Health Professions
Preparing for the Health Professions
The University of Richmond has an excellent track record of preparing students for continuing study in the health professions. Students planning to enter professional programs in the health professions such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacy, etc., are encouraged to major in the departments of their choice. The undergraduate years are devoted to exploring, and the exploration need not only be in the sciences.
Advising and Program
The pre-health program provides students with opportunities and experiences needed for the successful pursuit of health profession careers. The director of pre-health education holds a position dedicated to: advising students as well as overseeing the program’s resources; clinical internships with area physicians and fourth-year medical students; scholarship support; pre-health study abroad programs; personal statement and interview preparation; medial humanities courses; and a full-year, faculty-led MCAT preparation course.
Student Organizations
The UR Pre-Medical Society, a chapter of the American Medical Student Association, is composed of students who plan careers in the health professions. It brings to the campus practicing professionals who discuss their work and admission officers who describe the medical programs and the admissions processes at their schools. It also provides opportunities for social interaction among students and faculty who share similar interests, thereby making the opportunities in the many health professions known to all who are interested.
Medical and Dental Schools Where Recent Graduates Matriculated
- Albany Medical School
- Case Western Reserve University *
- Chicago Medical School
- Cornell University *
- Drexel University
- Duke University *
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Emory University *
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Jefferson Medical College
- Johns Hopkins University *
- Louisiana State University-New Orleans
- Louisiana State University-Shreveport
- Mayo Medical School *
- Meharry Medical College
- Medical College of Ohio
- Medical College of Virginia
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- New York Medical School
- Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- State University of New York-Syracuse
- Temple University
- Tulane University
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Connecticut
- University of Iowa *
- University of Kentucky
- University of Maryland *
- University of Miami
- University of Mississippi
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- University of North Carolina *
- University of Pennsylvania *
- University of Rochester *
- University of South Florida
- University of Tennessee
- University of Texas-Galveston
- University of Texas-San Antonio
- University of Texas - Southwestern *
- University of Vermont *
- University of Virginia *
- Vanderbilt University *
- Wake Forest University
- Wayne State University
- West Virginia University
- Wright State University
* Top-25 medical school as ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Recent graduates also have entered programs in dentistry, veterinary medicine, osteopathy, pharmacy, nursing, optometry and physical therapy. They represent majors ranging from biology, chemistry and physics to business and English.
The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC)
The HPAC is composed of 16 faculty members in the School of Arts and Sciences. It interviews pre-health students in their application year to health professions schools and writes letters of recommendation. The HPAC interview simulates the interview format used by most health professions schools, giving students valuable experience that assists in refining their interviewing skills.
Dr. John E. Vaughan, Director, Pre-Health Education
(804) 287-6484
jvaugha2@richmond.edu
Office of Admission
(800) 700-1662
(804)289-8640