Tag Archives: Health Professions

Important Internship Update

Dear Students,

Our hearts and minds are with you wherever you are across the country and globe. We will get through this!

We know that many of you are wondering where CCI stands related to internships and internship funding. While we have some updates for you, we also ask for your patience as we wait to see what the coming weeks will bring.  Here is the current information about how CCI can continue to support you if you are thinking about an internship for the summer.    

  • At this moment, CCI is still planning to provide funding for unpaid internships this summer.  But as you know, this is a time of great uncertainty and that has an impact on internships as well.  The situation is fluid, and we will need to finalize decisions at a later date based on CDC guidelines. While we are hoping for the best, it is likely that we may not fund international internships (unless in your home country) or that we may only be able to fund remote internships. We will continue to monitor the situation and do whatever we can to support you in your summer plans while ensuring that the College is only supporting experiences that are unlikely to put you at risk. We will continue to keep you informed and post updates at go/summerfunding.
  • We will endeavor to be as flexible as we can with internship funding deadlines and length of internships during these extreme times. But we encourage you to be creative and take initiative in seeking out opportunities that are remote or can be converted to remote internships, if needed.
  • Eligible students who have already secured an unpaid internship and wish to apply for funding must submit their application for internship funding no later than April 13. In your essay, please include a statement telling us that you have been in touch with your supervisor and have agreed to a plan on how you can do the internship (or at least the early part of the internship) remotely, if needed, or that the timing of the internship can be flexible if remote work is not possible. Funding may be pro-rated for internships that have to be shorter than the required 8 weeks. Funding decisions will be emailed to you on May 1. 
  • Students who need more time to secure an internship or need to make alternative plans will have until May 8 to submit their application for funding.  These late applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so submit your application as soon as you have a plan, and also indicate in your essay what contingency plan you and your supervisor have agreed to in case the internship cannot take place in-person. Please know that receipt of funding for these late applications may be delayed to mid or late June.  
  • The internship funding application is now open in Handshake. If you already have a confirmed unpaid internship and have accepted it, we encourage you to complete your application for funding. See instructions and all forms atgo/summerfunding. 
  • If you are applying for internship funding, CCI has waived the requirement to have a CCI-approved resume, but you will still need to submit a resume with your application. Our Peer Career Advisors will review resumes remotely. Send your resume to CCIPCA@middlebury.edu. 
  • If you are hoping to participate in an internship this summer but have not yet found one, there are over 2,600 internships still posted in Handshake. Discover other great tips for finding an internship at go/FindInternship or schedule a phone or video appointment with a CCI advisor through Handshake.
  • Many internships in Handshake are Reserved for Middlebury only.  And some CCI-Sponsored Internships (some overlaps) come with guaranteed funding. Many of these internships have upcoming application deadlines. 
  • Many Middlebury alums are eager to help students navigate these tricky times. Now is a great time to get career or internship advice. Spend some time exploring Midd2Middand reach out.  Review our Networking Guide first.
  • Finally, you may just need to stay flexible if your summer plans don’t pan out the way you envisioned. These are unprecedented times, and if an internship or work experience doesn’t happen for you this summer, you will be fine and there are lots of productive ways you can spend your summer.  We will be providing other ideas for an impactful summer on CCI’s social media and the Career Path blogs. And don’t forget that CCI advisors are available for phone and Zoom appointments to help you with your summer plans. 

We miss you, but please know that CCI is always here for you.

Take good care of yourself, your friends, and your family. 

CCI is working remotely to support you.

The staff at the Center for Careers and Internships (CCI) are sending their best wishes that you and your families are safe and healthy and reminding you that while we may not be in Adirondack House, we are still here for you! You all received an email on March 15th that CCI will continue to offer a full-range of support and resources with a variety of online tools.

We may not be on campus together, but the CCI team is working remotely to support you!

We know that many of you are thinking about future internships and jobs—and aren’t quite sure what to do now that in-person events from CCI have been canceled. We’re here to reassure you that just because most work is moving online, it doesn’t mean you need to stop planning internships, engaging with potential employers, and applying for jobs.

Use this as a guide for to how to leverage some of the systems we use at CCI to continue to actively explore career opportunities without coming to campus.

  • Attend online events: To the greatest extent possible, we are shifting all events online. Simply log in to Handshake and search for events that interest you.
  • Schedule advisor appointments via video chat or phone: Don’t miss out on appointments. Our advisors are still here and all sessions can be hosted virtually or by phone. Head to Handshake to schedule an appointment. Once you’ve selected your appointment category and type, select the appointment desired, then for Appointment Medium choose Video Call or Phone Call. You will receive a confirmation email from Handshake with the advisor’s Zoom link and phone number.
  • Learn from your peers: Read the over 100,000+ employer reviews on Handshake to learn more about what it’s like to intern or work at a specific company. Or, use Peer Messaging to chat with alumni or other students with your major, or even conduct informational interviews online. Check out this guide to learn more about how to learn from other students on Handshake.
  • Fill out your online profile: Did you know that 80% of students who fill out location preferences, job role preferences, and job type preferences receive a message from an employer? It’s a simple step, but a really effective way to start engaging with potential employers online. Here’s a quick guide to getting the most out of your Handshake profile. Need help with your résumé? Our Peer Career Advisors are still available to review your résumé and cover letter! Simply email your résumé to CCIPCA@middlebury.edu and they will get back to you.
  • Follow employers you’re interested in: By following an employer, you’ll be alerted when they post an upcoming online event.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out; we are committed to making sure you have the help and resources you need to continue to plan for your future.

Important Information from Hannah Benz and Mary Lothrop to HP Students

Dear Middlebury College Health Professions Student:

Short Version:

We’ve got this!

Longer Version:

We are in a time of profound uncertainty with countless unknowns and have very little definitive information to share. That being said, here’s what we do know:

• We’ve got a very strong network of colleagues in undergraduate advising roles and professional school admissions with whom we are in frequent contact. Through our twice yearly Northeast Consortium on Medical Education (NECOME) gatherings, active membership in the National Association for Advisors in the Health Professions (NAAHP), reading and contributing to robust daily listserv conversations, and nurturing our personal relationships with med school folks, we are well informed and poised to provide timely, thoughtful and accurate information in unprecedented times.

• We believe in you, a valued member of the Middlebury College pre-health community. We believe in you and your ability to navigate these immensely difficult waters. We believe in your adaptability and resilience, and your ability to endure and persevere. We will be here to support you.

Together, we’ve got this!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pass-Fail Classes:

You have received communication regarding the Middlebury College P/F policy, and many of you have asked us to walk you through how to decide whether to take a letter grade or a P/F. The good news is that this decision, while important, is not urgent as you are allowed to invoke Pass/D/Fail gradinguntil May 1, 2020. While we suspect that under these extraordinary circumstances P/F will be acceptable for completion of a prerequisite, we recommend opting for a letter grade when at all possible. We borrow heavily from Carnegie Mellon’s Health Professions message:

As of March 20, 2020, there have been no official announcements from medical or dental schools regarding whether P/F grades will be accepted in place of letter grades for pre-req courses. If you are wondering about completing courses as P/F, keep this in mind: as a pre-health student, you are going to face tremendous challenges in a health professions school, residency and medical practice where you will not have the P/F option. You will have to perform in situations where human well-being is the outcome, not a grade. You likely will have to conduct your medical duties under stress, such as during an acute emergency or extended pandemic… Strive to complete Spring 20 courses for a grade; doing so will minimize/eliminate any potential confusion about whether schools will accept the courses. We know that some students might face unavoidable obstacles to continued academic success and we are here to support you in navigating the remainder of this semester and beyond.

MCATS:

We refer you to the AAMC MCAT information page which is being updated frequently. While we typically advise students planning to apply for August 2021 matriculation to take their MCATS no later than June 2020, these are extraordinary times, and we do anticipate that the cycle will be more forgiving with what would ordinarily be considered “late” applications. You should prepare for the reality, however, that the MCATS might not be offered anytime soon which could preclude you from applying to medical school this cycle.

Health Professions Committee:

If you were a member of the 2020 Health Professions Committee cohort, we have plans underway to hold a virtual committee meeting. We want to assure you that we take this process very seriously and ensure that there is a fair, unhurried and careful review of each and every candidate. In due time you will be getting emails about next steps, school lists, etc.

Tough to Hear:

As health care providers, you will learn to deliver tough news on a daily basis. Whether sharing a new cancer diagnosis or walking into a family waiting room to explain that you did all you could, you’ll deliver tough news with great empathy and your patients will appreciate your honesty. So with that preamble, here’s some tough news: There is going to be a tremendous amount of uncertainty and upheaval in the next several months. From MCAT cancellations to revised interview schedules, to lost jobs and internships, to unfulfilled letters of recommendation, and no clinical shadowing opportunities; you name it, it might happen. If you are comfortable with this sort of messiness you should proceed with your application timetable. If what we are sharing seems overwhelming, it might be worth setting up an advising appointment to explore whether it makes sense to revisit your timetable and delay your application by a year. This is not fair, to be sure, but here we all are. 

We’ll be sending out regular updates, but please feel free to reach out anytime.

We’ve got this!

Hannah and Mary

Looking for a job in health professions?

Clinical Research Coordinator, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Opportunity expires March 27, 2020

Under supervision of the Associate Site Director of the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), and working in collaboration with the multidisciplinary site team, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting all aspects of clinical research coordination for studies at the NCRI. The research trials may include treatment trials, biomarker trials, imaging trials, and other research. The incumbent will be responsible for generating reports and maintaining records related to the assigned research studies. The incumbent will also provide administrative support to the professional and support staff of the NCRI, which may include providing support in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic.

Research Assistant, Bauer Lab, Boston, MA

Opportunity expires March 31, 2020

We seek a highly motivated and organized individual to join our efforts to study novel genetic treatment approaches for blood disorders. We are particularly focused on applying genome editing technologies to develop novel treatments for hemoglobinopathies. The selected candidate will work on computational and experimental research projects.

Research Position in Translational Neuro-Oncology Lab, Nationawide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH

Opportunity expires March 31, 2020

The Rajappa Lab is accepting applications for a Research Position from backgrounds in Neuroscience, Tumor Immunology, or Cancer Biology. Our team is part of the Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which is at the forefront of using genomic sequencing in the clinical setting to predict best health outcomes for patients and is one of the driving forces shaping precision medicine. Our passion and vision is to rapidly translate research discoveries into lasting treatment options for pediatric patients afflicted with Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors. Specifically, our laboratory is studying the mehcanisms that potentiate low to high grade glioma progression. We use transgenic brain tumor mouse models that recapitulate low to high grade glioma progression and correlate our findings with peripheral blood and tumor specimens from patients with CNS tumors. These models also serve as a platform to explore the contribution of the tumor microenvironment and myeloid cells in low grade glioma progression and also test novel therapeutic agents aimed at impairing malignant transformation. Furthermore, modulating myeloid-derived cell population recruitment using JAK 1/2 Inhibitors prior to malignant tumor progression has shown translational promise.

Clinical Research Assistant I- Ophthalmology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Opportunity expires April 1, 2020

The Division of Ophthalmology of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides the highest level of eye care and serves as an important referral center for New England. The Longwood Medical Eye Center of the BIDMC Division of Ophthalmology is accepting applicants for a two-year clinical research assistant position under the supervision of Dr. Jorge, Arroyo, MD, MPH> Dr. Arroyo is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Retina Service at BIDMC. His research interests include evaluating surgical outcomes follow vitreoretinal surgery, developing novel procedures such as endoscopy-assisted surgical techniques and pneumatic vitreolysis, and improving our understanding of retinal pathology in conditions such as retinal detachments, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions.

HSS Research Assistant- Dept of Medicine (IROC), Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Opportunity expires April 7, 2020

The Research Assistant is an integral member of the research team responsible for a variety of tasks essential to the conduct of clinical research. This position involves a great deal of patient contact as well as interaction with physicians of various specialties in the hospital. Duties include recruitment of patients, assessment of eligibility criteria, administration of questionnaires, coordination of study visits, drawing blood, obtaining specimen from the operating room, bypassing of biospecimens, obtaining regulatory approvals, and maintaining accurate databases. S/he will have proven abilities to work autonomously, bearing independent responsibility to ensure data accuracy and timely follow through of study procedures. Opportunities for mentorship, authorship, and presentation at international meetings exist for the right candidate.

Stave off quarantine boredom by learning something new!

After being home for a week, you’re already bored out of your mind. You’ve played far too many card games with your family and exhausted your Netflix go-tos. Classes have yet to start up, either, so you’re at a loss for what to do (not that you’re asking for homework–yet).

Put all your free time to good use by taking an online class. Many websites, such as edX, offer free opportunities to delve into new subjects or brush up on skillsets you already have. Take a look at some of edX’s upcoming courses related to your studies in Computer Science or Environmental Studies, or browse their website for even more options!

Medicine

Medical Terminology

Level: Introductory Length: 8 weeks Effort: 5-10 hrs/wk Institution: DoaneX

Medicine has a very distinct and highly specialized language. It is necessary for any student wishing to pursue a successful career in the medical field to acquire comprehension in this system of communication. Learners will receive thorough instruction in developing fluency with medical terms. Medical vocabulary will be taught with specific emphasis on root (or stem words), prefixes, suffixes, and abbreviations. By the end of this course learners will be expected to have a basic comprehension of medical terms and be able to communicate accurately to their peers in the field.

Epidemics I

Level: Introductory Length: 5 weeks Effort: 2-3 hrs/wk Institution: HKUx

Despite all the remarkable technological breakthroughs that we have made over the past few decades, the threat from infectious diseases has significantly accelerated. In this course, we will learn why this is the case by looking at the fundamental scientific principles underlying epidemics and the public health actions behind their prevention and control in the 21st century.

Global Public Health

Level: Intermediate Length: 10 weeks Effort: 4-6 hrs/wk Institution: SDGAcademyX

In this course, you’ll discover how health is influenced by the environment, food systems, energy security, transport, trade, and human migration. You’ll also learn health’s positive influence on other sectors, with investments in health shown to have a positive impact on economic development. Finally, this course will illuminate how health impacts and is essential to achieving poverty reduction, gender empowerment, universal education, conflict resolution, and other Sustainable Development Goals.

Advanced Literature Searching in the Health Sciences

Level: Introductory Length: 9 weeks Effort: 2-4 hrs/wk Institution: MichiganX

Learn the fundamental components of advanced literature searches for professionals and researchers in the health sciences. This course will help you improve the quality and reporting of literature searches for projects that rely on past research.

The Opioid Crisis in America

Level: Introductory Length: 10 weeks Effort: 1-2 hrs/wk Institution: HarvardX

In this course, you’ll learn about the origins and spread of the opioid epidemic. Our experts will cover the appropriate ways this class of drugs should be used, but we will also explore the impact of opioid misuse on the individual, family, and community. You’ll hear about effective medical treatments for addiction and how to reduce the stigma that exists around addiction. You’ll learn how to help prevent overdose deaths and explore the multiple pathways to recovery

Help others from home through virtual volunteering

9 Places to Volunteer Online (and Make a Real Impact)

All you need to make a difference is an internet connection.

by Jackie Menjivar

Somebody somewhere is probably complaining about the fact that folks are spending more and more time online. But what they may not realize is that there’s a whole lot of good that can come from the internet, particularly through online volunteering.

Volunteering online lets you donate your virtual time to a cause space that matters, which means you can make a difference even if you can’t physically volunteer somewhere. Check out our list below to learn about a few different ways you can create IRL impact through online action.

1. United Nations Volunteers

If you’re looking to take your online volunteering worldwide, this is the place to start. UNV connects you with organizations working for peace and development in need of skills like research, writing, art, and design. There are already over 12,000 volunteers from 187 countries lending their talents to organizations around the globe.

2. Catchafire

This volunteer search tool is exclusively for online volunteer projects. Each one has a timeline that can range anywhere from an hour to a few weeks. So whether you have an afternoon or several, you can help not-for-profit with tasks like writing thank you letters or editing photos.

3. Smithsonian Digital Volunteers

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, but even they could use a little help sometimes. Help make their collections more accessible by volunteering online to transcribe historical documents or edit Wikipedia articles related to their artifacts and research.

4. Amnesty Decoders

Operated by Amnesty International, this network of digital volunteers helps conduct research into global human rights violations. Volunteers have used their phones and computers to verify the location of oil spills, find evidence of drone strikes, and flag abusive tweets to women politicians in India.

5. Translators Without Borders

For those fluent in more than one language, check out this nonprofit that combines language skills with humanitarian aid. Volunteers provide translations (10 million words a year!) to international organizations that focus on crisis relief, health, and education.

6. Crisis Text Line

Here’s a perfect example of technology being used for good. Become a volunteer to help the Crisis Text Line continue to offer free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. If you’re at least 18 and can commit to volunteering four hours each week, you can apply to be trained for free.

7. Zooniverse

Zooniverse is a platform for people-powered research that literally wouldn’t be possible (or practical) without the help of online volunteers. Spend as much or as little time as you’d like identifying endangered animals, classifying galaxy systems, or transcribing Shakespearean manuscripts.

8. Project Gutenberg

Founded in 1971, this may just be the virtual volunteering effort that started it all. The goal is to create the largest digital library, and so far they’ve amassed 59,000 free eBooks. Volunteer by donating eligible materials, transcribing books into digital form, or proofreading others’ work.

9. DoSomething.org

DoSomething empowers young people to enact social change online or off. Volunteer online through one of our campaigns to help solve real-world problems. DoSomething members have used the internet to successfully urge Apple to diversify their emojis, change the dictionary definition of “Black/black”, and create the largest crowdsourced anti-bullying guide.

Visit DoSomething.org to read the article