General Information
Individuals intending to pursue a career in medicine following undergraduate school are best served by pursuing the baccalaureate major of their interest. While it is true that certain science courses are required of those who wish to enter medical school, a well-rounded education combining science and non-science courses is the preference of medical schools as opposed to any particular major.
With this in mind, York College pre-med advisors encourage students to follow their own interests so that they will do well and thus be competitive for entrance into the medical college of their choice. In addition, such a choice enables an easy change in career plans, should students realize at some point that a career in medicine is not for them. A great deal of information on careers in medicine beyond that of physician is available to students either through the members of the Committee for the Health Professions or through the Career Services Center. This includes information on education and careers in dentistry, pharmacy, the graduate areas of neuroscience and pharmacology, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, podiatry, and optometry.
Students interested in medicine are encouraged to explore the field by doing volunteer work in hospitals and by receiving specialized training related to medicine.
Academic Preparation
Courses generally required for admission to allopathic, osteopathic, or veterinary medical schools include, but depending upon an individual medical school, may not be limited to: two years of biology, two years of chemistry, one year of physics, one year of mathematics (preferably including at least one semester of calculus), and one year of English.
A grade point average in excess of 3.6 as well as above average performance on the national Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a necessity for admission to medical school. The timing of the courses is such that they will have been completed by the end of the junior year in college so that the MCAT (based on these courses) can be taken in April of the junior year. Application to medical school is then made through the appropriate national application clearinghouse during the summer following the junior year.
The Committee for the Health Professions
The Committee for the Health Professions (sometimes referred to as the "pre-med" committee) is composed of faculty members who advise students with regard to careers in medicine. Each student is assigned one of the Committee members as a medical advisor in addition to their College academic advisor. In addition to providing information and counseling with regard to possible careers in medicine and the education and cost involved for such careers, the Committee writes the letters of recommendation needed by the student for admission to medical school. At the time that such a letter is required, students may personalize their committee by selecting an additional Committee member from the College faculty or administration to share in the letter-writing process. Thus, faculty who have supervised any special interests may be represented on the Committee.
The members of the Committee for the Health Professions keep an ongoing liaison relationship with surrounding medical schools through attendance at the Open Houses intended for pre-medical advisors and by contact with graduates currently in medical school. Membership in the National Association for Advisors to the Health Professions provides periodically updated national information on the national applicant pool, the changing emphasis in medicine, and on statistics associated with medical education and medical practice. In addition, the research interests of each of the Committee members is related to medicine.
Premedical Studies at York Hospital
Premedical courses (PMD) are offered through a collaborative arrangement between the Department of Biological Sciences and York Hospital. These courses permit students to gain first-hand experience in a clinical setting by allowing them to shadow physicians in various departments, take part in weekly hospital grand rounds, participate in clinical research, and pursue an advanced study of human anatomy and disease.
- PMD 110 & 120 - Family Practice Grand Rounds
- PMD 130 & 140 - Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds
- PMD 210 & PMD 220 - Emergency Department Research I & II
- PMD 230 & PMD 240 - Clinical Shadowing Rotations I & II
- PMD 310 - Advanced Human Anatomy
Committee Members
Ronald C. Kaltreider, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson, Dartmouth College. Dr. Kaltreider teaches Biology I, Introduction to Scientific Research, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Senior Thesis. His interests are in diabetes and cancer research with a particular focus in elucidating the molecular mechanism by which agents may potentiate or inhibit these processes.
Wendy Boehmler, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Dr. Boehmler teaches Biology I and Senior Thesis. She is interested in using zebrafish as a genetic model to provide insight into dopamine neurotransmission and related neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.
Kathleen M. Halligan, Ph.D., Colorado State University. Dr. Halligan teaches Organic Chemistry I and II, Advanced Organic and Independent Study. Her plant natural products research and organic syntheses are targeted toward the discovery of novel medicines in the treatment of malaria, Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis, cancer and HIV.
Deborah D. Ricker, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ricker teaches Biology I, Introduction to Scientific Research, Reproduction and Developmental Biology, and Senior Thesis. She studies reproductive biology with an emphasis on male fertility and embryo development.
Jeffrey P. Thompson, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Dr. Thompson teaches Biology I, Biochemistry, and Senior Thesis. His cancer therapy research is based on development targeted delivery of cytotoxic compounds that "seek and destroy" cancer cells.
Alumni Record
Our graduates attend medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, and veterinary schools. The following schools are some of the institutions being attended by recent graduates.
- Boston University College of Medicine
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine
- New York University
- Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine at Hershey
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy
- State University of New York
- Temple University School of Podiatry Medicine
- Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- University of New England College of Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Yale University Medical School
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