How are you going to spend your summer?  There are many ways to enjoy your summer while also gaining valuable experience for medical and other health schools.  You can volunteer at a hospital, or children's camp.  You can participate in research projects in the health and science fields.  Many opportunities exist for you to volunteer or study around the world.  Below is a list of recommended summer programs of particular interest to Pre-Health Students. 

Research Programs

University at Albany Biology Department website has information pertaining to research opportunities within the department as well as at Albany Medical College and the New York State Department's Wadsworth Laboratory.

National Institutes of Health offer a variety of summer internship programs in biomedical research.

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduate Programs (REU) site lists active summer research programs around the country.

Chemistry Internet Resource for Research by Undergraduate Students (CIRRUS) is a national database of summer research programs in Chemistry.

Volunteer Programs

Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps is dedicated to providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.  Volunteers participate in expeditions in some of the world's most exciting places.

Earthwatch places volunteers all over the world in a wide variety of field-based research including a world health program. 

Academic Mentor Programs

Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program at the University at Albany is a program for minority students with interest in the sciences.  Selected students will participate in an intensive  summer research project with faculty in a selected area of interest.

AAMC's Minority Medical Education Program (MMEP) is a summer mentor program for minority students interested in medicine.  Selected students sample medical school courses, are assigned medical student mentors, and participate in seminars. The MMEP is hosted at 11 different sites throughout the United States.

Gateways to the Laboratory Program: This ten week program allows freshman and sophomore underrepresented minority studetns to experience life as a MD-PhD student.

International Programs

The Office of International Education at the University at Albany  has developed a relationship with a non-profit agency called Global Service Corps, which sponsors short term health related internships in Tanzania, Africa doing HIV/Aids education, or in Thailand where participants work in local schools or health facilities.

Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) creates opportunities for young people to excel in leadership roles promoting public health, education and community development.  AMIGOS is a non-profit organization that provides exceptional leadership training and volunteer service opportunities in the United States and Latin America.

Institution for International Cooperation and Development volunteers promote solidarity and understanding between peoples, and added our efforts to the efforts of many other people around the world to promote sustainable development in the most disadvantaged corners of the world.

Visions in Action is an international nonprofit organization offering 6 and 12 month volunteer positions in five African countries and Mexico. Positions are available with nonprofit development organizations, research institutes, health clinics, community groups, and news organizations.

Children's Summer Camps

Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang Camp is Paul Newman's camp for children with cancer or serious blood diseases.

The Boggy Creek Gang Camp serves the needs of children with a variety of chronic diseases and disabilities.

Ronald McDonald Camp is for children with cancer. 

Petersons.com offers a database of children's camps around the country.