Pre-Health Resources
Below you can find resources to assist you with your journey towards your health professions. Links and tips are included for opportunities to gain healthcare exposure, get involved with research, engage with campus student organizations, and navigate funding for health profession schools. Feel free to revisit this page to discover new opportunities and the most updated information.
Healthcare exposure is highly recommended for most health professions and encompasses activities that involve interactions with patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare experience can include volunteering at a hospital, working as an EMT, working at hospice and palliative care facilities, medical scribing, and performing administrative duties at healthcare facilities. Here is some additional insight from the AAMC about getting experience: https://students-residents.aamc.org/preparing-medical-school/getting-experience.
Below are links to some of the local hospitals in the New Orleans area where you can gain healthcare experience:
Below is a partial listing of clinical, research, and volunteer opportunities for pre-health students looking to develop their resume for application to health profession schools.
Research Focus
- AAMC List of Summer Undergraduate Research Programs: Open to all, but especially useful for students considering a career in research or are interested in pursuing an MD-PhD.
- AAMC List of pre MD-PhD Summer Undergraduate Research Programs: Includes programs that are geared exclusively to future applicants to MD-PhD and Physician-Scientist programs.
- National Institutes of Health Research Opportunities
- AAMC Database of Summer Enrichment and Pipeline Programs: Searchable database that filters summer opportunities by region, area of focus, and education level.
- Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP): From the SHPEP website, “SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools.” (Formerly the SMDEP, program has expanded to include a broader range of health professions).
- National Science Foundation List of REUs: NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Undergraduate Research Program
Clinical Focus
- Remote Area Medical
- Atlantic Health System: Overlook Summer Internship Program
- Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
- COPE Summer Pre-Med Scholars Program
- Georgetown Summer Medical Institute
- Einstein Medical Center Pre-Med Program
- Dialysis Clinic Summer Internship Program
- Hofstra/Northwell Summer Pre-Medicine Program
- The Zucker School of Medicine Pipeline Program
International Focus
- Global Brigades
- Restless Development
- International Service Learning
- International Medical Corps
- Unite for Sight
Summer Camps
- Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Summer Camp
- Camp Boggy Creek
- Special Olympics
- The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
- Camp Good Days
- Camp Holiday Trails – A Camp for Children with Special Health Needs
- Camp S.K.A.M.P. (Special Kids and Meaningful People)
- Friendship Ventures
- Camp AmeriKids
- Roundup River Ranch
Research is a high impact practice with strong, proven outcomes for undergraduate student enrichment. Tulane University is one of the top research universities in the United States and our researchers are eager to include undergraduates in their work. There's multiple ways to get involved on science-focused research.
The Tulane University Scientific Volunteering and Research Initiative connects students to researchers.
TUSVRI is an effort to network with researchers and scientific organizations such as hospitals, independent research firms, and other organizations participating in projects to advance science and human health within the New Orleans community.
Newcomb-Tulane College’s Office of Undergraduate Research engages undergraduate students in meaningful and rigorous research experiences, develops undergraduate research skills, and connects undergraduates to faculty-driven or independent research opportunities. Students of all the five colleges are encouraged to use the Research Network Database to identify their research interests and connect with their research community.
The following is a list of professional organizations related the postgraduate/professional education process in a variety of healthcare fields.
Medicine
- Allopathic (M.D.): Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
- Osteopathic (D.O.): American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
- Physician Assistant: American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
Dental Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Podiatry
Speech-Language Therapy
Veterinary Medicine
The following is a list of popular student-run organizations for pre-health students. This is by no means an exhaustive resource--please visit WaveSync for a full list of student organizations on Tulane's campus.
- Pre-Medical Society
- Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity
- Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS)
- Pre-Dental Society
- Tulane University Pre-Veterinary Society
- Tulane EMS (TEMS)
- Tulane Undergraduate Surgery Club
- NAMI On Campus (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- Tulane University Peer Health Educators
- ACEing Autism
- Swim 4 Success
- Global Brigades
- CACTUS (Community Action Council of Tulane University Students)
If your desire to attend a prehealth school is hampered by financial worries please realize that this does not need to stop you from your dream. The financial assistance is out there and dedication toward locating this information is worth your time.This is just an overview of some financial aid medical programs that are out there.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa application determines eligibility for several different federal programs including the Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants(SEOG) http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/, and Federal Work-Study.
The Federal Perkins Loan Program
The Health Professions Student Loan Program
Health Education Assistance Loan Program(HEAL)
AAMC FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools)
The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students Program (SDS)
Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS)
National Health Service Corps Scholarships
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program
- Air Force: https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/Media-Center/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/425437/hpsp-fact-sheet/
- Army: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/health-care/amedd-scholarship.html
- Navy: https://www.med.navy.mil/Accessions/Health-Professions-Scholarship-Program-HPSP-and-Financial-Assistance-Program-FAP/
The National Medical Fellowships–for minority students
American Medical Women’s Association Loan Program
American Association of University Women
The Daughters of the American Revolution
AAMC Financing your Medical Education
Nursing School Loans (NSL)
