Opportunities to Get Involved
These resources are designed for health pre-professional undergraduate students at Penn State looking to get involved within and around the University.
Health-Professions Related Student Organizations
- Career Services
- Geisinger School of Phlebotomy
- Guidelines for Pre-Medical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad by AAMC
- Internships for Eberly College of Science students
- Office of Science Engagement - Calendar of Events
- Penn State Research News
- Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
- Undergraduate Scientists
- University Fellowships Office
There is no formal list for all such experiences, so students should make the necessary contacts and seek out arrangements to facilitate other volunteer opportunities. Ideas could include:
- Centre Foundation
- Centre Helps
- Centre LifeLink EMS
- Centre Volunteers in Medicine
- Community Help Centre
- Centre Safe
- Geisinger Gray's Woods
- Local Service Organizations
- Mount Nittany Medical Center
- Penn State Health
- Penn State Student Affairs 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)
- Volunteer Centre County
- Volunteer @ PSU
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 students should make the necessary contacts and seek out arrangements to facilitate shadowing experiences. Ideas could include:
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.
- EMT Training Opportunities
- Penn State First Aid, CPR, and Safety Training Courses
- EMS Training by county – searchable database maintained by the PA Dept of Health
- Training at the level of EMR, EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic
Centre LifeLink also offers local EMT and other Health and Safety training. Many students volunteer with this company
Other Penn State opportunities in Healthcare
CNA Training
- CPI (Central Pennsylvania Institute) in Pleasant Gap: https://cpi.edu/programs/nurse-aid-program/?portfolioCats=185
- Approved Nurse Aide Training by county – listed by the PA Dept of Education (students will need to call)
- https://www.registerednursing.org/certified-nursing-assistant/programs/pennsylvania/
- https://www.registerednursing.org/certified-nursing-assistant/programs/new-jersey/
- https://www.registerednursing.org/certified-nursing-assistant/programs/
Other Options
- St. Luke’s Health System Medical Assistant Trainee Program
- Patient Care Tech Training Program at UPMC (includes training)
Information taken from Penn State's Student Organization Directory For more information contact The Office of Student Activities (103 HUB), 814-863-4624, studentorg@psu.edu
- Academy Health Student Chapter
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), the National Health Pre-Professional Honor Society
- American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
- Association of Health Care Administrators
- Biobehavioral Health Society
- Biomedical Sciences Club
- Culinary Medicine Club
- Ethics in Science and Medicine
- Global Medical Brigades
- Global Water Brigades
- Health Policy and Administration Club
- The Minority Association of Pre-Medical/Health Students (MAPS)
- Occupational Therapy Club
- Operation Smile
- Phi Epsilon Kappa
- Pre-Dental Society
- Pre-Optometry Society
- Pre-Physician Assistant Club
- Pre-Physical Therapy Club
- Pre-Vet Club
- Remote Area Medical (RAM)
- Student Red Cross Club
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. THON has 15,000+ student volunteers, 700 dancers, and has raised more than $127 million, benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.