Purpose
Medical school admissions are becoming increasingly competitive, prompting applicants to seek experiences that help them stand out, but also prepare them for the demands of medical training. Additionally, faculty are interested in understanding factors that contribute to student success and readiness for clerkships. This study looks at whether pre-medical work experience—in the service industry, patient care, or both—can improve performance during the clerkship phase and how these experiences might impact clinical skills and readiness.

Methods
We will distribute an online survey to third and fourth-year medical students who have completed their clerkship phase at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. The survey will gather information about students' pre-medical work experience, including roles in the service industry (e.g., cook, server, bartender, retail worker) and inpatient care (e.g., phlebotomist, CNA, EMT, nurse). Students will also provide feedback on whether these experiences influenced their performance during clerkships. To assess clerkship success, we will analyze their clinical evaluation scores and subjective evaluations, looking for themes such as communication, teamwork, and professionalism. We will also perform statistical analysis on their standardized SHELF exam scores from six core rotations: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Results
By examining both clinical evaluations and standardized examination scores, we aim to identify trends, such as improved communication, professionalism, or adaptability, that might contribute to higher clinical evaluation scores and stronger SHELF exam performance across clerkships. Evaluation of both objective and subjective data will help us develop a thorough understanding of the findings.

Conclusion
The results from this study could help pre-medical students choose jobs that teach valuable skills for clerkships and give admissions committees a better understanding of how different work experiences prepare students for clinical success.