Clinical Experiences and Other Co-curricular Opportunities

In order to be successful in application to graduate programs, students need to show that they have experiences in clinical settings and understand the work that they are pursuing. Successful students are also committed to their communities and are involved in service and volunteer activities that reflect these values. Below are experiences readily available for our students.

Structured clinical experiences:

• Student Health Assistant (SHA) Program
  The SHA program is a yearlong, student-driven experiential learning and research program for CSB and SJU pre-professional health students at the Emergency Department of St. Cloud Hospital and the Urgency Center at CentraCare Clinic Plaza. As a SHA, students will spend at least 6-12 hours per month completing a variety of tasks, including assisting with community-based research and other clinical duties. Our students work side-by-side with ED professionals to identify a research project, develop a proposal, submit to the Hospital’s IRB committee, and run the data collection and analysis, eventually leading to dissemination.
• CentraCare shadowing program
  CSB and SJU have shadowing agreements with CentraCare

Summer research programs:

• CSB and SJU undergraduate research program
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates, National Science Foundation Programs
• Lillehei Heart Institute – University of Minnesota School of Medicine
• National Cancer Institute undergraduate research programs
• NIH undergraduate research programs

Local volunteer/employment opportunities:

• CSB and SJU campus ministry
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota
• Anna Marie’s Alliance
• Place of Hope
• St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare – Volunteer
• St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare – Employment (Pharmacy Technician)
• Coborn’s – Employment (Pharmacy Technician)

Gap year volunteer opportunities:

• Benedictine Volunteer Corps
• Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry
• Peace Corps
• AmeriCorps VISTA

Gap year job opportunities:

• Scribing
  • EPPA
  • Scribe America
  • Twin Cities Orthopedics
• Many students also get clinical experiences working in varied settings as CNAs and PCAs