A UVM blog The Steady Pulse

Meet our Team

Samantha Smoger, Peer-Leader. I’m a senior Biology major who will be applying to medical school in the spring. I’m from Ventnor, New Jersey, I took figure skating lessons for about 8 years, and I love to read!  Connor McClure, Peer-Leader. I’m a junior majoring in Exercise Science, whose goal is to become a physician assistant. I am from a small town named Lyndon, Vermont, which is about 1.5 hours away from UVM. I have a beagle named Ruby, am the middle child between two brothers, and one of my hobbies is practicing with my Yo-Yo! Callan McNamara, Interest Group Leader. I’m a graduate student in the Higher Education & Student Affairs (HESA) program originally from Wisconsin and moved to Vermont last year. In my free time I like to cook, play video games, and I love to see comedy shows so I am excited to go to the Vermont Comedy Club in the near future.  Cara Calvelli, Pre-Health advisor.  I’ve been part of the Career Center team for four years and love mentoring the next generation of health care providers. In my free time, I play some serious pickleball! 😊

Drop by: Mon – Fri  | 11am – 2pm

Trained folks are on hand daily (in the Career Center, 204 Davis) to help you find internships/jobs, craft a resume or cover letter, create a LinkedIn/UVM Connect profile and more…. HPIG Leaders are available Tuesday & Friday for specific questions related to the pre-health pathways.

If you can’t make it in-person, we do also offer virtual drop-ins Mon-Thurs. And we provide individualized feedback (through online submissions to Blackboard) on resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn and Handshake profiles. Our Blackboard organization also addresses FAQ through self-paced modules. Enroll today!   

Attention Sophomores

The Pre-Medical / Pre-Health Enhancement Program (PEP) application deadline is September 24th. Participants will have the opportunity for mentorship, clinical exposure, impactful discussions and reflective exercises through senior year. Follow this link for: Information & application instructions.

Join a Student Club

Did you know there are nearly 20 health/healthcare-related clubs on campus, from the Pre-PT club to MedVida to Generation Outreach. Find YOUR club of interest on UVM Clubs. If you have an identity underrepresented in medicine, MAPS (Minority Association of Premedical Students) is an important resource for you regardless healthcare path – email benish.nabeel@uvm.edu to get on the MAPS mailing list.

Find Good Stuff in Handshake:

• Jobs, Internships & Fellowships
• In-person & virtual Events

The Check Up

Email questions to: prehealth@uvm.edu [Subject line: FAQ] and we’ll choose a few to highlight in each newsletter.

• I’m new to UVM. What are the first steps to take if I am considering a career in the health professions?
  There are 6 quick tips on our Getting Started page. Use the resources there to help get oriented and organized 

• Do I have to be a science major to be “pre-health?” 
  Let your academic interests be the driving force. There is not a “pre-med major” at UVM and you can complete the pre-requisite courses for your chosen career path even as a non-science major. Find a major that excites you, whether it be from the sciences, humanities or social sciences, and approach it with intellectual curiosity and passion. Since the practice of healthcare is both art and science, professional schools are eager to find candidates whose academic breadth and genuine curiosity for learning have shaped the ability to think critically and fully understand the human dimensions of caring for patients. Remember, being a lifelong learner is central to being a healthcare provider.

• Do I need to get a “Committee Letter” to apply to medical or dental school? 
  UVM is one of several New England universities to have phased out the Committee Letter. However, robust application support continues through the Health Professions Portfolio+ (HPP) Process. If you intend to apply to medical or dental school next spring (May 2022) for matriculation in summer 2023, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in HPP when the process begins in early November. Information sessions will be advertised right here in The Steady Pulse.

• I’m interested in military medicine and have heard there are scholarship opportunities. How can I learn more?  
  The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is offered by all branches of the military. Applications can only be submitted once a candidate has been accepted to medical school. Some branches also offer HPSP to dental, optometry, physical therapy, nursing, and veterinary students. Hear more about the Army’s HPSP on this webinar. 

Join HPIG to never miss a beat…

Cara, Callan, Connor, Samantha