Pre-Health Advising
Pre-Health Advising is available to current students who are anticipating entering into professional health-related careers and post-baccalaureate programs (including those offered by JWU).
Our Mission
Pre-Health Advising at JWU provides interdisciplinary guidance and mentorship to all students of any major to foster successful trajectories towards a healthcare and public health career, including:
- A customized pre-health academic plan
- Hands-on experiential learning
- Interprofessional activities to help you explore health careers
- Opportunities to connect food and health directly through work with our College of Food Innovation & Technology
- Opportunities for health services, public health and scientific bench research
- Professional presentations and publications with faculty and other students
2 million Job openings annually*
13 of 20 Fastest-growing fields*
$253,470 Average allopathic physician salary*
*Stats from the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics health care data set.
Wide World of Health-Related Career Options
Did you know that our students have proudly continued their studies via graduate programs at JWU, Tufts, Northeastern, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Cornell University and more?
Our graduates have entered the workforce as research coordinators, data analysts, program implementation specialists, biologists, quality improvement administrators, policy analysts; we have grads serving in positions in state and local government and a range of private sector organizations.
Hear from JWU Students
Students from different programs share why they chose JWU’s programs, what they like best about them and what it’s like learning within a cohort model (being with the same small group of students for the entire program):
“I consider all my faculty to be mentors, but especially the ones I work with in clinical, because I get to watch and learn from them, then implement that into my own caregiving.” -Kaleigh Della Gratta '25 (ABSN)
“The professors don’t expect you to know everything, and they want to teach you. I also like them because they build a community around the program. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t approach any of them or any of my classmates for help.” -Ryan McNiece ’26 M.S. (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
“One of the main reasons I chose JWU was the faculty I met after being introduced to the school by a PT I worked with. She told me JWU was starting a program, and I might want to look into it. I hopped on a Zoom call with a faculty member, who answered all my questions and scheduled me for a tour. When I visited, I could see the excitement and it’s been the same energy since I got here.” -Abigail Griffin ’27 (DPT)
“I had the opportunity to work as a graduate assistant with Associate Professor Sara Namazi, and that opened doors for me. It’s provided me with a full-time position at UConn as a research assistant and the grant I received put me in the direction of pursuing a Ph.D. after earning my MPH.” -Kaitlyn Maggiore ’19, ’25 (MPH)
Options for JWU Study
Several of our health-related programs are offered as Combined Undergraduate/Graduate programs that allow you to dive right into your career path. If you qualify, you can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees on a continuous path by completing some of your core graduate courses as an undergraduate. The best part? You can complete both degrees in as little as five years, saving time and money.
LECOM Early Acceptance Program
JWU and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) have established an Early Acceptance Program (EAP) to facilitate entry to LECOM’s osteopathic, podiatric, dental and pharmacy programs for academically qualified undergraduate JWU students.
Join Pre-Health Student Clubs
JWU Charlotte and JWU Providence provide opportunities for pre-health students to get involved.
By joining a pre-health student club, students can build strong connections to industry, strengthen their networks, participate in events on and off campus, and learn from peers. Two such clubs are the Pre-Health Student Club and Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). You can also start your own health-related club.
What are some health professions JWU can support? JWU advising supports a wide range of health-related professions, including:
• Allopathic/Osteopathic Medicine, MD/DO MD: How to Prepare for Medical School
• Chiropractor: How to Become a Chiropractor
• Doctor Of Osteopathy: What Is a Doctor of Osteopathy?
• Dentistry: Preparing for Dental School
• Dietetic Technician, Registered: Become a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered
• Nursing/Midwifery: How to Become a Nurse
• Occupational Therapy: Considering Occupational Therapy as a Career
• Optometry: How to Become an Optician
• Genetic Counseling: How to Become a Genetic Counselor
• Pharmacy: Top Ten Reasons to Become a Pharmacist
• Physical Therapy: Becoming a PT
• Physician Assistant: What Is a PA?
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionists: Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
• Veterinary Medicine: How to Become a Veterinarian
How can I be successful in applying to graduate school programs? You will be assigned an academic advisor, a pre-professional advisor and a faculty mentor, who will work with you throughout your undergrad degree.
Once a path is identified, your advisors will provide a specific academic plan to keep you on track for satisfying the prerequisites for your chosen degree program.
You will also discuss ways to get involved, both on and off campus, to build experience that makes you competitive when applying to a graduate program. Once you are ready to apply, you will work with our experienced pre-health advising team to prepare the application, plan for the entrance exam (like the MCAT), review application materials (like resume and personal statement) and practice mock interviews.
Can I work right after I graduate? Yes, many of our bachelor’s degree students find jobs in health-related fields right from graduation. However, most clinical professions require an advanced degree coupled with certification and/or licensure. It is important to talk to your pre-health advisor about your career interests and discuss what the best path to that career might be.
Do I have to be a health science, biology or dietetics major to participate in pre-health advising or clubs? No, any JWU major can participate in health-focused clubs. If you are planning to apply to grad school, make sure that you are also on track for satisfying required prerequisites. Consulting with your academic and pre-health advisors is recommended so you can explore what major might be suitable with your interests and career trajectory.
What if I am interested in a profession that I don’t see as a major offered at JWU? JWU is able to prepare you for many health professions and graduate programs that we may not offer. For most clinical roles, a bachelor’s degree is required and you can major in any area of study as long a you complete the necessary prerequisites for your chosen grad-level program. JWU students have successfully continued on to veterinary, medical and dental schools after earning their bachelor’s degree from JWU.
Meet the Pre-Health Team
- Travis Gagen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, College of Health & Wellness
tgagen@jwu.edu
- Kristin Rosler, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
krosler@jwu.edu
- Maeve Guidera, MBA, RDN, LDN
Director of Dietetics & Applied Nutrition
mguidera@jwu.edu
- Melanie Rainone
Experiential Education & Career Advisor
mrainone@jwu.edu
- Cindy Sharp, D.V.M.
Associate Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
csharp@jwu.edu
- Leslie McKee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Charlotte College of Health & Wellness
leslie.mckee@jwu.edu