Clinical Neurosurgery Preceptorship

In partnership with Dr. Victoria A. Smith and Dr. Vernard S. Fennell, Soka University of America offers select students the opportunity to participate in a 10- to 12-week summer clinical / research preceptorship at Ochsner Medical Center in Louisiana, starting June 2nd, 2025. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain knowledge, skills, and experience beyond what they can acquire in a classroom setting and expand their professional networks. It also provides them a unique opportunity to contribute to biomedical research and direct patient care during their undergraduate studies.

Students have the choice to apply to one of two tracks: 1) Primary Care / Population Health or 2) Neurosurgery. Students in the Primary Care / Population Health track will spend two days a week learning from Dr. Smith in her primary care clinic and will work the remainder of their time on research and advocacy projects related to population health. Students in the Neurosurgery track will spend the summer rotating in the neurosurgery operating room, clinic, and neuroanatomy research laboratory gaining exposure to direct patient care and contributing to the department’s research.

Generous donor funding supports transportation and lodging for selected students.

Application links coming soon!