Medical Horizons

The East Tennessee State University & Ballad Health Medical Horizons program continues to provide those considering a career in medicine with hands-on exposure and a first-hand experience in the health professions. This experience is designed to give rising college sophomores, juniors, seniors and post baccalaureate students the opportunity to clarify and solidify their desire to enter the health care profession and provide insight into the medical community represented by ETSU & Ballad Health. Medical Horizons will be June 2-27, 2025.

The application deadline for the 2025 Medical Horizons program is March 14, 2025. 

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Eligibility

Rising college sophomores, juniors, seniors and post baccalaureate students who are over the age of 18 and interested in a career in the field of medicine are eligible to apply. Selected individuals must also meet the following conditions:

• Have health and accident insurance coverage, individual or as a dependent.
• Be fully vaccinated and immunized. Accepted applicants must provided proof of the same immunizations as required of enrolled medical students.
• Have a clean background check (National Sex Offender Registry, Tennessee Sex Offender Registry and Tennessee Abuse Registry).
• Successfully complete on-line training on work-place safety (OSHA), patient confidentiality (HIPPA), portable fire extinguishers and emergency preparedness. These on-line training modules will be provided via email (weeks in advance) to complete and return before Medical Horizons Orientation.
• Participants MUST be available 8 hours a day, 5 days per week for the duration of the program.

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Learn More!

• Participant Experience

  Participants will rotate through 4 one-week experiences in medical specialties that may include: surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, emergency (ER) medicine, anesthesiology, radiology and pathology.

  Each Monday morning the student will attend a series of interactive sessions discussing medical topics. Topics such as ethics, finance, med school admissions and application preparation are covered among other subjects. The balance of each weekly experience will be in the hospitals and clinical settings. Each participant is provided a lab coat and authorizing credentials. 

  
  Participants will be assigned to physicians, residents, and medical professionals who will be responsible for the students experience in the hospital/clinic setting. Participants will be provided with a contact information list and are expected to contact their mentor prior to the next rotation to receive their new schedule. Participants are expected to participate in all scheduled program activities.

• Costs & Expenses

  There is no cost for the program, but participants are responsible for their own transportation, housing and meals.

  APPLY EARLY. Guest housing may be available from ETSU. If you need more information about housing, please contact the ETSU housing office at (423) 439-4446or housing@etsu.edu.

  The costs of all vaccinations/immunizations are the sole responsibility of the program participant. 

  ETSU Basler Center for Physical Activity (ETSU CPA) summer memberships are available at participant's expense.

• Dress & Appearance

  Participating hospitals and clinics may have requirements/restrictions concerning dress and appropriate footwear. Program participants will be in the health care setting most of their time and appropriate dress is required i.e. business casual, closed toe shoes, personal scrubs. 

  All program participants are expected to dress moderately and professionally at all times. Attending physicians or program officials may bar any participant based on their perception of inappropriate dress.