A college student planning to go to medical school has compiled the following application: a 4.0 GPA, a 528 on the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT), published in Nature, and a solid record of community service. 

Does this impressive resume guarantee the student a spot in medical school? Not necessarily, says Jeffrey Brown, DO, Section Head, Family Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Solon, and Admissions Committee Member for Ohio University HCOM and CWRU – Lerner College of Medicine.  

“Today’s medical school applicants are in one of the most competitive pools out there,” Dr. Brown says. “They need something that will help them stand out – real-world experience taking care of patients that will make the medical school admissions interviewers say ‘that person’s got it.'”  

The OCCA boost 

Now, college students taking a “gap” year between their senior year and postgraduate study can use that year to give themselves a boost into medical school with the Cleveland Clinic Outpatient Clinical Care Assistant (OCCA) program. The OCCA, unique to Cleveland Clinic, is a paid position in which medical school aspirants can work directly with physicians to treat patients. In other words, it’s hands-on medical experience. 

A bridge rather than a gap 

Dr. Brown prefers to call the year-long OCCA program a “bridge” year, rather than a gap year. “This is a bridge to medical school to get some hands-on experience,” he says. “Our goal is to connect the student’s undergraduate years to their future as a physician. We are creating a bridge with education, experience and mentoring they cannot get anywhere else.” 

What does an OCCA do? 

The specific duties of an OCCA are to assist physicians when needed, primarily in outpatient settings. This can include the following tasks: 

• Get vitals, document intake questions in chart, identify any abnormal findings. 

• Communicate with patients directly and through email (MyChart messages) and phone calls, as the eyes and ears of their team of physicians. 

• Assist with performing assessments and treatments, including EKG, Holter Monitor, and hearing and vision screening.  

• Initiate CPR and other emergency measures as required. 

• Perform treatments such as application of heat or cold, simple sterile dressing changes, and application and removal of casts, braces and splints. 

• Monitor and communicate changes in patient condition.   

In emphasizing real-world patient care, Dr. Brown stresses, the program ensures that participants understand the importance of serving the greater good. This approach is rooted in the idea that being a doctor is about making a real difference in the lives of patients. “A successful OCCA should have the mindset of being a civil servant,” Dr. Brown says. “They’re here for the patient.” 

A win-win-win 

The OCCA program has a multitude of benefits for everyone involved, according to Dr. Brown. For students, “this gives them a better idea of what being a doctor is.” Participating physicians get an exceptional partner in clinical support for an area that has long been difficult to staff. For medical school admissions interviewers, the program provides a better assessment of a student’s potential.  

“The MCAT is an imperfect method of determining who’s going to be a good doctor,” Dr. Brown says. “This program is a good way to find out who is going to be the best doctors, and a unique opportunity to influence the future of medicine in a meaningful way.” Another benefit is to increase the pool of potential primary care physicians.  

It’s also about becoming part of a legacy of professionals who have walked this path before. “One day, these students will work alongside the very physicians they admire, much like an athlete learning from the greats in their field,” Dr. Brown notes. 

A good beginning 

The OCCA program is off to a good start. Dr. Brown relates that all of the members of the inaugural class were accepted into medical school. The participants themselves give the program high marks: 

• “Through the mentorship of Cleveland Clinic physicians and other clinical staff, I learned skills that some medical students do not learn until clinical rotations, such as reading an ECG, taking vitals, presenting a patient case, and even performing a basic physical exam.” 

• “I cannot imagine applying to medical school without my time working and learning as an OCCA at the Cleveland Clinic. It was the perfect learning environment. I was taught many clinical and communication skills that have prepared me to interact and care for patients in my future career.” 

• “The clinical experience from being an OCCA is invaluable. My professors have mentioned how impressed they are with my applicable experience and familiarity with medical terminology.”