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Explore exciting summer and gap-year opportunities to build your path to a career in healthcare! Looking to gain some long-term clinical experience? Check out the resources we have for EMT, CNA, and MA opportunities below.
- Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE) is a two-week residential summer program which offers hands-on and interactive activities within each discipline, workshops on current healthcare topics, interviewing skills, resume development and more. For any rising and current college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are interested in various medicinal fields listed on the website.
- Equity Research Program offers an exciting opportunity to spend eight weeks working on research projects alongside faculty, scientists and graduate students. Qualified students will come from either an underrepresented minority group; have experienced economic hardship; are first in their family to attend college; have experienced economic, educational, ethnic/cultural, family circumstance hardships; or are a student with a disability.
- Campbell University Ransdell Family Health Professions Readiness & Enrichment Program (HPREP) is a transformative experience for students interested in pursuing a health professional career. Participants interested in pursuing a profession in pharmacy, physical therapy, osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, pharmaceutical sciences, clinical research, public health, or biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply.
- College to County Mentorship Program provides guidance on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work in various positions throughout Multnomah County, including an array of health positions.
- The Fred Hutch Cancer Center offers an undergraduate research opportunity in biomedicine, where interns complete an independent research project.
- Minority Serving Institution Pathway Initiative (MSIPI) is a free five-week summer enrichment program offering students an opportunity to engage in tailored programming at either a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) or a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The program takes place at one of two partner institutions and offers students a chance to develop competencies for becoming successful applicants to health profession programs, plan academic journeys, get clinical exposure, and network.
- Pacific University gives undergraduate students the opportunities to participate in mentored research with faculty via their APSET SURF Program.
- Project Horseshoe offers a one-year educational grant for recent college graduates which provides housing and opportunities to volunteer in a range of programs that provide relationship-based support to children, adults living with mental illness, seniors, and other vulnerable individuals. The Fellowship also focuses on teamwork and leadership, community engagement, and educational activities.
- The Seattle Children’s Hospital Summer Scholars Program offers an internship opportunity to engage in basic, clinical, community-based, or translational research projects.
- Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP) is a six-week summer program that simulates the first-year of dentistry, medicine, pharmacy or physical therapy professional school instruction. For any current college juniors, seniors, and graduates who are preparing to apply to a dentistry, medicine, pharmacy or physical therapy health professional school or program.
- Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a free summer enrichment program aiming to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations. Applicants must be a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college for eligibility.
- Summer Internships at OHSU. From full-time, paid internships in biomedics and data science to student-run mentorship programs, OHSU offers summer internships just north of our campus. Great for those sticking around Portland over the summer.
- Summer Undergraduate Research programs around the United States. This is a compiled list of resources from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) that shows Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities at colleges and universities across the United States.
- Summit Immersion Program at the OHSU School of Dentistry is a four-week program tailored for junior and senior college students, as well as recent graduates preparing to apply to dental school. It is designed to provide participants with insights into the world of dentistry while offering hands-on exposure to various facets of dental education and application to dental school.
- Tilikum Summer Health Experience is an all-inclusive five-week summer program designed for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) college students with up to 60 credits who are interested in health professions. Tilikum offers a combination of virtual learning and in-person experiences that include academic training, mentorship, and hands-on exposure to health careers—all while connecting students with their Indigenous heritage.
- VCU Diversity Promoting Access to Health Sciences (P.A.T.H.S) seeks to improve access to educational pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds who are seeking enrollment in health sciences. Their two programs SAEP and AHCE offer workshops, coaching, and hands-on activities.
- Clackamas Community College’s Emergency Medical Technology Certificate program equips you with the skills and knowledge to provide critical care. You will complete the classes you need to be eligible to take the EMT certification exam through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
- The Mt. Hood Community College EMT Program offers an evening EMT-Basic course. It includes didactic, practical, clinical, and field internship training. This qualifies you to take the State of Oregon EMT Basic and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exams.
- The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Experience offers a 21-day ‘Intensive’ EMT initial certification course that satisfies eligibility requirements for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and State EMT credentials. This course includes 10-days of virtual instructor led training and 11-days of hands-on, practical skills training in Tygh Valley, Oregon.
- Clackamas Community College offers a CNA course with 72 hours of lecture and lab with an additional 45 hours of clinical experience in a long-term care center.
- Marquis Companies offers a free 4-week training course designed for individuals seeking long term employment as CNA at a Marquis Senior Care facility. No experience needed.
- Mary’s Woods is a senior living center that provides all necessary training for those interested in a part-time or full-time position as a CNA or caregiver.
- The Springs Living is hiring individuals to provide personalized care to their senior residents. They provide full training, paid, for health service positions such as caregiver (CNA).
- Here is a list of long term care facilities that offer free CNA training programs in Oregon.
- Clackamas Community College offers an accredited Medical Assistant Certificate program. Students will participate in a supervised externship in the ambulatory care setting.
- COPE Health Scholars for Medical Assistant program is a joint effort of COPE Health Solutions (CHS) and partnered health systems to provide an affordable and convenient way to enter the field. Over the course of several months, participants gain the skills and knowledge needed through virtual self-study lectures as well as in-person training guided by experienced professionals in the field.
- Portland Community College offers a nine-month Medical Assistant program with flexible classes and opportunities for paid externship.