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Health Professions Brochure

Advisor: Dr. Hugo Lane
Phone: (336) 758-5572
Fax: (336) 758-6008
E-mail: lane@wfu.edu

All student's with an interest in the health professions have available to them a number of programs that enhance their chance for a successful four years at Wake Forest and a positive outcome in choosing one of the health professions for a career.

Freshman and transfer students are strongly encouraged to enroll at the time of orientation into the Health Professions Program. Students choosing a medical career at a later date may enroll when they have made that decision.

The University assigns all students a lower division advisor. Additionally, all pre-health professions students will have the health professions advisors available to them upon entry to the program (Dr. Lane for those interested in dentistry, medicine, optometry, podiatry and veterinary medicine; Dr. Miller for those interested in the allied health professions – nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical therapy, public health, pharmacy). Later, when students declare a major during the second sophomore semester, they will substitute their lower division advisor for one in the department of their major, yet will continue to have available to them the health professions advisors.

Goals of the Program

1. To enhance academic performance of those students interested in the health professions
2. To enhance personal qualities, such as leadership, altruism, judgment and caring for others
3. To increase understanding of the health professions and the life of their practitioners
4. To facilitate the selection of a medical career and the graduate programs best suited for it
5. To leave Wake Forest as a liberally-trained health career student, living our motto, "Pro Humanitate", to its fullest

Tracking

The Director of the Health Professions Program (Dr. Lane) encourages all freshmen pre-health professions students in the program to visit with the health professions advisors (Dr. Lane and Dr. Miller) to discuss academic and other problems. Those students who appear to be in difficulty are invited to visit the advisors to review academic progress and options open to them.

Group and individual self-assessment meetings are organized to take stock of progress toward a student’s career goal. Sophomores and Juniors have separate group sessions, followed by individual counseling. Seniors may wish to take advantage of an individual self-assessment with the advisor if the application to health professions school is unsuccessful.

Many medical schools expect a composite letter of evaluation to accompany the student's application. The Health Professions Committee, chaired by Dr. Lane (who is a non-voting member) reviews the folders of all those students (mostly juniors and some seniors) who solicit a composite letter of recommendation from it. A level of support for each student is determined and the student made aware of it. The Committee letter, written by the chair of the committee, and three faculty letters solicited by an applicant, are sent to the medical schools chosen by the applicant.

Enhancing Academic Performance

A study skills seminar is given in the first week of classes in the fall semester to ensure that all pre-health professions students are up to speed on the most efficient ways to take notes, study for and take exams, and analyze exams to diagnose problems in academic performance.

Trained tutors in the natural science courses are available through the Learning Assistance Center (LAC). Freshmen should especially consider making use of this resource.

Advice in course selection and timing and in choosing a major is important in doing well in class. So is being aware of the 190 courses from 25 departments and programs that could be of interest to the pre-health professions student. Both enjoyment and motivation are important in excelling in course work.

Enhancing Information-Gathering

• Students are encouraged to explore career options and procedures using the large number of web sites attached to this home page
• Seminars are given on financial aid, interviewing strategies, and the application process for, and selection of, medical schools
• A day and a half-long workshop on the skills and strategies tested on MCAT, with practice questions, is organized for juniors
• Lectures devoted to specialties in the health professions are given by experts in their field
• Panels of medical and allied health students are presented to discuss life in post graduate programs
• The Allied Health Student Association, the Veterinary Student Association and the Dental Student Association are useful interest groups that share specialized information and activities
• Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), the premedical honor society, has numerous events, including lectures, visits to medical schools, research workshops and field trips, available to all students
• Hands-on relations with health professionals is strongly encouraged, and can be developed through information provided in the Health Professions Partners Program database held in the Career Services Office
• Preceptorship Program (a shadowing program) in conjunction with Wake Forest University School of Medicine clinicians on the Bowman Gray campus (see Dr. Lane).

Interpersonal Skills Development

Students are encouraged to join honor, service and social organizations to develop leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in a group environment.

Those interested in research may wish to undertake a project within the science departments and the basic science laboratories at the medical school on the Bowman Gray campus.

Numerous volunteer possibilities exist, including hospitals, clinics, shelters, private doctor's offices, tutoring of children, etc. Students can develop practical knowledge of various health professions through the experiences. These activities help to sharpen altruistic and affective skills that are necessary in the health professions.

Support

The health professions advisor is easily reached. Call ext. 5572 and leave a voice mail message, or e-mail him (lane@wfu.edu). Drop by his office, 14 Winston Hall.

Seniors who have done exceptionally well on MCAT are available to help juniors who are preparing MCAT.

Mock interviews, tailored to the health professions, are available through the Career Services Office

The Health Professions Committee, composed of eight faculty, functions to evaluate the folder of each student in the program who requests a composite letter of recommendation from it. These faculty members are an excellent resource for advice.

All Wake Forest students are encouraged to use the Career Services Office, the University Counseling Center, and the Learning Assistance Center. All these have links to the program and are located in Reynolda Hall. Please contact Dr. Lane for more information.

Calendar

August

• Orientation (mandatory meeting of all new pre-health professions students)
• Health Professions Committee meetings (evaluation of seniors/juniors applying to medical school)
• Mentor Program begins (Match of upperclassmen to new students)
• Medical School Student mentoring program (WFU medical student mentors for any pre-medical student)

September

• Study Skills seminar (new students)
• Self-assessment meeting for sophomores
• Self-Assessment meeting for juniors
• Volunteer Forum (open to all students)
• Preceptorship Program begins (open to all students throughout the year, including vacations)
• Interviewing Skills Seminar (seniors)
• Financial aid panel (seniors)

November

• Health Careers panel 2 (open to all students)

January

• Pick up Health Professions Committee packets (juniors and some seniors)
• Essay writing workshop (juniors and seniors)

April

• Medical School Application seminar (juniors and some seniors)

Regularly in both semesters: Admissions officers from allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, dental schools, and from representatives of Optometry. Podiatry and Veterinary programs

Occasionally, in both semesters, specialty speakers, panels of medical students, and panels of upperclassmen

Student organizations for pre-health professions students

• Alpha Epsilon Delta, Pre-Medical Honor Society (AED)
• The Allied Health Students Association (AHSA)
• American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
• Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)
• Helping Overcome Physical Expectations (HOPE)
• Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS)
• Pre-Dental Student Association (PDSA) meet four or five times a semester
• Pre-veterinary Student Association (PVSA)
• Wake Forest University First Response Team (WFUFRT)

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