At Alma College, the Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC) is all about helping students crush their dreams of getting into healthcare-related graduate programs. This team of professors and staff from various disciplines and departments work together to make sure students don’t just finish their degree, but are also ready to take the next step toward a career in healthcare.
The committee is led by two faculty members: Associate Professor of Chemistry Nancy Dopke and Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology and Health Science Brianna Harfmann. Together, they lead the PHPC program that helps students with everything they need to succeed — no matter where they are in their journey.
When students are in a system where they’re receiving more than one person’s advice, Dopke and Harfmann say, they’ll have a wider range of perspectives to consider. When faculty members from different disciplines and staff from various departments are involved, those perspectives are even more relevant.
Here’s how the PHPC can help you:
Advising: If you’re thinking about going into a healthcare career, you can get personalized advice from a team of people, not just one advisor. This means you’ll have a strong support system helping you make smart decisions about your classes, career and goals.
Workshops: The committee offers many workshops to help you with study strategies, preparing for grad school applications, and understanding what it takes to get into a healthcare-related graduate program. Whether you’re a first-year student or a senior, you’ll get all the advice you need, at just the right time.
Application Help: When it’s time to apply for grad school, the committee will help you put together a killer application. They’ll write letters of evaluation and work with other professors or staff you know (like your coach or a performing arts instructor) to make sure your application really stands out.
The PHPC also hosts alumni panel discussions, giving you the opportunity to meet people who have been through similar situations — and are working in positions you might like to do yourself.
Even though the committee is still pretty new, the feedback so far has been really positive. Dopke and Harfmann are excited to see how it helps students grow and prepare for the tough process of applying to grad school. They believe that by giving students the tools, support, and advice they need from day one, they’re setting them up to succeed and stand out when it’s time to apply.
For more information on how Alma College’s faculty and staff help prepare you for what comes next, visit alma.edu/academics or email prehealth@alma.edu.