Is helping others a central motivation in your life? Do you have a strong desire and the enthusiasm to make a difference in your chosen profession? Do you have what it takes to become a physician, dentist, physical therapist or veterinarian? Qualities like maturity, stability, integrity, responsibility and trustworthiness are necessary to succeed in these highly competitive fields.
Elon’s health professions program is designed to prepare students for entry into a variety of health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, podiatry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant and medical technology.
“Elon's focus on engaged learning allowed me to gain exposure to most aspects of scientific research, and I had many opportunities to participate in community service, leadership and athletics. Most importantly, my close interactions with faculty enhanced my education.”
Geoffrey Lynn ’07
NIH Oxford/Cambridge Scholar
Health professions students may choose any major but should meet with a health professions advisor for assistance in planning a course of study as soon as possible. You should anticipate taking introductory biology or physics as well as chemistry courses your first semester.
Students should select a major and obtain an undergraduate degree in an area that is of greatest interest to them, keeping in mind that the minimum requirements for individual professional schools must be met. Although a science major may not be required for most health professions, typical minimum entrance requirements for medical, dental and related schools include two semesters each (eight semester hours) of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and mathematics (may require calculus).
In addition to the excellent preparation for admission to professional schools of all kinds, Elon offers a bachelor of science in medical technology. It requires three years at Elon (40-44 semester hours of coursework) and a 12-month clinical experience at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (competitive admission).
At Elon, classes are small and the low student-faculty ratio means that students enjoy significant individual attention and build close working relationships with their professors. Faculty are closely involved with student research as well as their own research. They provide close supervision and advice for students interested in health professions.
Dr. Robert Vick, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Tonya Train, assistant professor of biology, are members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and regularly attend national, regional and state meetings of the organization.
Elon’s Health Professions Committee is designed to guide and advise students who have an interest in pursuing a variety of health professions. The committee is composed of faculty members with a background or interest in one or more of the health professions, as well as local health providers. In addition, the committee has two alumni associated with medical schools. Dr. William Herbert, William Norman Thornton Professor and Chair of Obstetrics at the University of Virginia, and Dr. Jesse H. Meredith, Professor Emeritus of Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, are available along with local health professionals to provide advice and assist with evaluation of those students requiring a committee letter.
Health professions students have many opportunities to gain valuable experience through service learning, internships and study abroad. Contacts are made on campus, locally or through hometown health professionals. Opportunities include volunteering or working at local clinics; the Elon Physician Student Program, a mentoring network of local physicians; serving as a pharmacy technician; and working with Habitat for Humanity and the Kernodle Center for Service-Learning. Health professions students are encouraged to pursue research projects and present their findings at institutional, regional and national conferences, such as Elon’s annual Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Students can join the Lincoln Health Professions Society (named for a pathologist benefactor) in order to meet other students interested in a variety of health professions. Society members benefit from visits by representatives of various health profession programs; trips to local medical schools; practice Medical College Admissions Tests (MCAT) and assistance preparing for other professional tests; current information about application processes; assistance with internships; and enhancement of interview and essay writing skills.
As a health professions student, you will spend plenty of time in the $18 million McMichael Science Center, which provides access to a stunning array of the latest technologies and equipment, including a fully equipped cadaver lab and physiology labs. In addition, you will have access to books, brochures, catalogs, video and CD-ROM resources about health professions programs to help you choose your next step.
Students interested in the health professions program may qualify for the Elon College Fellows or Honors Fellows programs. These programs offer scholarship support, study abroad grants, special courses and other unique benefits. Visit the Elon Fellows programs Website for more information.
In addition, two Jane M. Baird Scholarships of $3,000 are awarded to incoming freshmen to the health professions program, and the Lincoln and Edmonds scholarships are awarded to continuing students.
Admission to programs in the health professions is highly competitive. Success involves being committed to your career goals and:
Recent Elon graduates have gained admission to medical programs at the following schools:
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