Events & Opportunities

Pre-Health Events & Learning Opportunities*

Pre-Health Professions (PHP) Program advising include large group informational sessions, small group advising, one-on-one advising, and discipline specific guest speakers. The goal is to provide an opportunity for pre-health professional students to become more knowledgeable and to collaborate with one another on their path to a successful career in healthcare.

   What’s happening this semester?

    • Check out our current PHP Program Newsletter.

    • To get event details via the most recent Newsletter and be eligible for program specific opportunities and scholarships…

      • Join the Pre-Health Professions email listserv <http://bit.ly/PHP_Updates> and receive a welcome email with the full newsletter.
        • You can also follow “prehealthclub_unca” on Instagram & add “prehealthclub@unca.edu” to your calendar!

    Pre-Health Professions Program Participant’s “TO DO” List

    1. Join the listserv!!!  <http://bit.ly/PHP_Updates> This will get you to our email list to receive important updates. Then visit <https://prehealth.unca.edu/engage/events-opportunities/> to find additional information & resources AND check out our NEWSLETTER – <http://bit.ly/UNCA_Pre-Health_Newsletter>.
    2. Attend one of the “Intro to Pre-Health” events to learn about the Pre-Health Professions Program, advising resources, faculty advisory committee & an awesome student group.
    3. Attend and/or volunteer at a Pre-Health Professions Program Student Group event.
    4. Stay successful in your academic courses! → Review your notes after class, do your HW, take advantage of your professor’s office hours and attend the *free* tutoring help sessions available through the UNCA Library.
    5. Start community service + volunteering EARLY! (BTW, the pre-health student group is an excellent option!).
    6. Attend the other group advising events for the Pre-Health Professionals Program. Remember, it’s important to plan ahead so you can stay organized and up to date!
    7. Students who would like individualized advising benefit from doing the following things FIRST   →  Join the listserv  +  Attend the Group Advising Sessions + Utilize Resources on the Website  +  Connect with an Advisory Committee Member <https://prehealth.unca.edu/meet-us/advisory-committee/> & our Student Group Leaders. → Then schedule a meeting on Dr. Maxwell’s calendar <https://bit.ly/Maxwell-Calendar>.

    Pre-Health Professionals Student Group

    • The Pre-Health Professionals (PHP) Student Group at UNC Asheville is an interprofessional collaboration of pre-health students who are preparing for a variety of healthcare careers. These student leaders work closely with the Director of Pre-Health Professions to host advising events, volunteer outreach, connect with healthcare-related experiences, and gain valuable insights that supports their career goals as well as the career goals of fellow pre-health students. They also work together to develop leadership and professional skills and welcome new students to do the same by inviting attendance at their open planning meetings scheduled throughout the year.
      • Participating with this student group will keep you up to date about helpful resources and opportunities available to you as a UNC Asheville student. After participating as a member, you may be able to step into a leadership role which can be a valuable step toward a successful health professional school application and career! Your first step is to sign up for the email list below and check back here for more information.
        • The Pre-Health Professions email listserv link above (http://bit.ly/PHP_Updates) connects you with regular emails from the Director of Pre-Health Professions and the PHP Student Group with information about upcoming events, special opportunities, volunteering/service experiences. You can stay connect through joining the listserv, following the PHP Program Student Group on Instagram at <prehealthclub_unca>, and adding the PHP Program Calendar <Calendar.Google/PHP_Events> to yours.

      EVENTS CALENDAR (link)

             Event times/locations are also listed in the newsletter which is available through our listserv link above.

       Additional Pre-Health Professions Support & Resources at UNC Asheville

    • UNC Asheville Student Organizations and Clubs 
      • Follow your interest and join any number of student organizations which adds your email to notifications about fun and educational events on campus. Your engagement can range from just seeing the email, to participation, to volunteering and leadership. Engaging with a student organization is a great first step in building an well-rounded and competitive application for graduate health programs.
    • UNC Asheville Key Center for Community Engaged Learning
      • The Key Center supports students by coordinating and supporting service experiences, community based research, service learning, cultural events, and educational programs including the opportunity to be recognized as a Community Engaged Scholar upon graduation.
    • Undergraduate Research Program (URP) at UNC Asheville
      • Students usually earn academic credit for performing undergraduate research, either through a research-based course in their major or through the 499 designation. Students who meet certain criteria may also apply to receive Distinction as a University Research Scholar upon graduation. Students interested in URP are encouraged to discuss possible opportunities with the faculty in their major department and check the URP calendar of events and deadlines.
    • AHEC Scholars Program 
      • The AHEC Scholars Program at MAHEC is designed for health professions students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in rural and/or underserved urban settings. This is a longitudinal program with interdisciplinary curricula that include a defined set of clinical, didactic, and community-based activities. Applications accepted now through June 11, 2021.
    • UNC Asheville Pre-Healthcare Professions Summer Internship at MAHEC
      • The University of North Carolina Asheville, WNC Bridge Foundation, and MAHEC’s Center for Health Professions Education have collaborated to create an undergraduate internship experience for UNC Asheville students interested in pursuing a clinical health professions degree. This 8-week paid summer internship provides 20 hours per week of clinical shadowing, didactics, and direct engagement in a community-based research project.
        • Applications are no longer being accepted for summer 2021 but plan ahead for summer 2022.
    • MCAT Review Course Grants and Discounts
      • Live online course with Princeton Review offered each spring for free for 10 applicants or at >50% discount to UNCA students and alum. Sign up for the pre-health newsletter to find out more (http://bit.ly/UNCA_Pre-Health_Newsletter).
    • UNC Gillings MPH Program in Asheville 
      • The mission of the UNC Gillings School’s MPH Program in Asheville is to foster thriving, healthy, and connected communities in Western North Carolina by equipping the next generation of public health advocates through place-based learning, community connection, justice-oriented relationships, and community-driven solutions that bridge the gap between research and practice.
      • UNC Asheville Writing Center
        • The Writing Center supports writers through one-on-one consultations with student writing consultants for any writing project, regardless of where you are in your writing process including application documents such as personal statements and cover letters.
      • UNC Asheville Career Center
        • The Career Center supports current students and alumni through career coaching, internships, job fairs, job listings, cover letter and resume support.

       

      Other Helpful Resources, Programs, Professional Associations, & Podcasts, etc.

      • What’s next?  
        •  NAAHP Facts Sheets on applications, gap years, reapplying, and ideas for pre-health students during a pandemic.
      • Postbaccalaureate Programs
        • The term “postbaccalaureate” or “postbac” describes programs that usually provides a certificate (not a degree) and begins after you’ve completed an undergraduate degree. These are designed specifically to support the transition to a professional school, such as a medical school, as well as enhance an applicant’s competitiveness for admission. There are several types of programs which are designed to address a particular need, such as academic record enhancement, career change, MCAT® exam prep, as well as programs for underrepresented students in healthcare (aamc.org).
      • Masters of Science
        • This is a great option for student who need to strengthen their science foundation, improve their GPA, gain additional natural science knowledge, and/or want to become a more competitive applicant. Students can earn a Master degree rather than just a certificate provided by postbac programs. (Depending on the program, you may even be able to have your Masters paid for by doing research or being a teaching assistant!) For students who plan to use this as a steppingstone to a healthcare training program, it is best to focus the MS education on a topic that relates to the kind of healthcare that you hope to practice.
        • There are too many to list here so it’s best to do a web search. Some examples of Master programs that our alum have completed as part of their successful pathway to medical and dental school include: Campell University’s Master in Biomedical Science, Morehouse’s Master of Science in Medical Science, Furman University’s Master in Community Engaged Medicine, and Meharry Masters in Health Science.

      Previous Presentations for Reference