THINQ It Through
THINQ It Through: Breaking Down UCLA Pre-Health Organizations is a series included in our UCLA Pre-Health Guidebook. It aims to capture the uniqueness of each organization and inform the student population about pre-health opportunities on campus. This series consists of a mini-interview component involving representatives from pre-health organizations. Video descriptions of each organization, courtesy of their leadership teams, can be found at the links below. There are several subcategories of pre-health organizations at UCLA, depending on students’ individual interests: clinical research, community service & volunteering, mental health & wellness, cultural affiliation, and academic journals.
Clinical Research
Clinical research at UCLA takes a variety of forms, but for most organizations, it generally involves a team of undergraduate assistants who assist in clinical trials, observational studies, or other research projects. However, the type of clinical research performed differs among organizations, and so, it is imperative that students, who are interested in being involved in a clinical research organization, identify their interests and learn more about the specific research initiatives of each organization. After all, each organization offers unique opportunities, and finding one that aligns with your interests would only help you!
The Healthcare Improvement & Innovation in Quality (THINQ)
Emergency Medicine Research Associates (EMRA)
Community Service & Volunteering
There are a plethora of community service and volunteering organizations at UCLA, so finding the one that best suits your interests can appear daunting at first glance. For pre-health students, these organizations can range from aiding the local community in need of assistance to international acts of service. Community service and volunteering are deeply fulfilling pursuits, and for individuals pursuing a pre-health path of education, they can also help shed light on several of the barriers to healthcare delivery today.
The International Collegiate Health Initiative (ICHI)
Fellowship for International Service and Health (FISH)
Mental Health & Wellness
Organizations that fall under the category of mental health and wellness aim at promoting wellness and enhancing mental health, generally speaking. However, each organization is unique with more specific goals ranging from advocacy and education to volunteering and outreach. Ultimately, the goal is to change the narrative surrounding mental illness while simultaneously raising awareness or offering community service. The hope is to also provide an outlet for creativity and passion by involving students who are dedicated to destigmatizing mental health.
Cultural Affiliation
Organizations that surround the term “cultural affiliation” focus on supporting health equity, enrichment, empowerment, and education within their target communities. These organizations resolve around service in their communities, ranging from the Greater Los Angeles area to the students at UCLA. Some recurring missions are providing culturally-competent health care, dismantling institutional barriers posed on certain students, combating health disparities, and promoting personal and professional growth for volunteers. However, please keep in mind that each organization has its own targeted mission which you can feel free to explore through our concise overview of each organization.
Latinxs/Chicanxs for Community Medicine
Vietnamese Community Health (VCH)
Asian Pacific Health Corps (APHC) at UCLA
Academic Journals
Academic journal organizations at UCLA offer a platform for students in both the humanities and the sciences to have first-hand experience in research. Each organization focuses on a specific area of research, ranging from biotechnology to behavioral sciences to public health. Undergraduates may either publish their own research, or they may join the journal staff. Journals regularly post applications for new staff members to assist with editing, layout, graphics, social media, and publishing.
