Health Sciences Pre-Professional Program

If you aspire to a career as a physician, physician’s assistant, dentist, optometrist, veterinarian or other health professional, Wilkes University’s Health Sciences Pre-Professional Program can provide the guidance and experiences you need to advance, no matter your academic major.

Program Snapshot

Program Type Format
Advising Program On Campus

Why Study at Wilkes?

Hands-on research, personalized attention and tailored advising for health sciences students prepare you for the competitive application process and rigors of medical, dental and other professional schools.

Wilkes University has a long tradition of educating students who become health care professionals in a variety of community settings. Our strengths in the sciences and the humanities can make you a competitive candidate for professional schools.

The Health Sciences Program at Wilkes offers you a broad choice professions:

More than 90% of students who have strong academic and service records, complete the premedical core, and receive letters of evaluation from the Health Sciences Committee, are accepted into professional schools.

What Will You Gain?

  • You’ll access a team of individuals to help you design your course schedule each semester and guide you through the process of professional school searches, requirements, study guides and admissions exams. This is in addition to your faculty advisor in your academic major.
  • Shadow health care professionals beginning in your freshman year, allowing you to gain health care insight outside the classroom.
  • You’ll be encouraged to participate in poster presentations at regional and national conferences, giving you the unique opportunity to earn publishing credit as an undergraduate student.
  • As a member of the Pre-Professional Society of the College of Science and Engineering, you’ll gain professional development to foster success; this includes biannual seminars to assist with resume preparation, personal statement development, and application preparation.
  • Benefit from connections with organizations offering diverse community service opportunities that not allow you to serve those in need, but will also help improve interpersonal skills and gain experience that will assist in the preparation for professional school and your career.
  • Take part in networking opportunities with professional schools at the annual Professional/Graduate School Fair.
  • Get to know mentors, including students from Wilkes and affiliated professional schools.

Program Highlights

Full-Time Advisor

Our full-time director of the Center for Health Sciences and Student Success is dedicated to advising pre-professional students to help prepare them for medical school or advanced study in other health professions.

Guthrie Scholars Program

A unique partnership with Guthrie Health System’s Robert Packer Hospital provides opportunity for a semester-long clinical experience, which includes clinical research, shadowing, surgery observation, access to the skills lab, and a ride on a medical helicopter.

Guthrie Scholars Program

Special Admissions Programs

Affiliations with several Pennsylvania professional schools give qualified Wilkes students access to early admission, interview assurance and accelerated programs in medicine, optometry, podiatry and physical therapy.

90%

of students who apply to medical and other health professions schools are accepted to at least one school

Up to 4

students participate in a clinical experience at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital each semester

3+4

accelerated programs with affiliated schools can shorten the time to your career

Wilkes University Guthrie Scholars Present Research

Four Wilkes University seniors presented their research as part of the Guthrie Scholars program. The presentation concludes the Guthrie clinical semester.

Read the Story

Careers & Outcomes

Students enrolled in pre-health programs at Wilkes University have recently been accepted to professional and graduate schools such as:

  • Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • Penn State College of Medicine
  • Pennsylvania Hospital Medical Laboratory Science Program
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Salus University
  • Stony Brook University
  • Temple University
  • Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
  • Thomas Jefferson University College of Biomedical Science
  • University of Maryland School of Dentistry
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
  • Wesley College

Wilkes is a great place for pre-med students. We receive so much attention, especially with the Guthrie (Scholars) program. It makes it unique to our program and the student unique as well.

Zoya Rahman '19 - Biology/Pre-Medicine

Additional Information

Learn more about the Health Science Program and the Center for Health Sciences and Student Success.

Contacts:

Connie Dombroski, MS
Director, Center for Health Sciences and Student Success
570-408-4823
Gennie Singer
Health Sciences Administrative Assistant
570-408-4750