What is a Clinical Associate?

A clinical externship is part of the learning journey of a medical student at the end of the program. The candidates shadow healthcare professionals at work in their chosen field of interest and gain hands-on experience to support their theoretical knowledge.

Exact duties vary from case to case, but an externship always allows students to interact with patients and assist in doctors carrying out examinations, assessing medical cases and creating diagnoses, coming up with treatment plans, and performing medical procedures on patients.

Although medical externships take place after graduation from med school, this is an unpaid position - if you are lucky enough and manage to find one you do not actually have to pay for yourself. As these positions provide many learning opportunities and prepare candidates for obtaining residency positions, being humble, following orders, and accepting criticism gracefully is an essential part of the job.

Whether you're looking for a challenging and rewarding career change or are simply considering a transition from the clinical setting to the administrative field, consider pursuing the high-demand role of clinical coordinator. The job growth rate of clinical coordinators is expected to increase 32 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much higher than the average and means there will likely be many more employment opportunities in the future.

A clinical coordinator is in charge of organizing or supervising the day-to-day activities of a healthcare facility. As a clinical coordinator, you may manage staff, interact with different departments, attend meetings, and ensure adequate patient care in designated units. A clinical coordinator may also plan budgets, supervise personnel recruitment, and manage the facility's supplies and inventory. In short, you'd be responsible for ensuring a hospital department or healthcare facility is running smoothly.

To become a clinical coordinator, you'll likely need a bachelor's degree in health administration, nursing, or a related field. Earning an advanced degree in public health or a relevant field and getting experience working in a healthcare facility may help find you better employment opportunities in this profession as well. As a clinical coordinator, you may work in both public and private settings, including hospitals, medical facilities, community health clinics, research centers, and educational institutions. This role also gives you the opportunity to earn a median annual wage of $51,000 along with medical, dental, and vacation benefits. What's more, with advanced skills and experience, you may become a laboratory director or clinical manager.

A clinical research coordinator is a research professional who helps in formulating, implementing, and organizing research processes to conduct clinical trials. He/She ensures the study complies with all relevant government laws and regulations. He/She hires and screens potential study participants and performs intake assessments. Furthermore, he/she creates and maintains all documents and records related to the study. Also, he/she serves as a point of reference for study participants. Clinical Research Coordinators may work for pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, hospital research departments, or private businesses.

A bachelor's degree in nursing, health science, or a related field is a prerequisite for a clinical research coordinator role. To succeed in the role, candidates must possess analytical, communication, time management, and organizational skills. You must possess at least a year of related work experience. You must understand medical terminologies and standard clinical procedures. These experts earn an annual income of $53,315 on average. This is between $38,000 and $74,000.