Pre-Health Advising
Pre-Health Advising is available to current students who are anticipating entering into professional health-related careers and post-baccalaureate programs (including those offered by JWU).
Our Mission
Pre-Health Advising at JWU provides interdisciplinary guidance and mentorship to all students of any major to foster successful trajectories towards a healthcare and public health career, including:
- An individualized and customized approach to learning
- Hands-on experiential learning
- Interprofessional activities to help you explore health careers
- Opportunities to connect food and health directly through work with our College of Food Innovation & Technology
- Opportunities for health services, public health and scientific bench research
- Professional presentations and publications with faculty and other students
2 million Job openings annually*
13 of 20 Fastest-growing fields*
$83,090 Average allopathic physician salary*
*Stats from the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics health care data set.
Wide World of Health-Related Career Options
Did you know that our students have proudly continued their studies via graduate programs at JWU, Tufts, Northeastern, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Cornell University and more?
Our graduates have entered the workforce as research coordinators, data analysts, program implementation specialists, biologists, quality improvement administrators, policy analysts; we have grads serving in positions in state and local government and a range of private sector organizations.
Hear from JWU Students
Students from different programs share why they chose JWU’s programs, what they like best about them and what it’s like learning within a cohort model (being with the same small group of students for the entire program):
“I consider all my faculty to be mentors, but especially the ones I work with in clinical, because I get to watch and learn from them, then implement that into my own caregiving.” -Kaleigh Della Gratta '25 (ABSN)
“The professors don’t expect you to know everything, and they want to teach you. I also like them because they build a community around the program. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t approach any of them or any of my classmates for help.” -Ryan McNiece ’26 M.S. (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
“Our first clinical rotation was on a rehab floor in Fatima Hospital. The patients were there to recover from strokes, falls or other injuries. We made sure they were stable and watched them progress. I had a new patient who could barely move his left side. By the time we finished working together, he was walking; it was amazing.” -Laila Martin ’26 (ABSN)
“I had the opportunity to work as a graduate assistant with Associate Professor Sara Namazi, and that opened doors for me. It’s provided me with a full-time position at UConn as a research assistant and the grant I received put me in the direction of pursuing a Ph.D. after earning my MPH.” -Kaitlyn Maggiore ’19, ’25 MPH
Options for JWU Study
Several of our health-related programs are offered as Combined Undergraduate/Graduate programs that allow you to dive right into your career path. If you qualify, you can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees on a continuous path by completing some of your core graduate courses as an undergraduate. The best part? You can complete both degrees in as little as five years, saving time and money.
Articulation Agreements with Other Institutions
If you’re a JWU student who qualifies to attend another institution for a specific graduate program, JWU’s Articulation Agreements with external institutions can help facilitate your next step.
Join Pre-Health Student Clubs
JWU Charlotte and Providence are both proud members of the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) chapter. Joining this club is a great way to strengthen your network, build stronger connections to industry and learn from your peers. Both campuses regularly hold events on- and off-campus.
What are some health professions JWU can support? JWU advising supports a wide range of health-related professions, including:
• Allopathic/Osteopathic Medicine, MD/DO MD: How to Prepare for Medical School
• Chiropractor: How to Become a Chiropractor
• Doctor Of Osteopathy: What Is a Doctor of Osteopathy?
• Dentistry: Preparing for Dental School
• Dietetic Technician, Registered: Become a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered
• Nursing/Midwifery: How to Become a Nurse
• Occupational Therapy: Considering Occupational Therapy as a Career
• Optometry: How to Become an Optician
• Genetic Counseling: How to Become a Genetic Counselor
• Pharmacy: Top Ten Reasons to Become a Pharmacist
• Physical Therapy: Becoming a PT
• Physician Assistant: What Is a PA?
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionists: Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
• Veterinary Medicine: How to Become a Veterinarian
What do I need to do to be successful in applying for grad programs? You will be assigned a pre-professional advisor who can help guide you, as well as a faculty mentor. Once a path is identified, a planner document outlining required courses will be populated and the student can follow that path to success. Meet regularly with your advisors and other mentors to ensure nothing is missed. The Pre-Health Club is another great way to meet students, network with potential internship sites, and stand out to grad programs.
Can I work right after I graduate? Yes, many of our students find jobs in health-related fields right from graduation. It is important to talk to your professors and faculty mentors to see what the best path to this might be.
Do I have to be a health science, biology or dietetics major to participate in pre-health advising or clubs? No, any major can participate! AF Note: Travis, please expand upon this answer, something like 2-3 sentences; Although all majors can participate, it is helpful to include a science-heavy slate of electives…”
What if I am interested in a profession that I don’t see as a major offered at JWU? JWU is able to prepare students for many professions and graduate programs that we may not offer. JWU students have gone on successfully to veterinary school, radiology/sonogram programs, dentistry and medical school. Our advising team is here to help guide you on the best path.
Meet the Pre-Health Team
- Travis Gagen
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, College of Health & Wellness
tgagen@jwu.edu - Kristin Rosler
Professor of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
krosler@jwu.edu - Meave Guidera
Director of Dietetics & Applied Nutrition
mguidera@jwu.edu - Melanie Rainone
Experiential Education & Career Advisor
mrainone@jwu.edu