Medical Volunteer Alternatives?

Covid has made it difficult for many aspiring pre-med majors to volunteer as hospital interns. Fortunately, colleges recognize this. More good news: Health is impacted by so many factors.

Let's take mental health. Ask any emergency room doctor, nurse, or medical technician how often they see patiences in poor physical health who also suffer from mental health decline. Unfortunately, it's almost daily. Consider volunteering for a virtual mental health nonprofit. The training and experience will prepare you for real-world issues.

Think of nutrition. Diabetes, heart disease, and variety of other conditions are related to poor diet. Volunteer at a food kitchen and learn how nutrition impacts long-term health.

Consider the environment. Chronic lung disease is caused by poor air quality. Gastrointestinal problems come from poor quality food and water. Volunteer at an ocean institute or organic farm to learn about sustainable water and food practices.

And finally, don't give up on medical internships or pre-health shadowing. We find opportunities all the time. These are coveted volunteer roles that often come with letters of recommendation. So build your volunteer resume in order to be a strong candidate while in high school, or after you enter a pre-med undergraduate program. Good luck!

This CollegeVine blog post lists some medical volunteer activities and gives advice about medicine-related extracurriculars in general. Hope this helps!