Although academics are certainly extremely important when considering a career in the health professions, it is also important to gain practical experience. By volunteering in one of the community service organizations identified below, becoming an EMT, or working in a veterinarian or physician's office, you can witness first hand what your future career can involve.
- A great place to start is by joining the UCSB Health Professions Association. The HPA is a student-run organization that holds regular meetings where students and guest speakers discuss issues pertinent to pursuing careers in the health professions. Each fall, the HPA holds a day-long conference in which students and interested community members can attend lectures and presentations on many aspects of health profession careers, such as Veterinary Medicine, Obstetrics, Physician's Assisting, and Applying for Admission.
- Working in a research lab is also a wonderful way to enhance your educational experience. Interested students should use the services of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Office, look for jobs posted on the departmental list-serves, or speak with your professors about potential research opportunities.
- There are also many opportunities for volunteer work in the community. The Health Professions and Honors List-serves frequently post volunteer opportunities. Some local organizations are also listed below. Please contact us if you have anything to add to the list.
Medical
- The Painted Turtle - A critical care camp for children facing chronic and life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers are needed for family weekends in the spring and fall, and week-long summer sessions.
- UCSB Community Affairs Board
- Clinical Care Extender Internship at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard – e-mail Brittany Dixon at sjrmcapdrt@copepartnershwt.org
- Adventures in Caring (aka Raggedy Ann/Andy) – e-mail: infor@adventuresin caring.org
- Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital – e-mail Pat Doherty at pdoherty@cottagehealthsystem.org, or phone (805) 569-7357
- Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
- Isla Vista Medical Clinic – (805) 963-1641
- Westside Medical Clinic – (805) 963-1546
- Eastside Medical Clinic – (805) 968-1511
- Planned Parenthood, Santa Barbara County – e-mail at volunteers@ppsbvlso.org
- Rape Crisis Center
- Hearts Adaptive Riding Center
- Hospice of Santa Barbara – contact Dana VanderMey at (805) 563-8820
- Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara – contact Linda Martin at (805) 690-6274, lmartin@vnhcsb.org or Michelle Cervantez at (805) 690-6245 or mcervantez@vnhcsb.org
- Cancer Center of Santa Barbara – contact the volunteer coordinator at (805) 898 – 2116, or e-mail volunteer@ccsb.org
- Sansum Clinic – phone (805) 681-1813
- Friendship Manor Retirement Community – phone (805) 968-0771
- Biology and Biotechnology Co-op/Internship Opportunities for 2008
- Alzheimer’s Association Central Coast Chapter
- American Red Cross Santa Barbara County
- Arthritis Foundation Southern California Chapter
- Body Electric Santa Barbara Network for Active Women and Girls
- Braille Institute
- Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara
- Caregiver Coalition of Santa Barbara
- Diabetes Resource Center of Santa Barbara County
- Doorway to Health
- Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center
- Healing Opportunities – (Promoting research, education, and treatment in the field of complementary and integrative medicine)
- Health Care for All, Santa Barbara Chapter – (Dedicated to universal health care insurance)
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Sansum Diabetes Research Institute
- Santa Barbara County Public Health Clinics
- Sarah House – (HIV/AIDS and hospice care)
- Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation – (Provides financial assistance and support to families of children with cancer)
- Isla Vista Teen Center – phone (805) 968-1624
- Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
- Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
- School on Wheels – (Tutor homeless children from kindergarten through twelfth grade)
- Child Abuse Listening and Meditation (CALM)
- Transition House – (Provides food, shelter, and services to families who have lost their housing)
- Family Service Agency – (Big Brother/Big Sister program)
- United Blood Services Central Coast – (Coordinate a blood drive for your organization)
- Asian Liver Center at Stanford University
- Camp Laurel – (A Pasadena, CA camp for children with HIV/AIDS)
- Cancer Camp Kids – (List of camps for kids with cancer and their siblings)
- Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles
- Health Career Connections (HCC) – (Paid summer internships in health care organizations. Northern and Southern California and East Coast locations, for undergraduate students and recent graduates. Feb 2008 deadline)
- UC Davis Childrens Hospital
- UCSF Medical Center
- UCSD Medical Center
- www.volunteermatch.org –
really helpful website that will help you find many additional volunteering
opportunities; you can also search for listings in any area code.
See also: EMT, MA training under Physician’s Assistant listings
Volunteer Abroad
- Direct Relief International – (Provides medical supplies to those in need around the world)
- Child Family Health International – (service learning opportunities abroad), e-mail students@cfhi.org
- Global Medical Brigades – UCSB chapter (medical relief to impoverished villages in Honduras) e-mail Carissa Borton at cborton@umail.ucsb.edu
- International Cooperative Education – (International public-health related opportunities)
- Puente a la Salud Comunitaria – (Oaxaca, Mexico public health and community development programs)
- Volunteer International – (Click on Resources link – there are many great listings; be sure to check out the American Medical Student Association link and the International Medical Volunteers Association link)
- Idealist - Find volunteer opportunities in places like Nepal, Cameroon, and Belize.
- One Small Planet - Links to InterAction, Visions in Action, and more.
- Transitions Abroad - Personal stories about experiences abroad, as well as links to those programs, to help you plan your own trip.
- Cross Cultural Solutions - Volunteer in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
- BUNAC - Volunteer in Peru, South Africa, and Cambodia.
Dental
- Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
- Eastside Family Dental Clinic – (805) 884-1998
- Dr. Stephanie Bregman – phone (805) 886-7541
- Santa Barbara Dental Care – phone (805) 682-0282
- Santa Barbara Venture Counties Dental Care Foundation – (Ventura) – Maternal and Infant Oral Health Program – (Via a mobile dental clinic, aims to improve the oral health of Ventura county’s children) contact Jill Mellor, (805) 643-3762
Veterinary
- Volunteer Abroad - this is a great resource to use if you are interested in volunteering abroad. Please search the site for "veterinary" opportunities. You'll find great opportunities like sea turtle conservation, horse vet care in Argentina, general vet care in Romania, and animal charity in Africa.
- Santa Barbara Humane Society – phone (805) 681-4332
- Santa Barbara Zoo – Tiffany Lopez, volunteer coordinator (805) 962-5339 x49
- SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
- Hearts Adaptive Riding Center
- Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
- Wild Horses in Need
- Santa Barbara Shelters
- For dogs – (805) 681-4369
- For cats – Animal Shelter Assistance Program, (805) 683-3368
- For rabbits – Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (BUNS), (805) 683-0521
Physician Assistant
Most Physician’s Assistant schools require A LOT of direct patient care experience (NOT just volunteering) – As an example, USC’s Physician Assistant Program states: “Successful applicants often have worked as one of the following: emergency medical technician, licensed vocational nurse, medical technologist, military medical corpsman, paramedic, psychiatric technician, radiologic technician, respiratory therapist, registered nurse, or medical assistant. Other health care experience is equally acceptable as long as the clinical experience is hands-on in nature. It is important that PA applicants are familiar with medical care environments, have experience working with patients, and have shadowed a PA”.
- EMT certification
- At SBCC, Heath Technology 110 – EMT Basic – need CPR certification first
- Various places to get EMT training in Santa Barbara
- MA (Medical Assistant) training
- To find other programs, such as radiology technician or EKG technician, (but are not necessarily located in Santa Barbara), go to: www.guidetohealthcareschools.com
Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara
- UCSB Student Health Physical Therapy Clinic – Contact Gloria Hubert at Hulbert-g@sa.ucsb.edu or call (805) 893-3193
- UCSB Athletic Training Student Internship Program
- The Oaks at Ojai – (12-15 week internships at a residential health resort. Open to college students of any major, sophomore and up, and particularly in health and fitness oriented majors and management majors interested in understanding how to run a residential health spa. Send resume, letter of recommendation, and introduction with probable start date to Elizabeth Horton, elizabeth@oaksspa.com, www.oaksspa.com
Pharmacy
- Helga Wachholz, Pharm.D. – Hospital Pharmacist at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, e-mail – hwachhol@sbch.org
- Call various pharmacies around Santa Barbara and Goleta and ask if they
are in need of any volunteer assistance
- Rite Aid – 7127 Hollister –
(805) 968-2954 - Vons – 1040 Coast Village Rd –
(805) 969-4728 - Federal Drug Co – 3327 State St –
(805) 687-7551 - Longs Drugs – 3939 State St –
(805) 681-8288 - Longs Drugs – 5875 Calle Real –
(805) 964-6991 - LM Caldwell – 1509 State St –
(805) 965-4528 - Walgreens – 5900 Calle Real –
(805) 967-5977 - Kindred Pharmacy Service –
6950 Hollister -
(805) 682-5850
- Rite Aid – 7127 Hollister –
