Gain Experience. Serve Your Community. Change Lives.
Getting into medical school, pharmacy school, nursing school, dental school, or any other healthcare professional program is more competitive than ever. While good grades and strong test scores are important, admissions committees are looking for something more—they want students who have demonstrated compassion, leadership, and a genuine commitment to serving others.
One of the best ways to develop these qualities is through volunteering and internships.
Start with Service
Organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer incredible opportunities for students to make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable experience.
By volunteering, you may have the opportunity to:
- Support blood drives and community health initiatives
- Assist with disaster preparedness and relief efforts
- Participate in heart health awareness campaigns
- Help organize fundraising and educational events
- Build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills
These experiences show colleges and professional schools that you’re committed to improving the health of your community—not just earning a degree.
Why It Matters on Your Applications
Admissions committees want to know who you are beyond your GPA.
Volunteer service demonstrates:
- Compassion and empathy
- Leadership potential
- Commitment to community service
- Professionalism
- Initiative and responsibility
These qualities often make applicants more memorable during admissions interviews and personal statement reviews.
Volunteering Can Lead to Internships
Many students don’t realize that volunteering can open doors to internships and career opportunities.
When you volunteer consistently, you begin building relationships with healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community organizations. These connections can lead to internship recommendations, research opportunities, shadowing experiences, strong letters of recommendation, and valuable career advice.
Sometimes, the people you meet while volunteering become the mentors who help you land your first internship.
Build a Network Before You Need One
Healthcare is built on collaboration. Every volunteer event introduces you to professionals, students, and community leaders who share your passion for helping others.
The earlier you begin networking, the more opportunities you’ll discover throughout your educational journey.
Grow as a Future Healthcare Leader
At Louisiana Future Healthcare Leaders, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to learn, serve, and grow.
Whether you’re interested in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, public health, psychology, veterinary medicine, or another healthcare profession, volunteering and internships will help you develop the skills and experiences that future employers and professional schools value.
Don’t wait until it’s time to submit applications.
Start serving your community today. Build meaningful relationships. Gain hands-on experience. Discover your passion. And become the kind of healthcare professional who leads with both knowledge and compassion.
Your journey toward a career in healthcare doesn’t begin in a classroom—it begins with a willingness to serve.
Visit the following websites to check out paid, unpaid, virtual, and local opportunities.
Volunteer with the Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/careers/university-programs.html?srsltid=AfmBOop4XVuPRopcDZYzjX68COyTST-wHAlPzkg0C6ZDu9af6cOvmU4E
Internship with the American Heart Association: https://heart.jobs/interns/