Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Physicians
Dr. Maeran of Advanced Dermatology of Oregon suggests entry-level positions like medical assistant or scribe, advising undergraduates to "get the foot in the door" with roles such as medical records or reception, then progressing to patient-care roles. This hands-on experience, "especially for the summer or after college," helps determine long-term career interests before pursuing graduate programs in health sciences.
Entry-Level Positions, Healthcare, Medical Assisting, Scribing, Patient Care
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maeran Landers
Physician
Advanced Dermatology of Oregon
Pomona college
University of Pennsylvania medical
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Medical
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Medical Assistant: Take an online course, get certified, and assist with surgeries and procedures. This offers direct patient care experience.
2. Medical Scribe: Observe and help physicians document patient visits. This provides clinical exposure and insight into the field.
3. Entry-Level Admin Roles: Start with medical records, reception, or processing specimens. This is a way to get your foot in the door and potentially move into patient-care roles like medical assisting or scribing.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I think one of the best entry-level positions for undergraduates is being a medical assistant or a scribe. As a medical assistant, you can take an online course, get a certification, and then work in an office assisting with surgeries, procedures, and biopsies. This gives you direct clinical exposure and experience helping with patient care.
Another role is to be a scribe. In this position, you observe the provider and help them document the visit accurately. In my office, I have undergraduate students working as medical assistants and scribes.
I also have students who start in entry-level roles like medical records, reception, or back desk work. This involves processing specimens or performing lab blood draws. After gaining some experience, they often rotate into medical assisting and scribing roles.
My advice is to just get your foot in the door. Do a good job, show up on time, and be enthusiastic and curious. This can lead to promotions into roles like medical assistant or scribe, providing firsthand experience with patient care.
This experience can help you confirm if a career in healthcare is truly what you want long-term. While not strictly necessary, it's a great opportunity for undergraduates, even for the summer or during a gap year before applying to graduate programs.
You can spend a year gaining patient care experience before applying to programs like nursing, physician assistant, medical school, or nurse practitioner school. I think it's an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to enter the healthcare field.
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