Gaining Healthcare Experience in AHS 1613

If you’ve started thinking about how you’ll gain healthcare experience, AHS 1613: Experiences in Healthcare & Public Health is the course for you! 

Remember that when it comes to experiences, health program admissions committees are interested not just in what you did, but also what you learned and how you’ve reflected on your experiences. That’s why the PHSRC runs AHS 1613! The course gives students credit to gain volunteer hours in a healthcare or public health setting, and then reflect on their experiences and takeaways in class. 

Read about the experiences AHS 1613 students participated in, and how the course helped them think and write about those experiences to be able to put together a strong application for a health program. 

AHS 1613 is a 2-credit online, asynchronous course taught by PHSRC Career Counselor Scott Simpson. 

Kaci  - majoring in genetics and cell biology and development, pre-medicine

The AHS 1613 class provided an extra incentive to get involved in a volunteer program that will expand my knowledge and exposure in an area in which I am interested in holding a career. Many aspects of the class also allow for further delving into future professional programs, which provides great preparatory information. 

I am volunteering at Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) in the Emergency Department through their ED PEER Program. I mostly work in the team centers where I round on patients, restock various items, change the linen bags, answer call lights, wheel out patients, and assist family members with various things. 

I was nervous before I started volunteering but am really glad that I did it. It has been a great experience to gain exposure to the inner workings of a level-one trauma center and has confirmed my interest in this career path. 

Tsebawot - majoring in psychology, pre-physician assistant 

I'm currently pursuing a degree in Psychology with a keen interest in advancing to a Physician Assistant role in Women's Health.

My experience in AHS 1613 has been transformative, turning my once vague aspirations of a medical career into a well-structured plan. Volunteering at the University of Minnesota Medical Center has been an enriching experience. Each shift offers me the opportunity to interact with doctors and gain insights into the medical field. This exposure not only enhances my understanding of a healthcare professional's responsibilities but also deepens my appreciation for the critical yet often repetitive tasks performed by volunteers in a hospital setting. I am truly grateful for these learning experiences.

Alexis - majoring in neuroscience, pursuing medicine

I volunteer with my twin brother, Andrew, in the Emergency Room at Fairview Ridges. As a volunteer I am responsible for restocking supplies in IV carts and room carts. I also turnover patient rooms as the ER goes from treating one patient to the next. I restock the ER bays with their snack boxes as well. I also deliver equipment throughout the hospital as needed to different units in the hospital.

AHS 1613 has allowed me to improve my experience as a volunteer. Through weekly reflections I have been able to learn how to be a better communicator and more effective in my role in the healthcare field as an ER volunteer. This whole service experience has been really cool and a great way to familiarize myself with what healthcare in the ER looks like. It has also got me excited about a career in medicine.

Andrew 

AHS 1613 is a super helpful class that is, in a way, forcing us to build and think about our application to medical school and future health profession schools. We could have done it on our own, but this class helps us think about getting everything together. 

I did not know what to expect of this class because I thought the volunteering component would be the only one. Upon realizing that I had to do extra work outside of the volunteering, I thought it would be a waste of time, but it has been VERY helpful. 

Rylee - majoring in biology, pre-med

My name is Rylee, I am in CBS and my major is biology.  The career I am pursuing is to become a pediatrician.  

AHS 1613 is preparing me for my future by providing information on many aspects of the medical and health field. This includes learning about competencies, ethics, values, what the application process might look like, and so much more. I am volunteering at Masonic Children's Hospital on a pediatric unit floor. I work from the playroom so it is my job to keep the space clean and play with children that visit the playroom. However, I also go to patient's rooms and visit with them in there. It is a very fun and different experience than anything I have ever done before!

Assem - majoring in kinesiology with sports management and sports coaching minors, pre-medicine

AHS 1613 is an online, asynchronous course with weekly discussions and homework. With the many elements of health profession programs and getting many ideas put together, it has been a great course for me. I am an honors student with a kinesiology major, a sports management minor, and a sports coaching minor. I'm on the pre-medical track as well. 

I have been a Teaching Assistant at U of M in the leadership program for 2 years until now and teaching 2 courses. I played pro soccer and college soccer at U of M and have done private coaching through “Coach Up.” I am also an honor mentor by selection and it is rewarding volunteering at UMMC East Bank, Rehab department.

I spent 3 months in Africa/ Egypt shadowing several doctors and spending 1200 hours doing many community services and helping in all aspects of the medical environment helping professionals, nurses, front desk and patients at a rural village. It was rewarding and I am eager to go back again. So, I have a passion for sports medicine; since I was 5 years old, I knew I wanted to be a sports medicine doctor. Also, I honor diversity and inclusion. I am trilingual ( English, Arabic and Spanish) so I work with many clients from various backgrounds and I can use my languages to communicate effectively. 

In closing, I have the flexibility, leadership, management, and organizational abilities to be successful in this course and beyond. So, I believe I can provide the knowledge of best practices and strategies for overseeing mobility management, pain management, nutrition, and recovery.

Anvita Gandikota - majoring in neuroscience, pre-medicine 

Hi! My name is Anvita. I took AHS 1613 because I had no idea where to start in my medical school application and whether I was on the right track for doing so. After meeting with the PHSRC, I signed up for this class to begin reflecting on the preliminary question, "why medicine?" I wanted to identify what I could bring to the healthcare team and how to set myself apart in my application and interview. Taking AHS 1613 prepared me for my future health professional application by allowing me to start thinking about how I could do just that. 

Andrew - pre-pharmacy

My name is Andrew and I am a junior in the College of Biological Science. This course is preparing me for a future application by providing me with key tools that can help me succeed. I am volunteering as an immunizer for Cub Pharmacy flu clinics. In order to participate in this role, I first had to become a certified pharmacy technician and take a week long immunization course through the U of M College of Pharmacy. This allows me to volunteer administering both COVID and flu vaccines at various clinics around the metro area. 

I have enjoyed this experience and it has gotten me comfortable with hands-on patient care. This will be beneficial for my future in pharmacy and providing the best patient care possible.

Kammory - majoring in biology, pre-physician assistant

I am Kammory, and I want to work in the dermatology area. I am volunteering at St. John's Hospital in the NICU and Oncology departments. 

This course is a great way to get insight into what is needed to apply to post-grad schooling. Some things we have looked into in this course have not even crossed my mind when looking at schools. If you have room in your schedule to take this course, I would definitely recommend it.

Megan - majoring in nursing, pre-nursing

I'm Megan, a University of Minnesota nursing major who is really interested in working as a registered nurse. AHS 1613 has been really helpful in preparing me for my upcoming application as a health professional by providing me with fundamental understanding about ethics, healthcare systems, and the value of patient-centered care. 

I currently work as a volunteer at Cuyuna Medical Center, where I actively participate in providing direct patient care, emotional support, and help with everyday tasks. My expectations have been met by this practical experience, which has strengthened my commitment to nursing and my desire to make a good difference in the lives of my patients. My volunteering has become even more meaningful as a result of the AHS 1613 course, which has further enabled me to reflect on this experience by allowing me to examine difficult healthcare scenarios, ethical challenges, and patient care improvement tactics. My commitment to being an effective and compassionate nurse has been strengthened by volunteering in the context of this course, which has helped to close the divide between knowledge and practice. 

Scott and AHS 1613 students, thank you for sharing about your experiences in the course!