UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students interested in pursuing a career in health care can gain experience working with patients through the University Health Services’ Clinic Intern Program.
The Clinic Intern Program, which accepts 12 to 20 applicants each year, provides students with hands-on experience taking vitals, using electronic medical records systems, working with health care providers, and communicating with patients.
“It’s a great experience for anyone who’s going into medicine,” said Holli Kubalak, a physician assistant for University Health Services (UHS). “It’s really important for students to know what it takes to talk with a patient face-to-face and communicate effectively with them. It helps them evaluate whether health care is the right field for them.”
Students can apply to the program online. Applications are due March 8.
Those who are accepted into the program will be enrolled in a 300-level biobehavioral health class, BBH 330, for the spring and fall 2024 semesters. Students are required to participate in the program both semesters.
The classroom portion of the program takes place mostly during the spring semester. Interns must commit to working in the clinic for one four-hour block of time each week for two semesters.
Clinic hours usually begin regularly after six to eight weeks of training, but observation in the clinic begins in the first few weeks of class. Hours are scheduled weekly for a continuous four-hour block of time, either in the morning or afternoon.
Students who make it past the application process will be invited to partake in an interview, which will occur at the start of the fall 2024 semester. Students will be notified of the interview via email.
Those who are accepted into the program will be prompted via email to complete a variety of clearances, including state, federal, and HIPAA privacy clearances.
Students may not be chosen for the program because they are over-qualified or because other students may benefit more from the experience. An over-qualified student, for example, may already have certifications such as EMT-B with skills above what is taught in the program. For more information about the program, visit the UHS website.
UHS is a unit of Student Affairs. It specializes in outpatient student health including the treatment of medically urgent problems and ongoing health concerns. It provides preventative care, education, and resources to help students live a healthy lifestyle