Health Careers, Life Sciences and Research
Counselor's Perspective
A Day in the Life
Opportunities
Resources
Who comes to Duke?
Counselor's Perspective
Each student is unique and the manner in which he or she chooses and plans for a career in the health professions is highly individualistic. You should use your undergraduate years to explore new areas of interest and then focus on the area that is the most exciting to you. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Discover who you are.
Many students entering Duke major in the life sciences and conduct research because they plan to attend medical school, dental school or vet school. The decision to purse a career in the health professions should be made only after careful reflection of your personal motivation and a realistic assessment of the demands of medical training and working with the sick.
If you find yourself drawn to the health professions, take time to evaluate your options. Don't forget there are many other opportunities in the health professions (e.g., physicians' assistant, nursing, physical therapy, etc.) which you may find better suited to your professional and personal goals.
If you are interested in the health and life sciences field, but do not wish to attend professional school, then consider other career paths where you can utilize your strengths such as health care administration/management, healthcare consulting, teaching, science writing and health policy just to name a few. It is important to explore all of the health careers available to you.
A Day in the Life
Opportunities
Clinical Experience
Health professions schools expect that you will have sought opportunities to explore what is involved in the career you are interested in. In particular, they will expect that you have worked with patients or helped others in some capacity. There are several reasons for this.
First, you may describe yourself as a "people person" and be convinced that you want to have a career in which you interact with others. However, working with people who are ill presents different challenges than working with people who are well. You may find that you enjoy working with sick people; alternatively, you may not enjoy working with people who are sick.
Second, it is important for you to realize that medicine involves a great deal of teamwork and that working well as part of a team will be expected of you as a health care professional.
Third, health care professionals must be willing to take a great deal of responsibility for the lives of others. While no amount of volunteer work will truly let you know how serious this responsibility can be, you might begin to have some appreciation for it by putting yourself in a clinical setting.
Finally, there are many changes occurring in the health care field. Volunteering in a health care setting will help you to understand those changes and give you a more realistic, mature understanding of the field.
The Duke Career Center offers experience by way of our Health Careers Exploration Program for students interested in the health professions. The internship has two components. The clinical component, where you will spend 2-4 hours a week volunteering at Duke Med, and the shadowing component, which allows you to spend time observing, or shadowing, a health care professional (physician, dentist, veterinarian, physician's assistant, physical therapist, etc.). While shadowing a physician can give you some good insight into the life of a physician and the demands placed on him/her, medical/dental schools are more interested in your time spent interacting directly with patients rather than just observing physicians. For more information on specific requirements for various health professions programs please visit the Health Professions Advising Center’s website.
One of the major changes occurring in the delivery of health care is the move towards more outpatient or ambulatory (out of the hospital) care and less inpatient (in the hospital) care. Thus it is a good idea for you to have spent some time working with patients and/or health care professionals outside of a hospital setting. You may want to try to set up a short term shadow opportunity in an outpatient setting with a health care professional in your hometown over a break or the summer. To find and contact a Duke alum in your hometown check out DukeConnect.
Community Service
Medicine is a service profession. Thus, it should not be surprising that health professions schools expect applicants to be involved in the service of others. There are many opportunities available at Duke as well as in your hometown and elsewhere to put yourself in the role of a helper. This may include tutoring disadvantaged youth, volunteering at nursing homes, day care centers, hospitals or camps for the handicapped, in programs to assist migrant workers, and in organizations that deal with issues of social justice. Besides helping people in need, you will be exposed to individuals in different walks of life and such activities can help you to build communication skills, and learn to be more comfortable meeting strangers. A number of Duke students have sought opportunities to do international service work as well. You should develop a sense of health care problems and concerns at a local, national and global level.
Remember that a long term, sincere commitment to one or two activities is better than a long list of things you are only superficially interested in or which you picked up just prior to the application process.
Research
Many students ask, "Do I NEED to do research as an undergraduate?" The answer is No. However, involvement in research or completion of an independent study is a sign of intellectual curiosity as well as an opportunity to develop analytical skills and learn more about a particular interest area. Please note if you are applying to MD/PhD programs, demonstration of prior research experience will be more important for you.
Volunteer/Non-Profit/NGO
Opportunities in the volunteer, non-profit, or NGO sector are often short-term in the summer or for a year or two after graduation. These positions can include working with children in orphanages, community and public health, community research and outreach, human rights, environmental positions, among others. Many international volunteer opportunities are posted on Idealist.org and other non-profit run websites. In addition, several international internships with non-profits or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are posted on Idealist as well as on Internship Exchange. Often these positions are unpaid but organizations may have funding opportunities available for room and board. Others offer suggestions for fundraising or housing. Popular opportunities include: the Peace Corps, Humanity in Action, Amigos de las Americas (Latin America), Family Health International Fellowship Program in Malawi, and the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad (AYUDA) in Ecuador. It is important to keep in mind that many large international NGOs and organizations such as World Bank or the UN require fieldwork, or additional experience or education. These short-term international experiences are an excellent way to gain exposure and first-hand knowledge.
Resources
Counselor's picks for some of the most useful resources.
Duke Resources
Health Professions Advising Office
Health Careers Exploration Program
Duke Med Volunteer Programs
Undergraduate Research Support Office
Research Opportunities at Duke
Biology Department Undergraduate Program
Duke Global Health Institute
Duke Community Service Center Opportunities
Other Resources
Pre Health Internship Programs Nationwide
Pre Health Enrichment Programs Nationwide
Explore Numerous Health Careers
Pfizer Guides to Careers in Healthcare
The resource room (106 Page) at the Duke Career Center also has excellent books regarding health careers including:
Career Opportunities in Healthcare
Game Plan for Getting into Medical School
JobBank Guide to Healthcare Companies
Opportunities in Biological Science Careers
Top 100 Healthcare Careers
Use the resources provided as well as contact faculty, staff, and alumni to learn more about health careers and what to expect.
Communication Strategies
Many students feel that if you're interested in health, you only want to be a doctor. That is not at all the case. It is important to explore the various opportunities available to students interested in health. One of the most effective communication strategies is getting to know others within the various health professions and other health-related fields such as healthcare consulting, pharmaceutical sales, or even research and development. If you're interested in practicing medicine, it is important to also take advantage of the relationship you develop with your shadowing mentor. Talk to them about their experiences in medical or other health professions school. Use DukeConnect, the alumni database to search for Duke alumni who are listed on the site as a resource for your industry, career and other questions.
Who comes to Duke?
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