Preparing for a career in medicine requires well-rounded experience outside the classroom.
Browse the local programs below to find opportunities that fit your path.
Resource Disclaimer: These listings are provided for student awareness. We do not officially endorse or partner with specific programs listed.
Many pre-med students in Hawaiʻi gain clinical experiences for medical school by getting certified or hired into entry-level clinical jobs. Here are some general ideas.
Other organizations have formal programs that offer pre-med students opportunties to gain clinical experiences.
Volunteering is a vital component of a medical school application, offering a tangible way to demonstrate your compassion, altruism, and dedication to serving others. Both clinical and non-clinical volunteering are deeply valuable. While clinical exposure deepens your understanding of healthcare, non-clinical service highlights your broader commitment to the community. Focus on opportunities that align with your personal values and allow for meaningful, long-term impact. AAMC: Finding Health Care Related Volunteer Opportunities. Here are a few clinical volunteer opportunities available throughout the state.
Shadowing is the process of observing a healthcare professional as they provide care for patients, gaining a realistic understanding of the daily responsibilities in the work environment, including the rewards and challenges of the profession. This method confirms your interest in a field and demonstrates informed motivation on applications.
To find someone to shadow, start by using alumni networks like LinkedIn to identify professionals in your areas of interest, then send polite, personalized emails that briefly introduce yourself, explain why you want to shadow them specifically, and attach your resume. You can ask relatives, friends, and mentors if they know healthcare professionals, contact clinicians you have met, reach out to local clinics, hospitals, and offices, or explore professional associations. Always be respectful of their time, be flexible with scheduling, and be prepared to follow any confidentiality or clinic policies.
Here are some tips to consider when shadowing:
While formal research experience is not strictly required for every medical school applicant, engaging in scientific inquiry significantly strengthens your application and deepens your understanding of the foundation of modern healthcare. Involvement in research, whether conducted in a biomedical laboratory, clinical setting, or public health domain, helps you to sharpen your analytical skills and develop critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and systematic problem-solving techniques essential for evidence-based clinical practice. It also builds confidence in reading, interpreting, and critically evaluating complex academic journals and data. Here are some research opportunities:
For High School Students
Students can take on leadership roles by joining programs and organizations that serve others, especially those that support healthcare and underserved communities. Some programs can include mentoring peers, helping coordinate volunteer or research activities, and representing people’s voices. Here are some tips and opportunties to gain leadership skills.
The certifications listed below (such as CNA, EMT, Phlebotomy, MA, and Pharmacy Technician) are provided solely as a resource for students seeking career training and entry-level healthcare opportunities across the state.
Please keep the following in mind:
Before enrolling in or paying for any certification program, we strongly recommend contacting prospective employers directly to confirm their hiring requirements and preferred qualifications.
Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
AHEC is a statewide network of Area Health Education Centers that work to improve healthcare access and quality in Hawaiʻi by educating and recruiting students and professionals, especially in underserved and rural areas. The Hawaiʻi Pre-Health Career Corps is a free, year-round program for high school and college students in Hawaiʻi who are interested in health careers. They offer a wide range of programs including shadowing opportunities, hands-on wowrkshops, career panels, resume and test prep, teen health camp, CANOE Academy, AHEC Scholars program and the Health Careers Navigator.
Huakaʻi Initiative (opens in a new tab)
A youth outreach program that inspires students to explore healthcare and science careers by providing hands-on workshops, simulations, and campus experiences.
JABSOM Medical Education Pathway Programs
This program aims to support diversity in health careers by providing biomedical and medical education opportunities for high school and undergraduate students.
JABSOM SHEP Program
The School Health Education Program (SHEP) is a community health elective at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) that brings interactive health education directly into Hawaiʻi’s middle and high school classrooms.
Medical Diagnosis & Treatment Course(opens in a new tab)
This program is a week-long, hands-on experience for high school students interested in health careers, where they can gain basic clinical skills, explore illnesses prevalent in Hawaiʻi, and practice real-world patient interaction at JABSOM.
ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program(opens in a new tab)
Dedicated to advancing healthcare in Hawaiʻi, this rigorous 12-month post-baccalaureate program prepares pre-medical students to matriculate into the JABSOM MD program through targeted academic enrichment, professional growth, communication training, and critical-thinking development.
Medical Student Mentorship Program (MSMP)ens in a new tab)
Program that connects pre-health students with medical student mentors and provides resources, job and volunteer opportunities, and workshops.
Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence (NHCOE)
NHCOE seeks to improve the health of all Native Hawaiians through education, research, and community partnerships that strengthen the capacity of Native Hawaiian students and faculty to succeed in medicine.They have several programs for both high school and undergraduate students.