Apply Today to Become an American Cancer Society Cares Clinic Volunteer

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is seeking CofC students to assist with a pilot cancer navigation support program, ACS CARES (Community Access to Resources, Education, and Support).

The program: A multi-channel approach that leverages digital, telephonic, and in-person support to provide direct, individualized, non-clinical assistance to improve the cancer experience. Students will provide people with cancer and caregivers non-clinical navigation support throughout the cancer journey.

Benefits: Work directly with a healthcare team, gain clinical hours, and positively impact the experience of a patient going through cancer treatment.

Timeline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with final candidate selections made in July. The program begins in September and lasts through the Spring ’25 semester.

To ApplyHead to this link to create a profile and submit your application!

For more information, check out the full description below or email ACSCARES@cancer.org with any questions.

Program Overview

For nearly 30 years, ACS has viewed patient navigation as a critical strategy in reducing health disparities across the cancer continuum, with demonstrated effectiveness at removing barriers and increasing access to care through the provision of coordinated, patient-centered support.

With over 1.9M people diagnosed with cancer annually, the goal of the American Cancer Society Navigation Support Program is to provide people with cancer and caregivers direct, individualized, in-person non-clinical navigation assistance that delivers timely information to reduce distress, resources to mitigate barriers to care, and emotional support to improve the cancer experience.

ACS is looking to recruit college/graduate students to become ACS CARES: Clinic Volunteers at nearby participating health systems to provide people with cancer and caregivers non-clinical navigation support throughout the cancer journey. ACS will provide the Clinic Volunteers with support (including continuing education and technical assistance), and data collection tools to maximize project outcomes.

ACS CARES: Clinic Volunteer Role

ACS CARES: Clinic Volunteers are college/graduate students who are ACS-trained to provide people with cancer and caregivers direct, individualized, non-clinical navigation assistance throughout the cancer journey. These volunteers will be placed at health systems and will:

  • Meet with patients and/or caregivers while they are waiting for their appointment or during chemotherapy infusions Utilize the validated NCCN-based ACS social determinants of health needs assessment and distress screening tool to identify and document concerns and barriers to care in a secure platform (NurseNav)
  • Assist patients and/or caregivers draft questions to discuss with their provider Take notes for patients during clinic appointments
  • Conduct follow-up calls to assist patients and/or caregivers in accessing ACS and health care system information and resources
  • Does NOT include accessing or documenting in the health care system EMR

Volunteer Benefits

  • Time spent will count towards clinical hours
  • Course credit may be available (to be determined on a case-by-case basis)
  • Receive specialized navigation support training, including patient privacy, how to function in the health care setting, and coordinating with professional navigators
  • Have dedicated ACS staff members to field questions and provide support

Volunteer Requirements

  • One year commitment is required (academic school year) Must be available for one 4-hour shift per week
  • Additional time commitment should be allotted for volunteer meetings and continued training/education Ages 18 and up
  • Actively enrolled as a student at the partnering college/university Comfortable using technology
  • Access to a computer with reliable internet access Pass background check
  • Complete application, interview, and required ACS training plus fulfill continued learning requirements throughout volunteer term
  • Must comply with hospital-based training and health requirements (i.e., on-site training, vaccination requirements, etc.)

Training

ACS CARES Clinic Volunteers will work directly with patients, caregivers, and providers, and thus are in close contact with patient health information. Extensive training will be provided to ensure you feel comfortable and prepared to perform this role. The self-paced training curriculum is to be completed virtually over the summer prior to beginning in the clinic. There will also be one full day of in-person training which will likely occur during syllabus week. Continuing education will be provided during division meetings throughout the semester.

How to Apply

  1. Visit the ACS Volunteer Community page and select the pilot site you are interested in applying
  2. You will be prompted to complete a Volunteer Community
  3. After creating your profile, you will be able to access the
  4. Submit your application as soon as
  5. Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in virtual interviews

Please note: The application evaluation and interview process is on a rolling timeline.

Leadership Positions

Leadership opportunities will be available for experienced volunteers after the 2023-24 pilot year of the ACS CARES program concludes. These positions will work closely with ACS CARES staff to recruit, select, and manage new clinic volunteers, and facilitate communication with health care providers to expand the ACS CARES program to new clinic locations. Applications for these leadership positions will open in the spring of 2024.

Questions? Email ACSCARES@cancer.org.

MUSC Research Opportunity in Cardiovascular Disease and Development

Dr. Christine Kern is looking for students to get research experience at the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at MUSC.

Details: A science research position is open in Dr. Kern’s lab to work on the origin of cardiovascular abnormalities and disease. Average hours approximately 10 per week; this research opportunity can be part of independent research for credit or performed as a volunteer. Research involves using mice as preclinical models of disease. This opportunity is for the upcoming semester Spring 2024, with possible extension to the summer of 2024.

Benefits:

  • Use for course credit or bachelor’s essay research
  • Gain experience in lab experiment skills
  • Develop knowledge in a specialty area of cardiovascular development and disease

Great Fit For: Freshmen, sophomores, or juniors interested in scientific research, especially pre-med and/or pre-dental students. Students will be trained in all lab skills with no experience necessary.

To Apply: Interested students can email Dr. Kern directly at kernc@musc.edu. You can also email Dr. Kern with any questions about the position.

Apply for MUSC’s Student Mentors for Minorities in Healthcare Program!

The MUSC College of Health Professions Student Mentors for Minorities in Healthcare (SMMH) Program is now accepting applications for the 2024 program!

The Opportunity: The SMMH Program is a career exposure and mentoring program for students interested in the health professions. You can expect to participate in sessions once or twice a month on Saturdays; participation is free.

Benefits:

  • Learn more about the health professions
  • Tour MUSC’s state-of-the-art healthcare facilities
  • Gain information that will assist with preparation to graduate healthcare programs
  • Engage in activities that support career planning and professional development

Great Fit For: Undergraduate students with an interest in the allied health professions.

To Apply: Click here! Applications are due on Sunday, November 12th.

For more information, see the provided flyer or go to this link.

Mark Your Calendars for MUSC Night!

Are you studying a health-related field or curious about the programs MUSC has to offer? Head to MUSC Night on Wednesday, November 8th!

The Event: MUSC Night will help CofC students learn about unique and exciting healthcare and education opportunities after they leave CofC.

When & Where: MUSC Night will be hosted…

  • On Wednesday, November 8th, from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
  • In the SSMEB Courtyard (202 Calhoun St)

For more information, check out the provided flyer or email heringe@cofc.edu.

Paid Healthcare Experience as Local Caregiver

CareYaya is looking for college students to serve as Patient Care Assistants in the Charleston area, no prior certifications required.

The Organization: The CareYaya Foundation is a nonprofit social enterprise that connects families who need caregiving help for their loved ones with college students seeking hands-on experience in the medical field.

Benefits: Jumpstart your healthcare career with real world experience that matters.

  • Set your own schedule
  • Paid care experiences ($15-$25/hour) to fund undergraduate + save for graduate school
  • Scholarship opportunities for top caregivers (Rosenstock Fellowship)
  • Letters of recommendation to graduate schools
  • Opportunities to shadow doctors, nurses, and social workers

Next Steps: Online application; contact Sophia Pribbernow (pribbernows@g.cofc.edu) for more details.

Neuroscience research opportunity at MUSC focused on Huntington’s Disease

Join an innovative study that is looking at potential therapies for individuals afflicted with Huntington’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

The Opportunity: Student researchers will support a project that includes sectioning and immunohistochemical analysis of brains of experimental and control animals.

Benefits:

  • Innovative animal research looking at potential therapies for disease states
  • Develop skills related to brain sectioning, staining, and microscopic analysis
  • Potential for eventual research publication and/or presentations

Great Fit For: Biology / Neuroscience / Pre-Med

  • Previous experience working with animal tissue is a plus but is not required.

How to Apply: Statement of interest + resume emailed to Dr. Heather A. Boger (boger@musc.edu).

Pre-med training program for CofC students with the MUSC Department of Neurosurgery

Learn about medicine, surgery, and academic research through NUTIP: An interactive semester-long training program with the MUSC Department of Neurosurgery.

How it works: You’ll shadow MUSC clinicians in the operating room and cadaver lab, participate in clinical rounds, learn neurosurgical research techniques, and more! You’ll gain real-world experience and a thorough understanding of the medical field as a whole.

  • The benefits: Hands-on exposure, a certificate of completion from MUSC, opportunity to publicly present research to a group of residents and physicians.
  • Program timeline: This program will last 15 weeks with opportunities during both the Fall ’23 and Spring ’24 semester. There’s a minimum time commitment of one day a week, though scheduling is flexible.

Great Fit For: Pre-med students / Aspiring neurosurgeons / Future medical researchers

How to apply: Online application by Friday, August 25 at 11:59 p.m.

Paid Research Opportunity in Translational Spine Research at CofC/MUSC for the 23/24 Year

Dr. Sarah Porto from the School of Health Sciences is looking for students interested in gaining laboratory experience as a research assistant.

The Opportunity: Students will gain experience with biomechanics research techniques, including tensile testing, biochemical analysis, as well as cell and molecular biology techniques, such as immunohistochemistry, histology, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Students will analyze experimental results using appropriate software and also help prepare experimental results for presentation and publication.

  • Research assistants will be expected to commit at least 4 hours per week during the academic year and at least 20 hours per week in the summer.

Benefits:

  • A salaried position funded by NIH ($11/hr)
  • MUSC and Clemson networking opportunities
  • Honors Immersed and Bachelor’s Essay potential
  • Training from the PI will be provided if these techniques are new to the applicant

How to Apply: Contact Dr. Porto with any questions; to apply, read below for the full application instructions and submit all application materials to Dr. Porto (portosc@cofc.edu).

If you are interested, please send questions and the following materials to Dr. Porto (portosc@cofc.edu):

  • Updated Resume (or CV) that includes extracurricular activities and employment plans (for academic year and summer)
  • Year of Study, Major, Academic Achievements
  • Unofficial Transcript
  • Statement of Interest (500 words) that includes:
    • 1) Previous research experience, if applicable
    • 2) What can you offer to the project and how long would you like to work on this project?
    • 3) What would you like to get out of this experience?
    • 4) Why are you interested in participating in this (or any) research?
    • 5) Please describe your specific time management strategies.
    • 6) Any other relevant information that you would like to share.