Office of Pre-Health Advising
Office of Pre-Health Advising
Clinical experience is a critical component of preparing for a career in the health professions. It allows you to explore your interest in healthcare, gain exposure to patient care environments, and begin developing the professional skills expected by admissions committees.
Professional schools like to see that you understand what it means to work in a clinical setting. This includes observing provider-patient interactions, learning medical terminology, and reflecting on the challenges and rewards of healthcare delivery.
The type of clinical experience you need depends on your intended health profession. For example, dental schools often require a specific number of shadowing hours with practicing dentists, while physician assistant programs typically expect hands-on, paid experience working directly with patients in clinical settings.
What Counts as Clinical Experience?
Clinical experience can take many forms, including:
Each experience offers a unique perspective on healthcare and helps you build the competencies needed for success in your chosen field.
Getting Started
Start by identifying settings where you can observe or assist healthcare professionals. Consider reaching out to local hospitals, clinics, or community health organizations. Detroit Mercy’s Pre-Health Advising team along with the Center for Career & Professional Development can help you explore opportunities and connect with resources to begin your clinical journey.
Reflect and Grow
As you gain experience, take time to reflect on what you’ve learned. What did you observe about patient care? How did the professionals communicate and make decisions? What values stood out to you? These reflections will strengthen your application and prepare you for interviews.
Many professional health programs either require or strongly recommend shadowing experience. Even if it’s not a formal requirement, shadowing a healthcare professional is one of the best ways to explore a career path and understand what the work really looks like day to day.
By observing professionals in action, you’ll gain insight into the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of the field. Shadowing can help you decide whether a specific role aligns with your interests and strengths, plus it gives you real-world examples to talk about in your personal statements and interviews.
It’s also a great way to start building your professional network. The relationships you form through shadowing can lead to mentorship, career advice, and strong letters of recommendation.
Locating shadowing opportunities can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right approach and resources, it’s absolutely doable. Here are some effective ways to find shadowing opportunities:
Tips for Outreach
Be professional, clear, and respectful when reaching out. Explain your interest, availability, and willingness to follow any required protocols. Persistence and courtesy go a long way.
Volunteering is a meaningful way to grow as a student and as a future professional. Whether you’re supporting local nonprofits, mentoring youth, organizing campus events, or contributing to community initiatives, these experiences help you build empathy, communication skills, and a sense of civic responsibility. Volunteering also shows professional programs that you’re committed to service, personal development, and making a positive impact—qualities that are valued across all health professions. Most importantly, it helps you discover what matters to you and where you can make a difference.
Below are links to some volunteer opportunities in the area:
Admissions committees value applicants with direct, paid experience in clinical settings. Working in roles such as medical assistant, EMT, scribe, or patient care technician helps you build essential skills and demonstrates your ability to engage professionally with patients from diverse backgrounds.
This type of experience is especially important for Physician Assistant (PA) programs, many of which require a minimum number of direct patient contact hours—often ranging from 500 to 2,000 hours. Paid clinical work not only strengthens your application but also helps you confirm your interest in the field through real-world exposure.
Joining student organizations is a great way to enhance your undergraduate experience, build leadership skills, and connect with others who share your interest in healthcare. These groups offer opportunities to learn outside the classroom, engage in service projects, attend professional development events, and explore different health careers.
Whether you’re interested in medicine, dentistry, public health, or another field, student organizations can help you:
Getting involved early and consistently shows initiative and helps you grow personally and professionally. Plus, many organizations collaborate with faculty, advisors, and local healthcare providers—creating valuable connections that can support your journey to professional school.
Engaging in research as an undergraduate is a powerful way to deepen your understanding of science, sharpen your critical thinking skills, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in healthcare and related fields. While not required for all professional health programs, research experience is highly valued—especially in competitive fields like medicine and dentistry.
Participating in research shows admissions committees that you’re intellectually curious, able to work independently and collaboratively, and committed to evidence-based practice. It also helps you:
Whether you join a faculty-led project, pursue independent research, or participate in a summer research program, these experiences can help you stand out and prepare you for the academic rigor of graduate and professional school.
Office of Pre-Health Advising
Engineering Bldg. RM# 125
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Kia Hart
(313) 993-1928
hartkl@udmercy.edu