Health Career Track

The Health Track supports students pursuing a wide variety of health-related careers, from medicine and dentistry to public health, research, and allied health fields. Explore the many paths to making a difference in others’ lives through healthcare.

Necessary Skills

Success in healthcare relies on a broad set of skills and values that extend beyond academic knowledge alone. Whether you aspire to clinical care, research, or healthcare leadership, developing core competencies is essential. Each health profession also emphasizes unique skills and technical abilities. Explore the foundational and specialized skills required for your chosen path to prepare for a successful and fulfilling career in healthcare.

What to Do Now to Prepare

Preparing for a career in healthcare involves strategic planning both inside and outside the classroom. Now is the time to build a strong academic foundation, seek hands-on experiences, and start connecting with mentors and professional networks. Explore coursework, enrichment activities, and reflection tools to help you clarify your path, gain relevant exposure, and become a standout candidate for your chosen health profession.

  • Explore Health Professions and Their Differences:
    • Check out the "Typical Entry-Level Jobs" section below for resources to help you explore the many different career pathways in healthcare.
    • Also check out our Volunteering, Employment, and Gap Year Resources page, which has some resources for exploration for some of the most popular health professions.
  • Academic Preparation:
    • Complete prerequisite courses
    • Prepare for standardized tests: MCAT, GRE, DAT, OAT, PCAT.
    • Consider Post-Baccalaureate and Master’s Programs
      • If you have already graduated or need academic enhancement, investigate post-bacc or master’s programs designed to help you complete prerequisites or raise your science GPA.
  • Experiential Preparation:
  • Professional Preparation:
    • Record all co-curricular experiences (volunteer, shadowing, research, etc.) with a tracking spreadsheet.
    • Learn about ethical, social, and economic/policy aspects of healthcare.
  • Networking:
Internship and Job Essentials

Gaining real-world experience is a crucial part of preparing for a health career. From clinical roles to research and community outreach, internships and jobs help you apply classroom knowledge, develop professional skills, and build your network. Use this section to explore common pre-health job titles, learn how and when to search for opportunities, and access resources for finding positions that align with your interests and goals.

  • Pre-Health Opportunities and Keywords for Searching
    • Clinical: medical assistant, research assistant, patient care tech, scribe, lab technician.
    • Business/Admin: healthcare administrator, medical sales, health informatics analyst.
    • Research: clinical research coordinator, research technician.
    • Public Health: community health worker, health educator.
    • Relevant keywords for job boards: “healthcare assistant”, “patient care”, “medical research”, “clinical coordinator”, “public health”, “health administration”, etc.
  • Hiring Timelines for Pre-Health Opportunities
    • Clinical Roles
      • Examples: Medical Assistant, Scribe, Patient Care Tech, EMT
      • Hiring Cycle: Year-round.
      • Large hospital systems: Summer cohorts may open applications December–February for May/June starts.
      • Individual offices/clinics: Ongoing posting; scribe and tech roles may hire any time due to turnover.
      • Application Timeline: Apply 2–3 months before desired start.
      • Tip: Prepare vaccination records & background checks early, as onboarding can be lengthy.
    • Home Healthcare & Direct Service Roles
      • Examples: Home Health Aide, Personal Care Assistant
      • Hiring Cycle: Continuous demand; rapid hiring (1–3 weeks typical).
      • Summer roles: Apply March–April for May/June start.
      • Application Timeline: For summer, apply 1–2 months in advance.
      • Tip: These aren’t always standard job postings like you might find on Handshake, so check out some of our resources below and join the Health Track newsletter to learn about opportunities shared directly with the UCC.
    • Research Assistant & Clinical Research
      • Academic-year roles: Labs recruit at semester starts (August/September, December/January).
      • Summer programs (SHPEP, NIH, REUs):
        • Apply November–February.
        • Deadlines December–March.
        • Notifications: March–April.
        • Programs run June–August.
      • Rolling lab positions: Apply anytime; 2–3 months lead time is typical.
      • Tip: Many of these opportunities arise through networking with your present or past professors, as well as those within your respective college/program. Research online to determine who would be best to contact.
    • Shadowing
      • Most shadowing is done through outreach to local physicians, clinics, or hospitals.
      • Best Time to Seek: There is no specific timeline given how individualized shadowing opportunities can be. Consider shadowing early in your pre-health journey to help inform your career decision.
      • Tip: Be aware that hospitals may require orientation clearances. Other paperwork may be required to comply with HIPAA laws. Find more information here.
    • Volunteering (Hospitals, Community Clinics, Non-Profit Organizations)
      • Hiring Cycle: Year-round, but organized orientations often occur at term/summer start.
      • Summer Volunteering: Apply 2–4 months ahead.
      • Tip: Minimum time commitments may apply. Prepare immunization/background documentation. Non-clinical volunteer work is still a great way to demonstrate service and gain necessary skills and competencies.
    • Summer Enrichment & Pipeline Programs
      • Examples: SHPEP, SIA, PrEP
      • Application Window: Varies, but many are October–March.
      • Notifications: March–April.
      • Programs Run: June–August.
      • Tip: Letters of Recommendation often required—alert recommenders by fall.
    • Certification/Training Programs (EMT, CNA, etc.)
      • Offerings: New courses every semester and/or summer.
      • Enroll: 2–6 months before session starts.
      • Tip: Register by Feb/March for summer courses—spots fill fast.
  • Other Tips/Recommendations:
    • Start browsing opportunities the semester before you want to begin.
    • Track deadlines and compliance requirements in a planner.
    • Seek references early for programs/roles that require them.
  • Enrichment and Pipeline Programs:
  • Job Boards/Resources:
  • Shadowing
Typical Entry-Level Jobs (and Beyond: Explore Healthcare Roles)

Healthcare is a broad and dynamic field dedicated to promoting, maintaining, and restoring health for individuals and entire communities. It encompasses a wide range of professions and settings that address physical, mental, and public health needs. Healthcare professionals can work directly with patients, conduct groundbreaking research, manage healthcare organizations, or develop public health programs and policies that improve wellbeing on a large scale.

There is no single path to a career in healthcare—opportunities exist in clinical care, scientific research, administration, education, and more. Whether you are interested in treating patients, supporting wellness, analyzing data, or shaping health policy, there are countless ways to make a meaningful impact.

Resources to explore careers in healthcare include:

Industry Trends

The healthcare field is constantly evolving, with new technologies, policies, and opportunities shaping how care is delivered. Staying informed about industry trends will help you make strategic decisions about your education and career path. Use these resources to keep up with job outlooks, salaries, professional news, and emerging topics in health and medicine.

Resources for Interviews and MMIs

Preparing for interviews, including panel, traditional, and Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) formats, is an important step on your pre-health journey. Use the resources below to learn about interview expectations, practice your responses, and build the confidence needed to shine in the process.