Practice compassion while applying science to real-world scenarios. Explore the health professions with individualized support for your pre-health or healthcare career.
Victoria Black Horse BA '13 committed her medical studies to give back to the Native American community by providing healthcare and acting as an example for future generations. Her involvement began while at Willamette as she tutored students at the Chemawa Indian School as part of one of her classes.
Victoria credits the environment and opportunities at Willamette with preparing her for medical school. Small class sizes allowed her to receive valuable personalized mentorship and courses in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and biostatistics equipped her with the foundational knowledge she needed to continue her studies.
Our health professions alumni have been at the forefront of innovation. From designing customized anesthetics to providing healthcare to Native American communities, our graduates are making an impact. Learn about their roles in different health profession fields.
Making an Impact on the Individual and Policy Level
Anna Ayala ‘19 collaborated with chemistry professor Sarah Kirk to develop local anesthetics for surgery patients. Anna also co-authored a study that was published in a neuroscience journal.
Willamette offers small class sizes. Not only will you work closely with professors, but you'll often build knowledge through individual health professions advising opportunities. Work on undergraduate research with leading scholars and teachers committed to your professional development.
Claire Hoffman (WU’12) is the FamilyCare Pre-Health Director in Career Services and acts as the central contact for students interested in pursuing Health Professions careers at Willamette.
Professor Battle is a co-chair of the Health Professions Advising Committee, and teaches courses in organic chemistry and biochemistry in addition to the Perspectives in Health Careers series.
Professor Duncan is a co-chair of the Health Professions Advising Committee, and teaches courses in developmental biology and genetics in addition to the Perspectives in Health Careers series.
Collaborate on research, pursue your interests in and out of the classroom, and prepare for a career in the health professions. We offer specialized courses to help you study your passions. Consider taking classes like Anatomy & Physiology, Gene Structure & Function, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Biochemistry & Epidemiology to advance your skills. You can also utilize these specialty courses to fulfill graduate program requirements.
This course supports first-year and sophomore students exploring healthcare careers by offering professional preparation and career discernment. Through experiential opportunities, visiting speakers, and in-class exercises, students will build practical skills, cultural competence, and confidence for post-graduate success.
Explore diverse healthcare careers while gaining practical skills to prepare for your future. Build your network, sharpen your application materials, and get real-world insight from healthcare professionals. This course helps you navigate the path from student to healthcare professional with confidence.
Willamette offers generous financial aid packages for students pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. Students can also take advantage of several scholarship opportunities within the university. First-year students are eligible for several competitive scholarships including the Heatherington Public Health Scholarship and the STEM Scholarships. Additional scholarships are available to pre-health students after their first year at Willamette.
Willamette University