Research, Internships, and Volunteering Opportunities
Experiential Opportunities in Health: Innovation, Research, and Public Health
At Soka University of America, students are committed to developing strong research acumen and leadership skills. We understand that advancing health in our world is not only about learning the basics of biology or chemistry. It requires a deep commitment to improving care for human beings—a pursuit grounded in collaboration, creative thinking, ethical clarity, and an understanding of science, systems, and society. It demands a tenacious, coordinated effort to advance life-saving therapeutics and technologies through the research pipeline. Our students aim to improve lives—one community, one patient, one system at a time. Whether conducting laboratory research, contributing to health innovation, or driving strategy consulting forward, they remain guided by a strong commitment to equity and the practical application of knowledge to real-world problems.
Below is a curated list experiential opportunities (e.g., internships in) health innovation, biomedical research, and public health. These experiences complement academic preparation by giving students the chance to engage with the full spectrum of the healthcare ecosystem—from cutting-edge biomedical research and global health policy to the strategic thinking that drives innovation, equity, and access in health systems worldwide.
Biomedical Industry Internships
- Johnson & Johnson – Summer Internship Program
https://careers.jnj.com/internships - Merck Research Laboratories – Internship & Co-op Programs
https://www.merck.com/careers/students/ - Sanofi – Internship Opportunities
https://www.sanofi.com/en/careers/students-and-graduates - AbbVie – Summer Internship Program
https://www.abbvie.com/careers/internships.html - Edwards Lifesciences – Internship Opportunities
https://www.edwards.com/careers - Terumo Medical – Internship and Co-op Programs
https://www.terumomedical.com/careers - Otsuka Pharmaceutical – Research Internships
https://www.otsuka.com/careers/ - Amgen – Internship & Co-op Programs
https://www.amgen.com/careers/university - Genentech – Internship Programs
https://www.gene.com/careers/students - Biogen – Internship and Early Career Opportunities
https://www.biogen.com/en_us/careers/students.html - Pfizer – Internships & Co-ops
https://www.pfizer.com/careers/students - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals – Internships
https://www.regeneron.com/careers/internships - Novartis – Internship Programs
https://www.novartis.com/careers/students-and-graduates - Gilead Sciences – Internships
https://www.gilead.com/careers/university-programs - Bristol Myers Squibb – Internships and Co-ops
https://www.bms.com/careers/students.html - BeOne – Life Science & Healthcare Internships
https://www.beonehr.com/careers/
Academic Research & REU Programs
- UCLA Undergraduate Research Programs (REU)
https://www.ucla.edu/undergraduate-research - Caltech Summer Research Opportunities (SURF Program)
https://www.surf.caltech.edu/ - USC Health & Biomedical Research Internships
https://keck.usc.edu/education/undergraduate-programs/ - NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip - HHMI Summer Research Programs
https://www.hhmi.org/science-education/programs
Public and Global Health Research Internships
- Orange County Health Care Agency – Research Internship
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/careers-jobs/volunteer-services - California Department of Public Health – Volunteer Intern Program
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPDE/Pages/VolunteerInternshipProgram.aspx - UCLA Public Health Scholars
https://www.uclaphscholars.org/ - Global Health Corps – Fellowship and Internship Opportunities
https://globalhealthcorps.org/apply/ - PATH – Global Health Innovation Internships
https://www.path.org/careers/internships/ - Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) – Internship Program
https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/careers/internships/ - Doctors Without Borders (MSF) – Internship Opportunities
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/internships - United Nations Global Health Internship
https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx - World Health Organization (WHO) Internship Programme
https://www.who.int/careers/internship-programme
Other opportunities
- CHOC Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (Mi4) Summer Internship Program
https://choc.org/medical-intelligence-and-innovation-institute/mi4-summer-internship-program/
Consulting Opportunities
General Management Consulting (MBB)
- McKinsey & Company – Internship Programs
https://www.mckinsey.com/careers/students - Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – Internship Opportunities
https://www.bcg.com/careers/students - Bain & Company – Internship & Associate Programs
https://www.bain.com/careers/
Biomedical and Health-focused Consulting Firms
- LEK Consulting – Life Sciences & Healthcare Internships
https://www.lek.com/careers - ZS Associates – Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Consulting Internships
https://www.zs.com/careers/university-recruiting - ClearView Healthcare Partners – Internships
https://clearviewhcp.com/careers - Putnam Associates – Internships & Early Careers
https://www.putassoc.com/careers
Need Help Getting Started?
Meet with the Career Development Office to strengthen your resume, craft cover letters, and identify the best-fit opportunities aligned with your goals.
Volunteer Opportunities
At Soka University of America, students are committed to lives of service and advocacy. This dedication reflects the university’s values and mission to foster contributive global citizens and aligns closely with the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students, including service orientation, cultural competence, and social responsibility.
Below is a curated list of opportunities for volunteering and community engagement. These experiences support academic preparation while helping students develop their commitment to equity, compassion, and human dignity through meaningful health-related work.
Local Hospital & Clinical Volunteering
- Saddleback Medical Center (MemorialCare)
https://www.memorialcare.org/employees-volunteers/volunteer-saddleback-medical-center - Hoag Hospital
https://www.hoag.org/education-resources/volunteer/ - UCI Health Volunteer Services
https://www.ucihealth.org/volunteer - CHOC Children’s Hospital Volunteer
https://choc.org/volunteer/ - Mission Hospital Mission Viejo (Providence)
https://www.providence.org/locations/socal/mission-hospital-mission-viejo/about-us/volunteers - Orange Coast Medical Center (MemorialCare)
https://www.memorialcare.org/locations/orange-coast-medical-center/volunteer-services
Free Clinics & Community Health
- Clinic in the Park
https://www.clinicinthepark.org/ - Orange County Free Clinic
https://www.orangecountyfreeclinic.org/volunteer/ - Lestonnac Free Clinic (Orange)
https://www.lestonnacfreeclinic.org/general-volunteer - Share Our Selves (Costa Mesa)
https://shareourselves.org/get-involved/ - ICNA Relief – Crescent Clinic (Fullerton)
https://icnarelief.org/crescentclinic/volunteers/
LGBTQ+ & Youth-Focused Clinics
- Radiant Health Centers
https://www.radianthealthcenters.org/get-involved/volunteer
Hospice & Palliative Care Volunteering
- Traditions Health
https://www.traditionshealth.com/about-us/volunteer/ - VNA Hospice & Palliative Care of Southern California
https://vna.health/volunteering/ - Companion Hospice
https://www.companionhealthgroup.com/volunteer/
Nursing Home & Senior Care Volunteering
- Heritage Pointe
https://www.heritagepointe.org/contact-us/volunteer/ - Age Well Senior Services
https://agewellseniorservices.org/volunteer/ - Orange County Office on Aging
https://www.officeonaging.ocgov.com/opportunities/volunteer-opportunities
Public Health & Government
- Orange County Health Care Agency
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/careers-jobs/volunteer-services - California Department of Public Health (Volunteer Intern Program) https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPDE/Pages/VolunteerInternshipProgram.aspx
Health Advocacy
- Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP)
https://ocnep.org/ - Voice of Refugees
https://www.voiceofrefugees.org/contact - World Relief SoCal (Orange County)
https://worldrelief.org/socal/volunteer/ - CWS Orange County
https://cwsglobal.org/our-impact/refugees/ - Tiyya
https://www.tiyya.org/volunteer - Harm Reduction Institute (Santa Ana) – not currently taking volunteers, but may soon https://www.harmreductioninstitute.org/faqs
- Orange County Rescue Mission
https://www.rescuemission.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Need Help Getting Started?
Meet with the Career Development Office to strengthen your resume, craft cover letters, and identify the best-fit opportunities aligned with their goals.