Getting Involved: Organizations, Volunteering, Shadowing, & Research

Health Related Student Organizations

University recognized organizations; information taken from Penn State's Student Organization Directory 

• Alpha Epsilon Delta, the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society
• Pre-Medical Society  
• Pre-Dental Society - Student President: Richard Wilcko
• Pre-Optometry Society - Student President: Pooja Mahadev
• Pre-Physician Assistant Club - Student President: Alyssa Smouse 
• Pre-Pharmacy Club - currently inactive, if you would like to activate/start/run this club, then please contact the Office of Student Activities: 209 HUB, 814-863-4624, studentorg@sa.psu.edu
  
• Pre-Vet Club  
• Pre-Physical Therapy Club - Student President: Meaghan Hart 
• Occupational Therapy Club - Student President: Jacqueline O'Dell 
• Biomedical Sciences Club  
• Student National Medical Association
  
• Global Medical Brigades
• Global Water Brigades
  
• GlobeMed - Student President: Stephanie Tran 
• Operation Smile
• Student Red Cross Club
• Other Science Student Organizations

Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON)

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.  THON is a year-long effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer.  In 2011 THON raised a grand total of $9,563,016.09.  THON has 15,000 student volunteers, 700 dancers, and has raised more than $78 million, benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. 

• http://www.thon.org/students/get_involved

Penn State Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Education

The University Ambulance Service and Penn State University are dedicated to providing not only quality emergency medical care, but also EMS education.  Training opportunities include Kinesiology 403, a 4-credit, semester-long EMT training program for people with no previous EMS experience, as well as a number of training opportunities for current EMTs.

• http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/ems/index.php?p=education
  

Volunteer Opportunities 

• University Health Services at the Student Health Center with Clinical Services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW), and Physical Therapy (PT)  
  
• Mount Nittany Medical Center  
• Centre Volunteers in Medicine  
• Centre LifeLink EMS
  
• Volunteer @ PSU
• Community Help Centre
• Centre County Women's Resource Center
• There is no formal list for all such experiences so it is upon students to make necessary contacts and seek out arrangements to facilitate other volunteer opportunities.
  

Shadowing Experiences

• There are plenty of health professionals in the campus community of State College, PA that are willing to host interested students to observe and shadow within their practices.  There is no formal list for all such experiences so it is upon students to make necessary contacts and seek out arrangements to facilitate shadowing experiences.  
• Dentist Shadowing Contacts by the Pre-Dental Society 
• Shadow a Podiatrist via American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
  
• Externships/Job Shadowing with Penn State Science Alumni  
• LionLink, a networking program for Penn State students and alumni  
• Build Experience NOW, Career Services 
  

Internships, Research, Fellowship Opportunities, Abroad Experiences, Etc.

• Internships for Eberly College of Science students 
  
• Research Opportunities for Undergraduates 
  
• Penn State Research News
  
• Undergraduate Scientists, Penn State Science students blog about their undergraduate research experiences
• Research Penn State
  
• Pre-Health Summer Enrichment Programs
  
• Geisinger School of Phlembotomy 
• University Fellowships Office
  
• Career Services  
• Additional News, Announcements, Events, and Opportunities  
• Guidelines for Premedical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad by AAMC
• Guidelines for Predental Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad by ADEA