Spelman College Health Careers Program and Academic and Pipeline Guide

Health Careers Program Overview and Leadership

• Administrative Support: Ms. Ebony Bailey serves as the Pipeline and Partnership Coordinator. Her role is strictly focused on helping students take advantage of pipeline and early assurance opportunities. Dr. Gardner serves as the pre-health advisor for freshmen and sophomores. Once students reach their junior year, they transition to Dr. Scott for pre-health advising.

• Program History and Scope: The Health Careers Office was established in $1971$ with the specific goal of providing a dedicated space for students interested in health professions. Currently, there are over $800$ students registered in the Health Careers Program, representing approximately one-third ($\frac{1}{3}$) of the total Spelman College population.

• Mission and Resources: The office acts as a repository of information. It coordinates campus visits, recruitment trips, clinical exposure, and leadership development. Key resources include:

  • Comprehensive career advising from the entire team.
  • Test preparation assistance and application help.
  • Professional mentorship.
  • Recruitment trips to various institutions across the United States to engage with admissions committees.

Academic Guidance and Course Planning

• The Critical Role of Mathematics: Math is considered the most important "rate-limiting" course. It determines the ability to enroll in chemistry. High performance is necessary as math skills are required for physics, biology, and health science courses.

  • Chemistry Prerequisites: Students cannot take certain chemistry courses without being enrolled in or having completed Math $115$ (Pre-calculus) or Math $211$ (Applied Calculus).
  • MCAT Preparation: Pre-medical and pre-dental students aim to complete all chemistry requirements and biochemistry by the end of their junior year to be prepared for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).
  • Placement Warnings: Students interested in health professions (except Healthcare Management) should avoid Math $107$. The appropriate track for pre-health and STEM majors includes:
    • Math $101$: College Algebra.
    • Math $115$: Pre-calculus.
    • Math $211$: Applied Calculus.
    • Math $205$: Statistics (for those who placed out of previous levels or have dual enrollment credit).

• Computer Science and STEM Classifications:

  • STEM Majors: Includes Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Health Science, Physics, and Mathematics.
  • Course Requirements: STEM majors must take CIS $111$ or CIS $121$, which focus on coding. Non-STEM pre-health majors (such as English or Psychology majors on a pre-med track) take CIS $105$, which covers Microsoft Office, Excel, and similar software packages.

• Health Science Major Options: Health science majors interested in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine must choose Option 1. These students will meet with advisors specifically to discuss this path.

• Pre-Nursing Prerequisites: Regardless of the chosen major, pre-nursing students must complete specific electives to qualify for pipeline programs:

  • Nutrition.
  • Microbiology with a laboratory component.
  • Developmental Psychology.
  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

Pipeline and Early Assurance Programs

• Diversity of Disciplines: Pipelines exist for multiple fields including Medicine, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, and Graduate School. A Physician Assistant (PA) pipeline is currently in development.

• Application and Classification: While some programs accept freshmen, the majority are for upperclassmen. For pipeline interest forms, classification is determined by the "time spent at Spelman" rather than credit hours. Students in their first semester are classified as freshmen regardless of AP or dual enrollment credits.

• Partnership Growth: The college currently has nearly $30$ early assurance partnership agreements. An open house featuring representatives from these pipelines is scheduled for the end of September. This event covers GPA requirements, standardized test scores (SAT/MCAT), and application timelines.

Clinical Exposure and Summer Opportunities

• Direct Patient Care: Students interested in becoming Physician Assistants are encouraged to obtain a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) or Medical Assistant certification during winter or summer breaks to gain mandatory direct patient care hours.

• Summer Planning: Students are expected to engage in research, clinical work, or community service every summer. Due to high competition for national programs, students are encouraged to "create their own" summer opportunities—such as shadowing or local volunteering—to build their professional brand.

• Global Health Trips: The program offers international opportunities to compare public health systems. Previous destinations include Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and South Africa. These trips allow students to see how clinicians operate outside the United States and put classroom theory into practice.

HCOP Scholars (Health Careers Opportunity Pipeline Preparatory Program)

• Program Structure: HCOP is a longitudinal three-year commitment starting at the sophomore level. Students typically apply at the end of their freshman year or the beginning of their sophomore year.

• Benefits: Scholars receive white coats, increased one-on-one advising, specialized certifications, leadership training, and priority consideration for certain pipeline programs.

Questions & Discussion

• Question (Club Involvement): How many clubs should a freshman join, and should they wait until sophomore year?

• Response: Freshmen should join a few organizations (maximum of three) to begin networking and gaining valuable experiences early. Recommended clubs include the Health Careers Club, MAPS (primarily for pre-med), Sisters of STEM, Pre-Nursing Club, and Pre-Vet Club. Others include the Bridging Minds program for community service in elementary schools.

• Question (GPA Standards): What are the GPA requirements for different fields?

• Response: Academic quality is more important than the quantity of extracurriculars. Pipeline programs for Nursing typically require a minimum GPA of $3.0$. For Medical School, the average GPA needed is approximately $3.6$. Students are advised to monitor their midterm grades before committing to too many extracurricular activities.

• Question (MD/PhD Preparation): What should a student do to prepare for an MD/PhD track?

• Response: High emphasis is placed on research. Spelman provides Kaplan test prep for the MCAT during the school year and summer. Students must be intentional with coursework, treating early classes as the foundation for medical school. Learning should focus on critical analysis and the "why" behind processes, such as biochemistry, rather than rote memorization.

• Question (Motivation and Interest): Should a student continue to pursue medicine if they are good at math and science but do not enjoy them? (Asked by Grave Fletcher, a Psychology major and CNA since age $16$).

• Note: The transcript ends before a full response is provided, but focuses on the student's early clinical preparation.