Explore Opportunities Beyond Soka
Experiential learning is an essential part of preparing for careers in the health professions. Research, internships, volunteer service, clinical experiences, and community engagement allow students to explore career interests, develop professional competencies, and better understand the health needs of diverse communities.
Health Professions Advising (HPA) has curated the opportunities below to help students identify experiences that align with their interests and career goals. These external opportunities complement HPA-sponsored programs by providing additional pathways to gain experience in clinical care, biomedical research, biotechnology, public health, global health, healthcare consulting, and community service.
Opportunities are organized by category. Please note that application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and program availability may change. Always visit each organization’s website for the most current information.
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
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/