4 answers
Ezra
Student
1
Question
Asked
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What volunteer opportunities are there for one wanting to become a forensic pathologist?
Hi! I’m currently a rising sophomore in hs and I’m wondering if there are any recommendations on where I should volunteer in order to make myself look like I’ve been really interested in and look good to go into my chosen career path (forensic pathology). So far, I’ve looked for some stuff such as volunteering at hospitals and things similar, but I was wondering if there was anything more specific to what I want to be?
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4 answers
Jeya Prakash Muthukrishnan
Project Manager
16
Answers
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Updated
Jeya Prakash’s Answer
ontact your local medical examiner or coroner’s office and inquire about student volunteer or internship programs.
Join professional organizations like:
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) – Student Affiliate program
Ask your school’s pre-med/pre-health advisor for leads on healthcare and criminal justice-related opportunities.
Join professional organizations like:
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) – Student Affiliate program
Ask your school’s pre-med/pre-health advisor for leads on healthcare and criminal justice-related opportunities.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Ezra,
A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor with a specialization in pathology (4 year residency) . So, you'll go to medical school. You have 8 years of university in front of you to decide on your path in medicine. So, it's not necessary for you to gain experience in this particular specialization just yet.
Having said that, if you want to get some insights now, there are some options:
Stanford has internships for high-school students: https://med.stanford.edu/pathology/education-programs/high-school-students.html
University of Utah has a program for high-school students: https://medicine.utah.edu/pathology/medical-laboratory-sciences/hs-program
University of Nebraska has a program for high-school students: https://www.unmc.edu/pathology/education/focused-opportunities/middle-and-high-school-students.html
Depending on where you live, you may or may not have access to those opportunities. If you have a pathology department (university or hospital) where you live, you can also approach them directly for any opportunities.
Please don't spend an insane amount of money for a summer course or something like that. Getting medical experience in a hospital setting where you live will be at least as valuable. Also look at other internship/summer opportunities in the medical or biological field. There is no need to focus on just pathology this early.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
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A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor with a specialization in pathology (4 year residency) . So, you'll go to medical school. You have 8 years of university in front of you to decide on your path in medicine. So, it's not necessary for you to gain experience in this particular specialization just yet.
Having said that, if you want to get some insights now, there are some options:
Stanford has internships for high-school students: https://med.stanford.edu/pathology/education-programs/high-school-students.html
University of Utah has a program for high-school students: https://medicine.utah.edu/pathology/medical-laboratory-sciences/hs-program
University of Nebraska has a program for high-school students: https://www.unmc.edu/pathology/education/focused-opportunities/middle-and-high-school-students.html
Depending on where you live, you may or may not have access to those opportunities. If you have a pathology department (university or hospital) where you live, you can also approach them directly for any opportunities.
Please don't spend an insane amount of money for a summer course or something like that. Getting medical experience in a hospital setting where you live will be at least as valuable. Also look at other internship/summer opportunities in the medical or biological field. There is no need to focus on just pathology this early.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Ezra,
There is one internship that shall open doors for you as an entrepreneur. Create opportunities for yourself. The reason is that everybody requires data, information. Even schoolchildren require information for their assignments.
Get familiar with Google and Google Scholar. PubMed is helpful in answering biomedical research questions. LII is a good legal search engine.
Internships are a great way to deepen your understanding of forensic science. Forensic science applies scientific methods to help solve legal issues in criminal and civil cases. Over the years, it has evolved and improved with new scientific and technological advancements.
There are many forensic science internships available across the USA. Here are some options:
1. Ohio, Maryland, and Mesa, AZ offer forensic science internships.
2. ATF’s labs in Atlanta, GA, and Beltsville, MD have Forensic Pathology internships.
3. Washington, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services offer internships.
4. The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education in Horsham, PA will accept applications in January 2025.
5. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation offers paid internships for students.
6. The Westchester County Forensic Lab in New York provides internship opportunities for degree completion.
You can find more details and application links on websites like forensicscolleges.com, atf.gov, and prosple.com. These internships are excellent for gaining experience and building a career in forensic science.
Good luck finding the right internship for you!
There is one internship that shall open doors for you as an entrepreneur. Create opportunities for yourself. The reason is that everybody requires data, information. Even schoolchildren require information for their assignments.
Get familiar with Google and Google Scholar. PubMed is helpful in answering biomedical research questions. LII is a good legal search engine.
Internships are a great way to deepen your understanding of forensic science. Forensic science applies scientific methods to help solve legal issues in criminal and civil cases. Over the years, it has evolved and improved with new scientific and technological advancements.
There are many forensic science internships available across the USA. Here are some options:
1. Ohio, Maryland, and Mesa, AZ offer forensic science internships.
2. ATF’s labs in Atlanta, GA, and Beltsville, MD have Forensic Pathology internships.
3. Washington, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services offer internships.
4. The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education in Horsham, PA will accept applications in January 2025.
5. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation offers paid internships for students.
6. The Westchester County Forensic Lab in New York provides internship opportunities for degree completion.
You can find more details and application links on websites like forensicscolleges.com, atf.gov, and prosple.com. These internships are excellent for gaining experience and building a career in forensic science.
Good luck finding the right internship for you!
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Ezra !
Although you may not find literal Internships in forensics science for teens, there are however Programs for teens that offer more of an introduction to forensic science and mentoring experience for high schoolers. But you did not state the city or town you are in so I can't provide direct referrals for you.
As for volunteer work, you should only do it if you want the experience, not to "look good" because you will actually get opportunities in college and then learn Pathology when you go to Medical School. So decide if you're just doing it to impress (which is not necessary before college) or that you want to have a new experience and be around things connected to your career goal. This is an intricate field of work in which you'd be working with cut open bodies and bodily fluids and you may not be ready to actually jump into the actual work yet until you are in Medical School.
You wouldn't really get anything hands on to being a doctor or forensics medicine at a hospital, but I would suggest volunteering at your local police department at first or your local Department of Health. All of your "patients" are not going to be crime victims once you have your career, but for now, it would be good to volunteer at a police station or even a Lab. Any volunteer work that you do in any field of work is valuable as it provides the opportunity to work with professionals, sharpen your communication skills and learn new skills. You will not be expected to have already done forensics medicine in high school before you get to college. If you are open to any volunteer position, go to the Human Resources Departments of your local hospitals and see what's available.
You can plan for college by beginning reading colleges program descriptions. You can Major in Biology or Anatomy and take some chemistry courses, too. In High School you should be taking as much of these subjects as possible if you aren't already. Once you select some colleges to apply to, call them and speak with your major department and ask if they place students in Internships during their Junior and Senior year at college. Although it is important to do volunteer work in High School, colleges will put more importance on your High School GPA, your SAT scores and what subjects you've taken in high school that align with your major. A personal essay is also something that colleges consider.
I noticed that you're asking about Forensic Pathology but one of your tags says Forensic Psychology which are two very completely different careers. You may want to post another question with your general state or town and exactly what career you'd want - Medical Doctor or Psychologist ?
So even though you would not be able to jump into a Forensics Pathologist's office and do the work or be a Forensics Pathologist now, volunteer work anywhere is very beneficial in giving you experience and insight for college. You will gradually be introduced to dissecting and knowing the insides of the human body as you move forward in your academic path and finally at Medical School.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Although you may not find literal Internships in forensics science for teens, there are however Programs for teens that offer more of an introduction to forensic science and mentoring experience for high schoolers. But you did not state the city or town you are in so I can't provide direct referrals for you.
As for volunteer work, you should only do it if you want the experience, not to "look good" because you will actually get opportunities in college and then learn Pathology when you go to Medical School. So decide if you're just doing it to impress (which is not necessary before college) or that you want to have a new experience and be around things connected to your career goal. This is an intricate field of work in which you'd be working with cut open bodies and bodily fluids and you may not be ready to actually jump into the actual work yet until you are in Medical School.
You wouldn't really get anything hands on to being a doctor or forensics medicine at a hospital, but I would suggest volunteering at your local police department at first or your local Department of Health. All of your "patients" are not going to be crime victims once you have your career, but for now, it would be good to volunteer at a police station or even a Lab. Any volunteer work that you do in any field of work is valuable as it provides the opportunity to work with professionals, sharpen your communication skills and learn new skills. You will not be expected to have already done forensics medicine in high school before you get to college. If you are open to any volunteer position, go to the Human Resources Departments of your local hospitals and see what's available.
You can plan for college by beginning reading colleges program descriptions. You can Major in Biology or Anatomy and take some chemistry courses, too. In High School you should be taking as much of these subjects as possible if you aren't already. Once you select some colleges to apply to, call them and speak with your major department and ask if they place students in Internships during their Junior and Senior year at college. Although it is important to do volunteer work in High School, colleges will put more importance on your High School GPA, your SAT scores and what subjects you've taken in high school that align with your major. A personal essay is also something that colleges consider.
I noticed that you're asking about Forensic Pathology but one of your tags says Forensic Psychology which are two very completely different careers. You may want to post another question with your general state or town and exactly what career you'd want - Medical Doctor or Psychologist ?
So even though you would not be able to jump into a Forensics Pathologist's office and do the work or be a Forensics Pathologist now, volunteer work anywhere is very beneficial in giving you experience and insight for college. You will gradually be introduced to dissecting and knowing the insides of the human body as you move forward in your academic path and finally at Medical School.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !