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Health Professions

Practice compassion while applying science to real-world scenarios. Explore the health professions with individualized support for your pre-health or healthcare career.

Program Snapshot

Salem Campus

A student wearing goggles and writing on a white board in a chemistry lab.

Our Pre-Health Program

Become a strong candidate for graduate and professional programs (including medicine, physical therapy, dentistry and nursing) or prepare to go directly into a career in a wide variety of health professions while embracing a liberal arts education. Gain highly valuable skills that can be applied to any career in the health professions. Take courses in biology, chemistry, public health, exercise and health science, physics, and psychology to develop a wide skillset. Pre-health students can take advantage of collaborative research opportunities, pre-health events, and impactful student organizations. 

Why Choose Pre-Health at Willamette?

  • Dedicated support all around. Willamette offers a committee of advisors, each specializing in particular career paths in the health professions. Receive advice from faculty members and staff who know the industry and can provide application support. Work with them and discuss the realities of a career in your chosen field.
  • Learning outside the classroom. Join student organizations like the Health Professions Club, Willamette Emergency Medical Services (WEMS), and service clubs like Burning Bright. Connect with other students and gain valuable exposure and experience.
  • A close relationship with professors. Willamette offers small class sizes. Not only will you work closely with professors, but you'll learn from them through mentorship. You’ll have the opportunity to work with faculty members on research projects and collaborate in independent research.

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Alumni Stories

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.

  • Anna Ayala ‘19

    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.

    Anna Ayala working in a lab.
  • Victoria Black Horse smiling at the camera while in a science lab.

    Victoria Black Horse ‘13

    Building a Bridge to a Healthier Future
    As a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Victoria Black Horse ‘13 has mentored Native American students and worked on a nearby reservation assisting a family medicine physician.

Health Professions Faculty & Advisors

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

    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.

    Headshot of Claire Hoffman
  • Cooper Battle

    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.

    Cooper Battle
  • Jason Duncan

    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.

    Headshot of Jason Duncan

Curriculum

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.

  • IDS 180 Perspectives in Health Careers I

    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.

  • IDS 380 Perspectives in Health Careers II

    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.

Scholarship & Financial Aid

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.

A professor next to a student who is on an exam table in the front of a classroom.

FAQs

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Health Professions