The Dolhun Clinic Pre-Medical Internship is a highly selective, paid, gap year program. Since 2005, the internship program has been an integral part of The Dolhun Clinic, a private practice located in the heart of San Francisco.
The Clinic’s high-touch and individualized philosophy creates an ideal environment for a hands-on, team based, pre-medical internship. This unique setting is grounded in real-time clinical care that encourages direct participation and scholarly activity.
Graduates of this program have gone into a variety of specialties including family medicine, sports medicine, pediatrics, and infectious disease.
Our Mission.
To prepare exceptional individuals for the professional and personal challenges of being a physician.
The Internship seeks to encourage:
Wisdom
Leadership
Scholarship
Through this rigorous program, interns will be expected to:
Work directly with patients on a daily basis.
Gain the knowledge and ability to operate a private medical practice.
Participate in medical humanitarian work both locally and internationally.
Shadow specialists in various fields of medicine.
Submit for publication in at least one peer-reviewed medical, academic, or literary journal.
A successful candidate will demonstrate:
Curiosity
Compassion
Critical Thinking
Professionalism
Humility
Teamwork
Self-directed learning
Past interns*
Joel Kopcow
Intern from 2022 to 2023.
Joel began his internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at San Diego State University. During his time at SDSU, Joel participated in stem cell research, hospice care, and caregiving. He also served on the board of the international humanitarian organization MedLife to provide medical care to impoverished communities in San Diego, Tijuana, and Peru.
In his free time, Joel enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, and traveling.
Gabrielle Mouritzen
Intern from 2022 to 2023.
Gabrielle began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin. As an undergraduate student Gabrielle was a peer tutor and volunteered at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas. She is also involved with Doctors Outreach and DripDrop Hydration.
Gabrielle enjoys exercising, reading, and exploring San Francisco.
Kate Brickner
Intern from 2021 to 2022.
Kate began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. During her time at WashU, she helped lead Girls Who Code clubs at local middle schools and studied abroad on a Medical Practice and Policy program in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kate is attending the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine.
Kate enjoys playing golf, cooking meals with friends and family, exploring different coffee shops, and spending time outdoors.
Daniel Alexander
Intern from 2020 to 2021.
Daniel began his internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing his Bachelor's Degree in Biology at Carleton College. At Carleton, he was the captain of the lacrosse team and worked as a sports medicine assistant for the football and basketball teams.
Daniel enjoys photography, music, and spending time with friends.
Eyrica Sumida
Intern from 2020 to 2021.
Eyrica began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular, Developmental, and Cellular Biology at Yale University. At Yale, she was a Peer Liaison for the Asian American Cultural Center and a Peer Mentor for students in her major.
Eyrica is attending the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Eyrica enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and trying new food.
Olivia Zyniewicz
Intern from 2020 to 2021.
Olivia began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at the University of Notre Dame. At the University of Notre Dame, she pursued pre-medical studies in Puebla, Mexico and was co-founder of the Brainy Bunch Project teaching neuroscience to grade school students in the local community.
She is attending the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Olivia enjoys drawing, powerlifting, and learning to cook vegetarian meals.
Marisol Tracy
Intern from 2019 to 2020.
Marisol began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, she was a member of the varsity volleyball team and an active member of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Marisol is attending the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Marisol enjoys being outside, running, and spending time with family.
Mercedes Valacer
Intern from 2019 to 2020.
Mercedes began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Sciences at Marquette University. At Marquette, she was a coxswain on the men’s varsity rowing team. Additionally, she was co-president of Global Brigades, an international movement of university students working to improve health conditions in the developing world. Mercedes traveled to Malawi and South Africa with Dr. Dolhun in 2019 on a DripDrop Hydration Missions.
Mercedes is attending Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mercedes enjoys running, cooking, and reading.
Emilie Biondi
Intern from 2018 to 2019.
Emilie began her internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, she was the President and Founder of The Book Club of Berkeley.
Emilie is currently working as a phlebotomist before applying to medical school. She has a keen interest in forensic pathology and hopes to become a medical examiner.
Emilie enjoys drawing and writing poetry.
Tyler Kirchberg
Intern from 2018 to 2019.
Tyler began his internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing his Bachelor's Degree in Biology at Brown University. At Brown, he was a member of the men's water polo team for four years and was named an ACWPC (Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches) All-American.
Tyler is attending the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Tyler enjoys swimming, skiing, mountain biking, cooking, and reading.
Lucas Weiser, MD
Intern from 2017 to 2018.
Lucas began his internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing his Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry at Brown University. At Brown, he was a member of the men's water polo team for four years and was named player of the year for the Northeast Division.
Dr. Weiser received his medical degree from the UCSF Medical School. He is currently completing his residency in General Surgery at Cedars Sinai.
Lucas enjoys playing guitar and exploring San Francisco.
Andrew Antes, MD, MS
Intern from 2015 to 2018.
Andrew began his internship with the Dolhun Clinic after completing his Bachelor's Degree in Biology at the University of San Francisco. During his internship, he participated in humanitarian trips to Ecuador and Greece and published a case study with Dr. Dolhun in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Andrew completed a dual-degree program at the Tulane University School of Medicine, simultaneously completing a Medical Degree and Master’s in Surgical Anatomy. He is now a resident physician at the Dignity Methodist Family Medicine Residency Program
Andrew enjoys writing, sketching, and cross stitch.
Jean Pierre Valette, MD
Dr. Valette graduated from the Dolhun Clinic Internship in 2012.
JP graduated Wesleyan University in 2010 and was a member of the swimming and diving team.
Dr. Valette received his medical degree at UC San Diego. JP completed a Family Medicine Residency at UC San Diego and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University.
Dr. Valette currently practices Family Medicine in San Francisco.
Angela Venturelli, MD
Dr. Venturelli graduated from the Dolhun Clinic Internship in 2006.
She received her medical degree from UC Davis Medical School, completed her Pediatrics Residency at the Oakland Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Venturelli is a practicing Pediatrician in Oakland, California.
Justin Conway, MD
Dr. Conway graduated from the Dolhun Clinic Internship in 2008.
Justin graduated from Princeton University and was a member of the Basketball team, where he was named to the first-team ESPN academic all-district team. Justin received his medical degree at the University of Michigan, and completed his residency in Primary Care Sports Medicine at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey.
Dr. Conway practices Primary Care Sports Medicine and Sports Medicine in New York.
Jenny Aronson, MD
Dr. Aronson graduated from the Dolhun Clinic Internship in 2006.
She received her medical degree from New York Medical College and completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
Dr. Aronson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Disease at Stanford University.