More than a diploma is often required to earn employment in today’s job market. Higher-paying employers are looking at extracurricular activities more and more to separate applicant “A” from applicant “B.”
To that end, many clubs at Salt Lake Community College are in existence to give students the hands-on experience potential employers value. One of these is the Pre Med Club. A fairly new club beginning just last spring, club President Devon Benincosa wants all students to recognize the unique opportunities that are available through participating in the club.
Benincosa explained that involvement in the Pre Med Club is a great way for students to work together to achieve similar goals.
“One of the unique features about the Pre Med Club at SLCC is we have a variety of individuals studying in various fields of medicine…with SLCC being a smaller school we have the opportunity to work closer together and form better relationships and networks,” Benincosa said.
Benincosa said that no matter what area of medicine you are interested in, whether it be nursing, becoming a radiology technician, a physician’s assistant or any other, the Pre Med Club can help you fulfill certain out-of-classroom requirements.
As an example, the University of Utah requires a minimum of 24 “physician shadowing” hours in its medical school application. By networking with other club members, Benincosa explained that you can find places to perform these hours. For those going into other fields of medicine, members of the club are also able to network with volunteering, patient care and research opportunities that look good on applications. He also said that involvement in the club gives students great opportunities for leadership positions that are important on applications. Benincosa also indicated that since different members are at different points in their education, those further along can help the students that are just getting started.
Though the club’s main focus is helping students who are interested in medicine, student and member Jessica Sasser explained that all students could benefit from being a part of it.
“I just like knowing people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Sasser said.
Sasser also spoke of the value of things like volunteering that are important for all students, not just those going into medicine.
“The people who join the club are the people who are getting out and doing…if you need to find ways to get out and do, these are the people to talk to,” she said.
The Pre Med Club was instrumental in organizing AIDS Benefit activities last semester.
“We have some exciting activities in the works and plan on having a great time this semester,” Benincosa said.
Plans were made at a recent meeting to have medical doctors, physicians’ assistants and other medical professionals come as guest speakers. Since the club will be having such interesting activities, Benincosa stressed that it’s not just for students studying medicine.
“We don’t discriminate against non-medical or non-science majors. We want anyone that has a desire to participate in the club,” he said.
Whether you are looking to make a living as a medical professional, searching for opportunities to do good in the community or just want to be intellectually enlightened, the Pre Med Club may be the right fit for you.
To join the club and find more information, visit slccpremedclub.info