and, most importantly, get some first-hand exposure.
It is important to spend time with people in the field and to take advantage
of opportunities to work in public health, clinical or laboratory research,
health education, or a community health center. Work as a volunteer, an
intern, or a support staff employee in a health care setting will provide
you with invaluable experience. Even if you have wanted to be a doctor since
age seven, you still need to explore what it is like to work as a physician
on a daily basis, and be open to the possibility that it might not prove to
be the right choice for you. Before you make the considerable investment of
time, energy, and money that medical school requires, give yourself time to
explore, reflect on your experiences, and make sure this is the kind of work
you are suited for and that suits you.
Volunteering
One way to gain experience is to volunteer at hospitals, clinics or other
health organizations. By volunteering in different departments or types of
organizations, you can discover what especially appeals or does not appeal
to you. After a couple of weeks in the emergency department you may decide
that you could never be a doctor because you get sick at the sight of blood.
After a few months of answering telephones in a busy clinic, you may decide
that research is best for you because you just cannot imagine spending lots
of time with people who are ill. You need to explore the field carefully
enough to get a sense of what you want to do in it and, ideally, tailor your
preparation accordingly. Medicine is one of many health professions. Through
exploration, you may find that your unique blend of talents and interests
are better suited to hospital administration, public health, midwifery,
nursing, pharmacy or laboratory research. Contact
Wesleyan’s Office of Community
Service and Volunteerism for information about health organizations in
the Middletown area that seek volunteers for different types of jobs, or set
up an appointment with the Health Professions Advisor at the CRC to talk
about work opportunities that will allow you to test the waters and assess
the strength of your interests.
Jobs/Internships
Summer jobs or internships in health care or health research offer
wonderful opportunities for experiential learning. The CRC library has
information about summer opportunities in the fields of health and science.
Internships usually involve research, clinical experiences, or both.
Deadlines for internship applications are often in February and March, so
plan ahead. If you need to earn money over the summer, and you receive grant
aid from Wesleyan, consider applying for a
Wesleyan Summer Experience grant to supplement or pay for your summer job as a
volunteer. This program, for sophomores and juniors, is administered by the
CRC and the deadline for applying is in February. The CRC also has a program
called Career Outlook which allows students to work with alumni between
first and second semester, or over spring break, in a wide variety of
fields, including health care. The program runs for up to two weeks and is
unpaid.
Other Options
Health care is a vast field; public health, hospital administration,
physical therapy, and optometry are among the better-known choices, but
there are many other opportunities. Some of the print resources in the CRC
library can help you become more familiar with other options. You are almost
certain to find Wesleyan graduates who have chosen these other paths and
found them better suited to their talents, interests and lifestyles.
Return to the Health Professions Guide table
of contents
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