Off-Campus Opportunities
Updated 10/30/2023
Embedded Files
Employment
Employment
See below for possible health-related employment! We also encourage you to check other resources for jobs (Indeed, LinkedIn, Handshake, etc.).
See current openings with ProScribe.
CapYear offers access to patient-facing jobs across a variety of specialties to you can get real-world experience to prepare you to become a PA or physician. Find a job here.
ScribeAmerica has part time medical scribe opportunities that require a 1 year commitment:
part time: 20+ hrs/week (2-3 shifts)
full time: 36+ hrs/week (3-5 shifts)
Watch A Day in the Life video of a scribe. Interested in learning more? Attend a virtual information session.
Contact recruiter: Beth Billetz
InternU is a hiring agency who is hiring for health-related positions in our region. You can review listings on their website here.
Aptagen Internship - Seeking Bio and Chem students and graduates!
Aptagen Internship - Seeking Bio and Chem students and graduates!
Aptagen laboratory is now accepting applications for its Science Internship Program and its Master's Co-Op Opportunity! These programs give candidates intensive but rewarding researching training in the fields of molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, bio-engineering, and other science-related fields. Graduates receive many benefits, such as Letters of Recommendation or an employment offer within the company. To learn more about the program or to apply, click here.
Applications are accepted year round. The program includes paid stipend and free housing is available.
The National Health Corps (NHC) Philadelphia is recruiting for two different positions:
Public Health Leadership Corps
View Philadelphia member profiles here to learn about their experiences serving with the Corps.
Event Medic Services hires experienced (already certified) Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians for special events, concerts, construction sites, Movie & TV production Sets and other public gatherings.
Training Courses
Training Courses
Students looking for direct patient contact hours or clinical experiences may be interested in enrolling in accredited courses to become trained and certified in the following areas.
Register for an upcoming FREE virtual training by the City of Philadelphia to help fight the opioid epidemic:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic (if you're already an EMT) to respond to emergency calls. Here are some local courses:
EMT course / Paramedic Program @ Delaware County Community College (info sessions)
Emergency Training Academy in Thorndale
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to help patients with activities of daily living and other healthcare needs under the direct supervision of a nurse
Nurse Aide Training program @ Community College of Philadelphia ($1,495 for 124-hour course)
Volunteer
Volunteer
The volunteer opportunities highlighted below are grouped by category: Education & Literacy, Nutrition / Access to Food, Service Specific Populations, Healthcare Settings. Many are experiences our own pre-health students have participated in.
Questions to consider when seeking volunteer opportunities:
Why do I want to serve? Who do I want to serve?
What causes do I care about?
What populations do I enjoy working with?
How can I diversify my other experiences on my resume/application?
What am I learning from this experience?
Why am I considering volunteering abroad rather than locally
Guidelines for Premedical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad (consider ethics, whether it would be perceived as "voluntourism", etc.)
Where to find other volunteer opportunities:
Serve Philadelphia: City of Philadelphia initiative to increase civic engagement
VolunteerMatch.org: search for local volunteer opportunities based on your interests
Weekly Service with Campus Ministry
Hosting a blood drive through the American Red Cross is a great leadership opportunity for you to help save lives. Form a recruitment committee and invite your friends, family and community to donate at your blood drive. If you collect 25 pints or more you'll receive an Amazon gift card and have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!
Did you know that students provide about 20% of all blood donations? When school is out of session, this greatly impact the national blood supply. Learn about eligibility requirements here.
Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (PMRC) is a group of 2,500+ volunteers who serve the City during public health emergencies and large-scale events. The Department of Public Health provides training, exercises, and deployment opportunities throughout the year. Ways you can help as a non-clinical volunteer (without a license or certification):
Support the fire department and EMS at special events (e.g. marathon, concerts, or parades)
Support non-medical areas for deployment teams (scribing in medical tents, patient tracking, logistics, etc.)
Provide administrative support (answering phones, data entry)
Assist with neighborhood canvassing
TeleHealth Access for Seniors is a non-profit with a mission to provide seniors and low-income communities with devices, instructions, and free tech-support to connect them to their physicians via TeleHealth, friends and family using digital connectivity, and wellness tools via apps. Their team of college and high school volunteers have collected over 900 devices and raised over $50,000. If you're interested in partnering with local clinics to collect devices and funds or support other parts of their mission like guide development and tech-support, Click here for more info
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia transforms lives and the city by building and repairing quality homes in partnership with families in need, and uniting all Philadelphians around the cause of affordable housing.
Construction Volunteering: Work on a team with our skilled construction staff during one of the many phases of building a Habitat home. No prior construction experience necessary.
ReStore Volunteering: Help at our non-profit building supply/interior design storefront! Assist with collecting, organizing and pricing donated items; staffing the sales floor; and updating our space. All profits go towards future Habitat homes.
Broad Street Ministry is an organization that helps Philadelphians living in deep poverty stabilize their lives through a variety of social services. Learn more about their volunteer opportunities
Education & Literacy
Education & Literacy
Let's Get Ready provides free SAT prep, admission counseling, and post-enrollment mentoring to students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation-to-college students to help them get into and graduate from college.
Paid opportunities may include:
Virtual College Success Coach (November 2023-August 2024)
Virtual College Transition Coach (August 2023-August 2024)
Virtual Core Coach (August 2023-August 2024)\
Virtual College Access Instructor (May 2023-August 2023)
Read By 4th is a citywide campaign in Philadelphia that brings together an ever-growing coalition of partners to get all children reading at grade level by 4th grade:
Reading Captains
Philly Reading Coaches
Vello
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children
OneHealthLessons.com was founded by veterinarian Dr. Deborah Thomson, DVM to teach children and adults about the connection between human health, the health of animals, and the environment. It has lessons, webinars, interviews, podcasts, parent and teacher feedback, a blog and more. Get involved by becoming a lesson translator or certified lesson leader
Cornerstone Christian Academy is a K-8 school in West Philadelphia that integrates character and spiritual development for children to be successful in high school, college, and beyond. Become a volunteer
The Education Project is a non-profit looking for virtual volunteers to provide free tutoring to students in need. They are working on a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and tutors will be matched with one student for a minimum time commitment of 2 hours/sessions per week.
Email Haroon Lughmani with questions
Apply here to become a tutor and type "pre-health listserv" on the application when it asks "how did you hear about us". A representative will follow up to invite you to a Tutor Orientation program and match you with a student.
Nutrition / Access to Food
Nutrition / Access to Food
Hunger hits every zip code in America. Without access to nutritious food – or enough of it – people can’t thrive. It affects everything – from health to education to financial success. It is hard to concentrate on school work, find a job, or manage a heart problem if you struggle with food insecurity. Hunger is one of the harshest and most detrimental symptoms of poverty. Most simply, it is a result of not having enough money to cover all of your basic needs.
Are you passionate about healthy living and interested in building your communication skills? Healthy for Life is a community-based nutrition and wellbeing program created by Aramark and the American Heart Association (AHA) that focuses on empowering people to make healthy food, nutrition and lifestyle choices. Complete their free online orientation (1 hour and self-paced) to learn how you can facilitate healthy shopping, cooking, and literacy in your community. Partner with a local organization in your community to deliver the program virtually until it's safe to conduct in-person programming.
In the Healthy for Life® program, individuals will:
Gain new skills to prepare and experience healthy food
Receive culturally relevant healthy recipes
Budget and shop for healthy foods
Increase level of comfort with healthy foods
MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) cooks and delivers nutritious, medically-appropriate meals and provides nutrition counseling to neighbors who are battling life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, renal disease, and HIV/AIDS. MANNA delivers meals to the Greater Philadelphia area and Southern New Jersey region.
Volunteer as an individual or group to help prepare meals. Must first complete an application and attend orientation before you're eligible to volunteer.
Vetri Community Partnership empowers children and families to lead healthy lives through fresh food, hands-on experience and education. Give children the knowledge they need to make informed decisions, reverse the health trends that threaten their futures and become a voice for better choices in their communities. Click for volunteer opportunities
Hear from students at the Perelman School Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania about the 8-week Penn Culinary Medicine course they took in partnership with Vetri! PCOM and Sidney Kimmel Medical School also offer the Culinary Medicine course, too!
Philabundance is the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley, serving 90,000 people each week.
Become a volunteer by packing and sorting donated food or distributing it in the community
Serving Vulnerable Populations
Serving Vulnerable Populations
e.g. individuals in crisis, children, individuals experiencing homelessness, immigrants, seniors, individuals with disabilities, etc.
Action Wellness is a Philadelphia-based organization committed to helping people living with chronic illness with services including chronic illness treatment and prevention, free rapid health screenings (includes free HIV testing), Medical Case Management, perinatal and family services, primary medical care, supportive housing services, mental and behavioral health, volunteer services, educational and vocational assistance. Action Wellness staff, volunteers and board members work together to sustain and enhance the quality of life for the diverse community it serves.
Volunteers can be a Buddy, providing office support, or helping with special events
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is looking for camp staff for summer camp programs! There are multiple locations in each state. They are looking for volunteer counselors and medical volunteers! Click here to learn more.
Camp Kydnie is a summer camp serving children with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, ages 6-18, who might otherwise be unable to attend camp. The goal of Camp Kydnie is to provide a normal summer camp experience, allowing for health and physical limitations, emphasizing positive self-image and independence. Visit their website for more information on volunteering.
Esperanza Health Center is a Christian-based community center serving North Philadelphia (Hunting Park, Kensington), one of the largest Hispanic populations in the city. Click here to learn about their volunteer needs (preference may be given to bilingual Spanish-English speakers).
Prevention Point Philadelphia is a non-profit public health organization providing harm reduction services to communities in Philadelphia affected by poverty, drug use, and sex work. They promote health, empowerment, and safety for these individuals who have been marginalized and stigmatized. Click here to get involved:
Volunteer with community cleanup, meal service, or assembling/distributing essential kits with Narcan, condoms, etc.
Summer internship to help with various projects & services based on your skills/interests
Depaul USA in Philadelphia needs volunteers to help with the following needs:
Computer and resume help for our residents
Front desk reception
If interested, email Sandra Guillory, Director of Operations and Philadelphia Programs
WOAR provides free services to anyone who has experienced sexual violence. Their mission is to eliminate all forms of sexual violence through specialized treatment services, comprehensive prevention education programs, and advocacy for the rights of victims of sexual assault. Volunteers staff the 24-hour Hotline and meet in-person with sexual assault survivors who are seeking medical attention at Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) at 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124. Volunteers are required to participate in a 40-hour training course to become a Sexual Assault Volunteer Counselor. Learn more about volunteering with WOAR
Uplift offers peer support groups for children and teens in grades K-12th who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives. Peer support and a caring adult presence help to reduce the feelings of isolation and loneliness that children often experience after death. Uplift has multiple locations around the city of Philadelphia. Creative activities and games allow children to express their thoughts and feelings about death. Click here to learn about how you can support their mission as a volunteer
Crisis Text Line is the free, 24/7 text line for people in crisis in the U.S., relying on volunteer Crisis Counselors who remotely answer texts from people in crisis, bringing them from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning. Complete 30 hours of training and commit to volunteering 4 hours per week until 200 hours are reached.
A person confined to death row often spends up to 23 hours each day alone in a small cell—for years and sometimes decades. A kind gesture, like writing a letter, can bring a ray of hope to the darkness of death row. They may be victims of systemic racism, poverty, etc. and that's all the more reason to show compassion. If you would like to make a commitment to write to someone on death row at least once each month for one year, please click here. Getting to know one prisoner can dispel some of the misconceptions and fears about prisons as well as the people locked away inside of them. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
“The Best Day of My Life So Far” is inspired by the relentlessly positive spirit of the founder’s grandma, and grounded in the belief that you can turn any day into the best day of your life, just by sharing a story with someone who really cares to listen. 11 million, or 28%, of older Americans are at risk for social isolation, which can impair the immune system and increase cognitive decline. Their mission is to reduce isolation in senior citizens and promote intergenerational engagement through storytelling. Learn how you can get involved
Philly House (formerly Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission) serves those experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, caring for their practical and spiritual needs. Volunteer to serve a meal, process and sort donations, or assist with administrative tasks
Project HOME empowers adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all to attain their fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. Become a volunteer
Bethesda Project provides shelter, housing and supportive services to chronically homeless and formerly homeless individuals Philadelphia. Their mission is to "find and care for the abandoned poor and provide family for those who have none". Learn about their volunteer opportunities to support individuals experiencing homelessness
Immigrants and refugees are a critical part of the fabric of life in the United States, and it is our vision that all immigrants and refugees achieve a life of dignity, safety, stability, sustainable opportunities and meaningful connections to their communities. To this end, NSC provides comprehensive services to immigrants and refugees, including legal protections, community integration, access to health and wellness services, and opportunities to achieve English language proficiency. Our dedicated staff are committed to ensuring that each of our clients receives high-quality holistic care and work together to refer clients to internal and external services based on the individual’s needs.
Learn about their volunteer opportunities and follow their Facebook page for updates
HIAS Pennsylvania provides legal, resettlement, citizenship, and supportive services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from all backgrounds in order to ensure their fair treatment and full integration into American society.
Click here to learn about these ways you can volunteer: clerical work, after school programs with refugee youth, appointment accompaniment, childcare volunteer team, citizenship tutor, delivery driver, ESL tutor, home set-up team, job search mentor, Philly neighbor, meal preparation and grocery shopping.
HMS School educates, nurtures, and cares for children and young adults with complex physical disabilities resulting from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or other neurological impairments, with the goal of enabling each to reach his or her maximum potential. We promote independence and improve the quality of life for youth in a safe and secure environment so each can lead a fulfilling, stimulating life now and as an adult. Learn about volunteer opportunities
Healthcare-Related
Healthcare-Related
Clinical and non-clinical experiences in healthcare-related settings
CHOP volunteers will work alongside healthcare professionals in non-clinical roles to support the Hospital's mission to care for the patient and family. CHOP offers a traditional, college & graduate, and summer volunteer option; for specifics on the time commitmemt and locations, please visit their website.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is located in North Philadelphia. Volunteers may work directly with patients or in service department that supports patient care.
The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House (PRMH) creates a community of comfort and hope by supporting families of children who are ill and being treated at CHOP or St. Christopher's. The organization was founded in 1974 by the Philadelphia Eagles staff member Jimmy Murray and pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans at CHOP, and has grown to more than 366 houses in 43 countries around the globe. Click here to learn how you can volunteer.
Project Sunshine partners with medical facilities to meet the psychosocial and developmental needs of pediatric patients. While health professionals deliver treatment, volunteers deliver activities that promote creative expression, socialization, and learning. By providing increased opportunities for play and authentic engagement in the medical environment, young patients can act and feel like normal kids or teens during emotionally and physically challenging times. Click here for volunteer opportunities
SJU also has an active chapter of Project Sunshine! (Facebook)
Interested in volunteering with the Philadelphia Community Chapter at Pediatric Specialty Care in East Falls?
Sign up for a webinar training
You'll be connected with the local chapter leaders to learn more about upcoming events
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Volunteer opportunities range from experiences at our Medical Center, Community Living Center, and our Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (off-site locations). Volunteer experiences are categorized in the following areas:
Administrative Support (clerical)
Patient Experience (clinical)
Community Experience
Minimum time commitment for college students is 2-3 hours/week depending on assignment. If you have any questions, please contact vhaphivisn4voluntary@va.gov.
Premed Volunteer Program @ Pennsylvania Hospital (800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107) Become a Nursing Unit volunteer to assist clinical staff in caring for our patients. You will interact with nurses and physicians, visitors, patients and families in addition to learning about the important ancillary departmental interactions between nursing units and other departments. This is an outstanding opportunity for pre-med, post baccalaureate, PA and nursing students.
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Volunteer assignments may exist in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy or hospital administration. Other assignments may be available if your request is appropriate and the assignment is available.
Cooper University Hospital is located in Camden, NJ and volunteers can help with transporting patients, fall prevention, staffing the information desk, communicating between nurses and families, etc.
Jefferson Health at Abington has offered a Pre-Med Program since 1959. Our program, which spans eight weeks from June to July, allows students considering a career in medicine to gain first-hand experience in the health care field. In order to gain an understanding of the work and responsibilities of a health care provider in a modern hospital complex, we offer a broad exposure to several facets of our organization:
Hospital Elder Life (HELP) Program
Emergency Trauma Center
Surgery
OB/GYN
Autopsies
Students are also offered lectures and panels hosted by hospital staff, bonus “pop-up” lectures, and invitations to several hospital conferences and rounds. Altogether, students will work with physicians, physician assistants, residents, and various other advanced practice professionals and staff members of our hospital.
View additional volunteer opportunities at other Jefferson locations here.
Virtual Shadowing
Virtual Shadowing
Below are some "virtual shadowing" opportunities for your own learning until restrictions have lifted.
Disclaimers:
Schools may not "count" these hours, so it's always best to ask admissions representatives directly at schools you are interested in (through info sessions or fairs) how they perceive these on applications.
With the abundance of free opportuniities you should not have to spend money to gain shadowing experience.
Interactive small-group seminars using real patient cases recorded from a camcorder attached to the practitioner’s forehead. Fully consented and HIPAA compliant videos feature real patients in the ER, exam room, community clinics, pre-hospital, and developing world. Cases are facilitated synchronously by physicians and advanced medical students, who supplement their instruction with their own experiential knowledge. There are a mixture of free and at cost modules.
Shadow physicians from various specialties via YouTube. Although they aren't broadcasting new sessions, you can view recorded ones on YouTube!
The University of Colorado School of Medicine has two nano courses that include videos featuring physicians, PAs, and NPs as they go bedside in the Emergency Department to assess and diagnose a simulated patient. Each video is followed by a series of questions, summary by the physician, and a short quiz on the topic addressed.
Pre-Health Shadowing features shadowing opportunities of different health professions and different countries. They share why they decided to go into their field, their education, activities, career path, admissions process, advice, a glance into their day on the job, etc. Presentations are followed by a Q&A and a short assessment.
While this program was designed for University of Florida students (and while the semester is ongoing the live program is only available for UF students), the recordings are open to all and are free! Various health professions and specialties are covered in over 100 video sessions.
Report abuse