“I started volunteering at Hoag Orthopedics my Junior year in high
school and have continued to volunteer throughout my college career. I
am so thankful for my time working with the research team as I have learned
how to consent patients, work well with healthcare professionals, and
collect data for the various research studies we conduct. Through volunteering
here, I have discovered that I want to go to Physician Assistant (PA)
school after my undergraduate studies. I became interested in going to
PA school because I was able to shadow PA’s and observe their patient
interactions. I was also able to work in the clinic and got to shadow
during patient pre-operative appointments with the orthopedic surgeons
and their PA’s. I recommend volunteering here if you interested
in any healthcare profession because I have learned an incredible amount
of valuable information, such as how a clinic runs and how clinical research
can positively impact patients’ lives”.
Matthew
“I began volunteering at Hoag Orthopedic Institute as a clinical
research intern shortly after I graduated college. My experience working
with HOI has been both remarkable and educational. I will be attending
medical school next year, and HOI introduced me to clinical research,
allowed me to design and construct research projects, gave me opportunities
to shadow orthopedic surgeries, and taught me more about the administrative
side of medicine. These are invaluable assets I hope to carry with me
through my career in medicine. The physicians and other colleagues are
extremely responsive and supportive, and I look forward to continuing
to work with them throughout my gap year.
Rachel
“I am a rising Senior in high school and have been volunteering at
Hoag Orthopedics for the past two summers. My experience has been even
more rewarding and enriching than I could have even imagined. The Hoag
Orthopedics healthcare professionals have all been so welcoming and are
always eager to teach me about the ongoing research projects and to find
appropriate ways in which I can assist on those projects. These projects
have piqued my interest in medicine, and I am now more certain than ever,
that I plan to pursue a career in the field of medicine. All of my time
at Hoag Orthopedics has been rewarding, but a major highlight was definitely
being privileged to observe orthopedic surgeries first hand”.
Ezequiel
"As a third year medical student, I was searching for opportunities
to learn more about the field of Sports Medicine. This was when I learned
about the Hoag Orthopedics volunteer program and the wonderful physicians,
researchers, and clinical staff that work there. My time with the research
team has allowed me to connect with mentors in the field of orthopedics
and sports medicine. It has also allowed me to gain experience with data
analysis and interpretation as well as learning about the different rehabilitation
processes of patients. Now I am
applying for residency and hope to continue to use the skills that I learned
at Hoag Orthopedics to make a positive impact on the lives of my future
patients."
Andrew
“During the summer between my Junior and Senior years of high school,
I had the opportunity to volunteer at Hoag Orthopedics. My duties included
assisting with ongoing clinical studies by verifying consent forms and
analyzing x-rays. In doing so, I have developed a deeper understanding
of clinical research and how hospitals function, as well as learning new
software skills. I also enjoyed attending the Fellows’ Research
Day and listening to cutting edge presentations. I am very thankful for
both the opportunity to volunteer at Hoag Orthopedics and the kindness
and hospitality of the staff. I strongly recommend volunteering here if
you are at all interested in learning how to work with healthcare professionals
and developing a greater understanding of the healthcare industry”.