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Pre-Health Experience

Learn more about clinical, research, study abroad, and service opportunities at Knox.

Pre-health students are encouraged to engage in a variety of experiences before they apply to a graduate health professions program.

These experiences help confirm your decision to pursue a particular health profession by giving real-world, hands-on opportunities to interact with patients, engage in research, explore other cultures, and be of service in the community.

Two students each sit on an exam table with wraps on their legs.

Clinical

Clinical experience is hands-on experience with patients in a healthcare setting. Becoming certified as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) are common entry-level clinical pathways that some Knox students pursue. The Knox College Department of Athletics offers an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) certification course every other year. At the conclusion of this class, students may take the EMT-B National Registry Exam to get national certification as an EMT-B that will allow you to become licensed in most states. There are fees associated with this course.

A student gives a research presentation in front of a poster.

Research

Pre-health students engage in research across all disciplines under the guidance of Knox faculty. Whether working in a faculty member’s laboratory or as a research assistant, opportunities abound for research at Knox. For funded opportunities, the Vovis Center facilitates year-round research opportunities for students across campus with the Richter Memorial Fund. Students new to research can engage in faculty-guided, group research with collaborative research projects and more experienced researchers can pursue programs like Knox Summer Scholars, an intensive summer research/creative fellowship program with a focus on graduate school preparation.

Four students stand in front of a fountain with a statue in it from a different country.

Abroad

Studying abroad offers a unique opportunity to explore other cultures and enhance your understanding of the world around you. Pre-health students have been all over the world, from studying biomedical sciences in Scandinavia to global health in Bolivia. The Stellyes Center for Global Studies assists students in finding and completing a study abroad program.

A student receives a high five from an elementary aged student in a school in the community.

Service

The healthcare profession is a helping profession. Pre-health students find issues they’re passionate about and make a difference in the local community and beyond. The Kleine Center for Community Service organizes a wide range of volunteer opportunities for students. Knox pre-health students love volunteering at Beacon of Hope Hospice in Galesburg, Blessings in a Backpack, and the Polar Plunge in the winter.