- Gannon’s most competitive applicants to professional schools have achieved a nearly 100-percent acceptance rate.
- Recent Gannon graduates have been accepted into highly rated allopathic and osteopathic medical schools including Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ross University School of Medicine and St. George’s University School of Medicine.
- Recent Gannon graduates have been accepted into prestigious health professional schools including University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry, LECOM School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
You Will Learn
The pre-health qualification program at Gannon University is designed for adults who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and are seeking a career change. Students in this program complete the prerequisite coursework needed to apply to health professional programs in the field of medicine, pharmacy, chiropractic, dental medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine or veterinary medicine.
Students explore fundamental concepts in biology, chemistry,
physics, mathematics, psychology and language to prepare them for the
rigors of a health-professional-school curriculum and their future
careers.
Each of our students is provided with expert advising to create
their own structured pathway and plentiful study resources while they
work toward becoming a competitive applicant. With Gannon’s small class
sizes and long history of excellence in pre-health professional
training, learners will be part of an optimal atmosphere for preparing
for any health professional school in the U.S.
You Will Experience
Gannon University’s pre-health qualification students have the opportunity to become well-rounded leaders both in and out of the classroom, making them competitive for a career in medicine or other allied health professions. Pre-health qualification students are eligible to participate in:
- meetings with admissions officers from various health professional schools.
- shadowing opportunities coordinated by the Career Exploration and Development Office.
- workshops reviewing the application process, personal statements, interviewing, etc.
- Community Health Coaches, a course and internship led by a team of medical professionals from Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania.
You Will Achieve
There are many different specific career paths stemming from the pre-health qualification program. Such opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- chiropractic medicine (diagnosis and internal disorders, nutrition, sports medicine)
- dental medicine (dental public health, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics )
-
medicine (anesthesiology, family and general medicine,psychiatry)
- optometry (low vison, sports vision, vision therapy)
- pharmacy (community pharmacy,industry-based pharmacy,oncology pharmacy)
- podiatric medicine (orthopedics,podiatric primary care,wound care and management)
- veterinary medicine (animal welfare, preventive medicine, veterinary research)
You Will Earn
Estimates show that the job outlook will continue to increase much faster than average for optometrists (27-percent growth), dentists (18-percent growth), chiropractors (17-percent growth), physicians and surgeons (14-percent growth), and podiatrists (14-percent growth). The job outlook will grow faster than average for veterinarians (nine-percent growth) through 2024. The salaries for physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, veterinarians, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors and podiatrists are among the highest of all occupations. The median annual salaries for these healthcare professionals in 2015 were:
- chiropractor: $64,440
- dentist: $158,310
- optometrist: $103,900
- pharmacist: $121,500
- physician or surgeon: $187,200
- podiatrist: $119,340
- veterinarian: $88,490
All salary information is compiled from data gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) and/or PayScale (payscale.com).
You Will Study
Gannon University has a long history of helping qualified and motivated students successfully achieve acceptance into health professional schools. All pre-health qualification students receive expert advising so that they take a balanced and rigorous course load, which includes the fundamental science and mathematics courses that professional schools require as prerequisite coursework. Students receive hands-on laboratory experiences in most biology and chemistry courses, which are conducted in small interactive group settings of 20-30 students. Upon completion of prerequisite coursework, students may choose from a wide-ranging selection of health professions-related courses including:
BIOL 124: Animal Form and Function
This course begins with a survey of several animal kingdom phyla (e.g. Cnidaria, Plathyhelminthes, Chordata, Annelida, Porifera). A functional approach is then taken to understanding the major organ systems in animals, emphasizing the vertebrates.
CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry I
In this course, the student will study hydrocarbons, both aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Emphasis is placed upon the structures, properties, syntheses, reactions and uses of these compounds.
PSYC 111: Introduction to Psychology
An introduction to the principal theories and methods used by psychology to explain human personality, behavior and adjustment.
Liberal Studies Core
The Liberal Studies Core Curriculum is one reflection of Gannon University's commitment to
its Catholic identity. The Core's design offers students a defined, integrated, shared
experience as the foundation for their undergraduate program.