Pre-health professions advising

Your path to a career in healthcare starts here

Whether you're interested in becoming a doctor, dentist, physical therapist, nurse, public health professional or another type of healthcare provider, our Pre-Health Professions Program is your support system every step of the way.

"Pre-health" isn’t a major — it’s an academic, non-curricular support track designed to complement any degree program while preparing you for admission to health professions graduate schools. Through personalized advising, experiential learning opportunities and entrance exam preparation, we’ll help you build the skills and credentials you need to stand out as an applicant for the healthcare graduate program of your choice.

We support students pursuing a wide range of healthcare careers, including:

  • Medicine (M.D., D.O.)
  • Dentistry
  • Nursing
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physician assistant (PA)
  • Public health
  • Audiology and speech-language pathology
  • Dietetics
  • Pharmacy
  • Optometry
  • Chiropractic
  • Medical laboratory science
  • Podiatry
  • Human performance
  • Athletic training
  • Applied psychology 
Students working in the Polymorphic Games Studio.

Explore undergraduate degrees at U of I

Find a major you love and build a strong foundation for your future in healthcare.

Find your degree

How the Pre-Health Professions Program works

No matter your major, you can join the Pre-Health Professions Program to complement your degree and enhance your preparation for healthcare graduate programs.

Here’s how it works:

  • Choose any major you enjoy — professional schools care more about your GPA, prerequisites and non-curriculum experiences than your specific major.
  • Meet with a pre-health advisor every semester to stay on track.
    • Students interested in a healthcare career have at least two advisors: an academic advisor (primary), who ensures you meet U of I graduation requirements, and a pre-health advisor (secondary), who helps you become a competitive candidate for healthcare professional graduate programs
  • Get involved in pre-health workshops and events.
  • Collaborate with other students and connect with peers who share your career goals through pre-health clubs and the Pre-Health Peer Mentor Program. Consider living with other pre-health students in the Pre-Health Living-Learning Community (Wallace, Gooding Wing).
  • Gain non-curriculum learning experiences through shadowing, patient exposure, volunteering and leadership opportunities.

We also offer a Pre-Health Professions Studies Minor, which includes common prerequisite coursework for many healthcare professions programs.

Get involved and build experience in pre-health professions

We offer a variety of engagement opportunities to help you connect with peers, mentors and healthcare professionals.

Peer mentoring

Get matched with an experienced pre-health student through our Pre-Health Peer Mentoring Program. Mentors offer guidance on everything from academics to finding job shadowing and patient exposure experiences.

Pre-health student organizations

Food and Nutrition Club: Join a community of students passionate about nutrition, wellness and healthy living through events, service and campus activities.

Global Medical Brigade (GMB) Club: Provide local and global career, volunteer and social opportunities for students interested in the pre-health field.

POTATO Club: Explore physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training careers with support from peers and local practitioners.

Pre-Dental Club: Foster student success in dental careers by providing educational events and facilitating community service opportunities.

Pre-Med/Pre-PA Club: Support students pursuing careers in medicine or as physician assistants by hosting presentations from healthcare professionals, organizing volunteer opportunities and connecting members with resources to strengthen their graduate school applications.

Pre-Pharmacy Club: Connect with fellow students passionate about pharmacy, discover opportunities in the field and build a supportive community as you work toward your career goals.

Pre-Public Health: Engage with students dedicated to improving community health, explore diverse career paths, and gain insights into the field of public health.

Participate in pre-health events

Connect with other pre-health professions students and current healthcare professionals at Pre-Health Program events.

Doc for a Day workshops take place at the D.A. Huckabay M.D. Medical Education Building (formerly the WWAMI building). Idaho WWAMI medical students volunteer and introduce skills such as ultrasound, suturing and physical exam basics to regional students in grades 8-12.

U of I’s School of Health and Medical Professions

Advance your professional career with University of Idaho’s medical programs available through our School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP). 

Get to know SHAMP

Connect with a pre-health advisor

Ready to learn more? We’re here to support you. Contact our pre-health advisors to:

  • Review U of I’s relevant degree options
  • Explore your healthcare career path
  • Get answers to your specific questions
  • Start building your pre-health plan today

Natalie Burden, MAPC
Pre-Health Professions Program Coordinator
ISUB 304
208-885-1237
nburden@uidaho.edu

Schedule with Natalie.

Aubrey Shaw, Ph.D.
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
Aubrey Shaw
ISUB 303
208-885-1238
ashaw@uidaho.edu

Schedule with Aubrey.