Planning First Steps

Health Career Advisors and Staff

The advising of students seeking eventual admission to graduate work in health-related fields is conducted by the Coordinator of the Health Professions Advisory Committee. Members of this committee are:

• Brittany M. Carr
  Coordinator, Health Professions Advisory Committee
  Assistant Director, Pre-Health Professions, Career and Professional Development
  Office: Elrod 306; Phone 4151; bcarr@wlu.edu 

• Dr. Lisa T. Alty
  Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Advisory Committee
  John T. Herwick, M.D. Professor of Chemistry
  Office: Tucker Hall, Room 020; Phone 8927; altyl@wlu.edu

• Dr. Erich S. Uffelman
  Professor of Chemistry
  Office: Science Center, Room A427; Phone 8040; uffelmane@wlu.edu

• Dr. Paul R. Cabe
  Professor of Biology
  Office: Science Center, Room H303; Phone 8894; cabep@wlu.edu

• Dr. Matthew F. Tuchler
  Associate Professor of Chemistry
  Office: Science Center, Room A327; Phone 8029; tuchlerm@wlu.edu

• Dr. Sarah N. Blythe
  Associate Professor of Biology
  Office: Parmly Hall, Room P301; Phone 8342; blythes@wlu.edu

*For current students: If your initial academic advisor is not a member of HPAC, to get started, schedule an appointment on Handshake with Brittany Carr.*

What Is Important?

• Test scores and GPA (overall and science) and the trends exhibited by those GPAs over time are all important. 
• Good time-management skills. Are you able to balance many competing deadlines, keep focused, and prioritize when necessary to complete tasks on time?
• Evidence of leadership. Are you able to demonstrate that you can lead a project or team?
• Exposure to healthcare-related environments. Do you have meaningful and sustained volunteer experience in a healthcare-related setting, such as a clinic, nursing home, or hospital?
• Exceptional communication skills. Are you articulate and able to communicate information clearly to people regardless of their backgrounds or experiences?
• Evidence of compassion and respect. Can you point to experiences that show you are empathetic and caring?
• Interpersonal skills. Can you demonstrate that you're able to work well in groups and teams?
• Interests outside of healthcare and personal background. What are your qualities, hobbies, passions, and other personal attributes that will contribute to the community of your goal school? How will you enrich its diversity?

Most professions require a minimum number of hours shadowing/working with a professional in that field. Please note that the number of hours is quite large for physician assistant programs, perhaps requiring a gap year working in a healthcare setting. Hours required for dental, veterinary, PT, pharmacy, and nursing programs may also be significant (200-400 hours).

There are a limited number of local doctors, dentists, veterinarians, etc. that have accommodated W&L students in the past, but you will most likely need to get additional hours during the summer. Please note, W&L does not have a formal shadowing program of any kind.