Explore & Grow

It is important for you as a pre-health student to explore the vast sea of careers within the healthcare industry. Spending time examining these different careers will help you to find the right fit for a fulfilling career serving others. It is equally important for you to work on growing your skills and competencies during your pre-health experience so that you are ready to face the challenges of professional programs on the road to your career. 


The Pre-Health Pathways Office releases a This Week in Pre-Health e-mail & video each week with information about upcoming events for pre-health students. (You can sign up for the pre-health e-mail list by contacting Dr. J.) The links below will connect you to additional resources and opportunities coming up in the more-distant future, so check them out and mark your calendars!

Career Exploration & Shadowing Opportunities:

  • Interested in learning about Health Informatics as a career? Check out this site, which features a video about the profession.
  • WebShadowers LLC is a free physician virtual shadowing program run by students at the University of Central Florida. They have a great website and YouTube channel.
  • The NAAHP has a great webpage that is regularly updated with information about various upcoming health professions events. Check out all the exciting health professions fairs, webinars, and informational sessions by going here.
  • SHPEP will be hosting a Pharmacy: Prescription for a Rewarding Career webinar on Wednesday, August 4th, at 3:00PM MST. Learn more and register by going here.
    • The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) will be having a Virtual Open House Series this summer and early fall. Learn more and register for these events by going here. Sessions are as follows:
      • Learning and Support at UNE COM: Meet Current Students and Faculty Monday, August 16, 2021, 3:30-5:30PM MST
        • Description:  Our academic environment - and community - is one of collaboration and support among the student body, faculty members, and professional staff.  Join this session to hear from current students and the biomedical and clinical faculty who teach them!  We'll discuss our integrative pre-clerkship education and the support you will have along the way.   
      •  Addiction Medicine Panel: Alumni, Faculty, Students Thursday, September 9, 2021, 3:30-5:30PM MST
        • Description: Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a public health crisis.  During this session, UNE COM Alumni practicing in Addiction Medicine, COM faculty, and current student members of our Addiction Medicine Club, Neuro/Psych Club, and Anesthesiology/Pain Management Club will discuss caring for OUD patients, the stigma they face, and how health professionals can dismantle the common misconception that OUD is a moral failure and not a chronic relapsing brain disease.  Regardless of the area of medicine your student is hoping to pursue, this is an important conversation for all prospective medical students to hear.  
    • Touro College of Pharmacy is hosting several virtual pharmacy information sessions. Learn more and sign up by going here. The sessions will be held on the following dates at the following times:
      • August 18th  at 2:30PM MST
    • Des Moines University is hosting a Foot & Ankle Surgery Case Series via Zoom on Tuesday, September 7th at 5:00PM MST. Registration for this event closes on Thursday, September 2nd. Learn more and register by going here.
    • Des Moines University is hosting a Foot & Ankle Surgery Case Series via Zoom on Tuesday, November 9th at 5:00PM MST. Registration for this event closes on Friday, November 5th. Learn more and register by going here.

    Professional Development Opportunities:

    • Public Health Pathways is a database of public health training opportunities for various pre-health and healthcare students/professionals (including pre-med students). Learn more by going here.
    • Child Family Health International has programs that connect students to health professionals and community leaders in 11 different countries to transform perspectives about self, global health, and healing. Learn more by going here.
    • Engineering World Health is a non-profit that aims to help students improve healthcare delivering in low-income countries: https://www.ewh.org/
      • Also, they are offering a new, FREE virtual design program that will partner students from the U.S. and Lebanon to create low-resource design and engineering healthcare in an international setting! Learn more by going here.
    • The Global Engagement Institute has partnered with Des Moines University and The College of New Jersey to offer virtual internships in global health from four international campus locations (Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Vietnam). Enrollment is generally reserved for juniors, seniors, and graduate students, but they seem pretty flexible. The costs, especially for the flexible, custom internship, are pretty reasonable. Check out the attachment for more information or head over to this website.
    • International Service Learning is an organization that offers experiential learning opportunities to volunteers in health care, education, ecology, and community development. Learn more about ISL and their programs by going here.
    • A number of schools have a Pathway for Patient Health affiliation that offers educational programing designed to prepare the next generation of critically thinking engineers and scientists who can make a difference in patient lives around the world. Learn more about the universities offering these kinds of programing by going here.
    • The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is hosting a series of summer events that you can register for by going here. Events include:
      • OB/Gyn and Pediatrics Information Session - August 3rd at 10:30AM MST
      • Q&A with Staff - August 5th at 10:30AM MST
      • Virtual Physician Experience - August 12th at 10:30AM MST
      • Current Students Q&A Session - August 16th at 10:30AM MST
      • Admissions Q&A with Staff - August 18th at 10:30AM MST
      • Virtual Physician Experience - August 24th at 10:30AM MST
      • Diversity at VCOM - August 27th at 10:30AM MST
    • The ASPPH is hosting a webinar titled How Students Can Get Involved Now on August 4th at 12:00PM MST. Learn more about this public health webinar and register for free by going here. 
    • The University of the Incarnate Word's Rosenberg School of Optometry is hosting a virtual Optometry Admissions Prep Program on Wednesdays over the next few months. You can learn more and register by going here. The following topics will be covered:
      • General Admissions Q&A - August 11th at 5:00PM MST
      • OAT 101: Find Success on the Test - August 25th at 5:00PM MST
      • The Well Rounded Applicant - September 8th at 5:00PM MST
      • General Admissions Q&A - September 22nd at 5:00PM MST
      • The Interview Overview - October 6th at 5:00PM MST
      • Investing in Your Future - October 20th at 5:00PM MST
      • General Admissions Q&A - November 3rd at 5:00PM MST
      • The Successful Transition to Optometry School - November 17th at 5:00PM MST
                                                                          • SD AHEC is hosting a free virtual and in-person conference titled Mission Possible: Reducing the Impact of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Our Communities on August 18th-19th. Learn more and register by going here.
                                                                          • The AANMC will be hosting a webinar titled Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis: A Natural Approach on August 19th at 1:00PM MST. Learn more and register by going here.
                                                                          • The AAMC will be hosting virtual a virtual fair titled Pathways, Strategies, and Resources for Diverse Medical School Aspirants, which will focus on information and content for first-generation, DACA, and those from underserved and underrepresented in medicine, on September 16th. Details for registering will be shared at a later date. 
                                                                          • The South Dakota Public Health Association (SDPHA) is hosting their annual conference on Friday, September 17th at the Sanford Center in Sioux Fall, South Dakota. This year's theme is Strengthening Public Health in South Dakota: Learning from the past and preparing for the future. The conference will run from 8:30AM-4:00PM CST (7:30AM-3:00PM MST) both in-person and virtually. (Registration is slightly cheaper for virtual attendance.) Learn more and register by going here.
                                                                          • The SHPEP (Summer Health Professions Education Program) is a free, 6-week summer experience for college freshmen and sophomores interested in health professions. Applications for joining the program next summer open on November 1st. Learn more by going here.

                                                                              Local Clinical Experience Opportunities:

                                                                              • The Avera Center for Pediatric and Community Research is hiring a few different positions at their Rapid City clinic. Learn more and apply by going here. 

                                                                              • Dakota Lions Sight & Health, a local eye and tissue donation company, is hiring part time Tissue Recovery Technicians. Learn more and apply by going here.
                                                                              • Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, SD, is hiring for a full-time lab tech (MLS or MLT) with a sign-on bonus included. This position requires rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays along with call coverage. CMH offers competitive pay and benefits including PTO, Extended Sick Leave, 403B, Health, Dental and Life Insurance, along with many perks of being part of a small-town community. Learn more and apply by contacting Hospital Lab Manager, Kendra Krcil at 605-775-2621 or Kendra.Krcil@CMHBurke.org.
                                                                              • Mountain Valley Vision Center in Spearfish and Deadwood Eyecare is looking for a full-time technician. Please contact Christy Martinson, Vision Care Director, mountainvalleyvision@hotmail.com or 605-642-2645 if interested in applying for this position.
                                                                              • Peaceful Pines Senior Living Community is hiring Resident Care Assistants. Learn more and apply by going here.
                                                                              • Rapid City Medical Center is hiring Patient Financial Service agents to work in their billing department. They are looking for both a full-time person and for a part-time person to call people about their outstanding bills, answer questions, take payments, etc. The part-time position will be in 4-hour shifts with flexible hours and a partial benefits package. Learn more and apply by going here.
                                                                              • ScribeAmerica is currently hiring local medical scribes. Learn more and apply by going here.

                                                                              Local Volunteering Opportunities

                                                                              COVID-19 Related & Remote Volunteering Opportunities

                                                                              South Dakota Mines Partnerships Volunteering Opportunities

                                                                              • Dress for Success is a program aimed at helping women in our community to gain access to professional clothing for job interviews and new employment positions. Our Career & Professional Development Center and our Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program have partnered with this community entity to help our female students to be able to dress for success in their careers. The Dress for Success program is currently looking for volunteers to help support the boutique operations, shop with women, and sort clothing. https://volunteer.helplinecenter.org/opportunity/a0C1M00000gTijfUAC 

                                                                              Working for the American Red Cross

                                                                              Working with/for Children

                                                                              Working with City/County Alcohol & Drug Programs

                                                                              Working with the Disabled, Elderly, or Ill

                                                                              Working with the Homeless, Incarcerated, or Food Insecure

                                                                              Working at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital

                                                                              Working in Suicide Prevention

                                                                              Working for SDSU Extension

                                                                              For more volunteering opportunities in
                                                                              South Dakota,                                                                               check out Helpline Center! 

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