Internships, Research Programs and Job Shadowing
Learning by doing
For undergraduate and graduate students at UW-Eau Claire, there are numerous ways to work directly with physicians at Mayo Clinic Health System. And because most medical and graduate schools require clinical hours and experience before admission, we go out of our way to connect Blugolds with those opportunities.
You can gain real-world experience in the medical field through a number of programs and internships.
Current learning opportunities
Mayo Clinic Health System's Undergraduate Research Employment Program (UREP)
Mayo Clinic Health System's summer UREP program pairs physicians with high-achieving undergraduate student researchers. The exciting program gives Blugolds an exclusive, real-world, paid research experience with experts right here in Eau Claire. Seeing the “inner workings” of clinical care helps students see the breadth of careers available within a medical center and confirm that they are choosing a career path that is a good fit for them.
Mayo Clinic Health System’s Graduate Research Employment Program (GREP)
GREP is a post-baccalaureate program for students interested in biomedical research. By partnering with a Mayo Clinic physician, Blugolds gain exclusive research experience that benefits them as they work toward a chosen career. In addition to working in a world-class biomedical research lab, students also participate in presentations, publication work, networking opportunities, mentorship and career development and guidance.
Mayo Clinic Health System's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow (SURF)
Mayo Clinic Health System's 10-week SURF experience is for undergraduate students looking to build their skills as young scientists. The program, run out of Rochester, Minnesota, allows students to gain valuable, real-world lab experience. Working closely with a mentor on a research project, you'll have the opportunities to learn from experts, use world-class instrumentation in state-of-the-art research facilities, and collaborate with nationally and internationally recognized scientists.
Setting pre-med students up for long-term success
Dr. Rachel Issaka, a 2005 biology graduate of UW-Eau Claire, is a GI specialist and colorectal cancer researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Her research aims to raise awareness and screening in all populations.
UWEC alum Rachel Issaka, now a doctor of internal medicine and leading clinical researcher in Seattle, Washington, knows just how valuable clinical research experiences are for undergrad students — especially those applying to medical school. In fact, she said it was her summers at Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, Minnesota, that set her up for a long path of success.
“I spent my college summers in the Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) for biomedical research in Rochester, Minnesota,” Rachel said. “These experiences were really influential for me — they gave me a glimpse into the world of medical and clinical research, and made me a very competitive med school applicant. My first publication actually came from this summer research."
Administrative Fellowship Program
The Administrative Fellowship Program at Mayo Clinic Health System offers a broad range of learning experiences designed to foster the development of outstanding master’s-prepared individuals who are committed to a career in health care administration.
Learn more about Administrative Fellowship Program
Medical Experience Program
The Medical Experience Program at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire is an opportunity for UWEC students with a demonstrated interest in medicine to job shadow physicians. Students accepted to the MedEx program will spend three half-day sessions job shadowing in different medical specialties in the clinic during a typical workday.
Volunteer opportunities
Blugolds make a difference in the lives of patients, visitors and staff in our community. Sign up to volunteer at Mayo Clinic Health System in one of the many roles available, including:
- Greeting patients and visitors
- Transporting patients to appointments
- Working in the gift shops
- Delivering supplies
- Visiting with patients
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Mayo Clinic Health System
Working with students is exciting as their enthusiasm motivates me to make time for projects that otherwise get put on the back burner due to patient care responsibilities. Collaboration between UWEC and Mayo Clinic Health System is beneficial to medical providers, students and most importantly, translates into better care for patients in our community.
