A pre-health student is one who plans to attend a health professional school following graduation. Health professional schools include those offering programs in such areas as:
Allopathic (M.D.) medicine is the tradition of healing and surgery reaching back to the scientific and medical tradition of Hippocrates, including medications, therapies, and surgery.
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- American Medical Association
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- Medical School Admission Requirements
Cost to Apply and Attend Medical School
How much does it cost to apply and attend medical school? The AAMC has published some interesting data about that question. You can find financial resources about paying for medical school at the AAMC website. An article about the costs for applying to medical school can also be found at the AAMC website.
Dentistry begins with the health of teeth and gums, but it is a rapidly changing field extending well beyond "fill or pull." For the general practitioner, basic dentistry includes diagnosis and treatments of diseases of the teeth, mouth and jaw, and often the recognition of symptoms of other diseases (cancer, hypertension, etc.) and public education and prevention. Dental specialties include areas of aesthetic improvements, such as orthodontics, and various areas of surgical restoration, such as maxillofacial surgery.
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Occupational Therapy is described as helping people of all ages to attain and maintain wellness. Occupational therapists help those who are disabled, those who have a chronic health condition, and those who are physically "well" to identify and function at their best and most satisfying level. After some years of practice experience and development of expertise, many OT's go into private practice, develop a consulting business, are hired as advisors, and/or become involved in policy development.
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Doctors of optometry are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. Optometrists examine the internal and external structure of the eyes to diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal disorders; systemic diseases like hypertension and diabetes; and vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
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Osteopathic (D.O.) medicine is distinctive in that it was founded on the concept of wellness based on the healthy interrelationship of all body systems. While it also uses the standard medical treatments, manipulative treatment is included in the training. In most regions of the USA, allopathic practice is indistinguishable from osteopathic practice, with similar internships and residencies. Osteopathy has a greater emphasis on primary care, while a higher percentage of allopaths complete specialties or participate in research.
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- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
- American Osteopathic Association
- Brief Guide to Osteopathic Medicine (written by students for students, from AACOM)
- Osteopathic Medical Student Profiles (Excellent resource that describes the lives and paths of a number of osteopathic medical students)
- Osteopathic Medical College Information Book
Pharmacy is a licensed health profession in which pharmacists provide information regarding medication to consumers and health care professionals. Pharmacists are "medication experts," concerned with disease state management and safeguarding the public's health in matters relating to medication distribution and use.
While responsibilities vary among the different areas of pharmacy practice, the bottom line is that pharmacists help patients get well. Pharmacist responsibilities include a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring patient health and progress to maximize their response to the medication. Pharmacists also educate consumers and patients on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and advise physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on drug decisions. Pharmacists also provide expertise about the composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties and their manufacture and use. They ensure drug purity and strength and make sure that drugs do not interact in a harmful way. Pharmacists are drug experts ultimately concerned about their patients' health and wellness.
*All of the above information was taken from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy website.
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A Physical Therapist (PT) is a health professional who promotes optimal human health and function through application of measures to prevent, to identify, to correct, and to alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction. The PT tests, evaluates, and treats malfunctions in musculoskeletal and other related systems caused by illness or injury.
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The Physician Assistant (PA) is a health care professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs typically conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions.
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A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is to the foot what a dentist is to the mouth-a doctor specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury, disease, or deformities; prescribing medication, providing corrective mechanical devices, and performing surgery.
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Veterinarians exam, diagnose, and treat animals. Just as with medical doctors, veterinarians can specialize in areas such as neurosurgery or research, or by size or type of animal.
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- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
- University of Pennsylvania VMD-PhD Program (Veterinary / PhD)
- Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements
Alternate Careers
Beyond the “typical” careers in the health professions (medical school, dental school, physical therapy school, etc.), there are numerous other careers in the health professions that you might consider: Emergency Medical Technician, Genetic Counselor, Speech-Language Pathologist, Nutritionist, Nurse, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, etc. Explore more Pre-Health Professions that we have compiled.
You can investigate even more health profession careers at ExploreHealthCareers.org.
Another option is to consider a career in Public Health, “protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of health lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention.” There are also numerous career options in Health Care Policy, including a program in Health Care Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.