Become a standardized patient at the University of Alberta
Get paid to act out medical scenarios and help train future health-care professionals.
The University of Alberta Health Sciences Education and Research Commons is seeking applicants for our Standardized Patient Program.
What is a standardized patient?
A standardized patient is a healthy individual trained to play the part of a patient. As a standardized patient, you’ll bring a patient’s medical history, physical symptoms, and emotional characteristics to life, providing a consistent and realistic learning experience for future health-care professionals. You’ll act out medical scenarios, from routine checkups to complex emergency situations, allowing students to practice and hone their clinical skills in a controlled environment.
Why use standardized patients?
Standardized patients play an important role in medical training. While real patients can be unpredictable and have varying symptoms, trained standardized patients deliver the same scenario each time in a reliable and controlled environment, making sure each learner encounters the same, consistent patient experience. Plus, it gives students a safe space to learn and make mistakes while minimizing risks to real patients.
Why become a standardized patient?
- Get paid: You’ll be paid for your hours training and acting out scenarios.
- Flexible schedule: Only apply for bookings you’re available for.
- Skill development: Gain valuable communication and interpersonal skills.
- Make a difference: Play a vital role in training future health-care professionals, helping them develop empathy, diagnostic skills, and patient interaction techniques.
- Personal growth: Many standardized patients find the experience enriching and some even pursue careers in the health-care field.
What we’re looking for
- No acting experience necessary: Regular people of all kinds can be a standardized patient.
- Reliability and punctuality: Be on time, every time. Your consistency is key to providing a stable learning environment.
- Professionalism: An ability to work respectfully and professionally with students, faculty and peers.
- Strong communication skills: Comfortable providing feedback and interacting with learners of all skill levels.
- Commitment to education: A genuine interest in contributing to the education of health-care professionals.
- 18+: All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
How to apply
Interested in becoming a standardized patient? We’re always looking for people of all ages and from all walks of life. Just fill out and submit our online application form at the bottom. Once we get your application, you’ll be invited to our next round of auditions.
Join our team
By becoming a standardized patient at the University of Alberta, you’re helping shape the future of health-care. This role helps students get the best training possible, developing a new generation of skilled, empathetic health-care professionals.
Ready to make a real difference? Join the Standardized Patient Program!
Apply now