Pre-Med Launch: A New Beginning for Future Healthcare Leaders

It has never been a better time to be pre-med at Seton Hall University! The Pre-Professional Advising Center (P-PAC) continues to expand its programs and resources, cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment for aspiring healthcare professionals. From academic support to community-building initiatives, the P-PAC is dedicated to helping students become competitive candidates for medical school and beyond.

On September 4, 2024, the P-PAC kicked off the semester with its first-ever Pre-Med Launch, held at Bethany Hall. The event drew over 100 eager first-year students, excited to meet fellow pre-med peers, upperclassmen and their dedicated pre-med advisors. This highly anticipated event emphasized the importance of building community, networking and offering students a support system to guide them through their undergraduate journey.

“It’s important that our freshmen students pursuing medicine have an idea of what’s in front of them so they can make informed decisions early on and intentionally plan their undergraduate years,” said Chantal Vergara, director of the Pre-Professional Advising Center.

The Pre-Med Launch provided a welcoming atmosphere for students to connect, ask questions and gain valuable insights into what it takes to succeed as a pre-med student. The event featured three pre-med advisors, a diverse student panel and representatives from student organizations, all offering advice on navigating the challenges of the pre-med path.

Director Vergara opened the event with an informative presentation, mapping out the pre-med journey at Seton Hall. She highlighted the wide range of resources available to students, including test preparation materials, weekly newsletters, peer mentorship, mock interviews and individualized advising sessions. Vergara emphasized the importance of planning and utilizing the center’s resources early to streamline the medical school application process.

The event also featured valuable insights from Brian Nichols, Ph.D., a faculty member with a strong research background, and Joan Brennan, an advisor at the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Nichols stressed the value of persistence when seeking research opportunities, encouraging students to follow their genuine interests rather than pursue research just to “check a box” on their medical school applications. His advice was clear: passion and persistence matter more than meeting every expectation. Meanwhile, Professor Brennan addressed the complexities of fulfilling pre-med requirements and ensuring that students register for the correct courses.

Student engagement was further supported by the presence of several pre-med student organizations. Representatives from Medic Zero, Pre-Med Connect, Health Science Amplified, University Blood Initiative, and HuMed introduced their organizations and networked with freshmen, encouraging them to get involved early.

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from upperclassmen student panelists: Muneeb Khateeb, Alden Hary, Mikyah Moore, Jonathan Zhang and Navya Gutti. Each student shared valuable insights from their pre-med experiences, offering practical advice and guidance to help freshmen navigate their own journeys.

The overwhelming success of the Pre-Med Launch event reflects Seton Hall’s commitment to fostering an engaged and supportive pre-med community. By building strong connections early and providing access to essential resources, the Pre-Professional Advising Center ensures that each student is empowered to succeed on their pre-medical journey. With plans already underway for future events, P-PAC is dedicated to helping students grow academically, professionally, and personally as they prepare for their future careers in healthcare. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence and seeing the incredible accomplishments of Seton Hall’s pre-med scholars.

Categories: Health and Medicine