Office of Health Professions Provides Students a Bridge to Their Future

Nicole Baker, a senior biochemistry major from Clifford Township, welcomed pre-health student visitors at a recent Open House hosted by The University of Scranton’s office of health professions. Visitors who stopped by had an opportunity to explore the wide range of programs coordinated from the office’s location in the Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine building.

“We like to host this event in the fall to bring our students together, from first-year all the way through senior year, to have them feel the longitudinal support that our office brings,” said Nicole Ferentino, D.C., director of pre-medical and pre-health professions at the University. She referenced the office’s involvement with all pre-medical and pre-health students, including pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-physician assistant, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-podiatry and pre-veterinary students.

“We introduce them to our team ... and connect them with each other. Our students help each other so much,” she said.

A student-led Health Professions Organization (HPO) meets weekly with Baker at the helm. The first-generation college student said it has supported her on her path to medicine, and today she serves as HPO president in the hopes of continuing that legacy.

“I picked The University of Scranton because I aligned with their Jesuit values. ... It’s really scary trying to approach the pre-health journey when you don’t necessarily have anyone in your family to give you tips and tricks and connections, and this club really filled that in for me,” said Baker, shown inset.

“We just help students ... finding them opportunities to shadow and get clinical hours, making sure they have resources in the community to get them to where they want to be.”

HPO treasurer Jonathan Symuleski said the club provides a chance for peers to discuss classes they might take, or future directions.

"I really like the Open House event, being able to see other officers in the club, and meet students who are new to Scranton and new to careers in health," said the senior biochemistry major from Hop Bottom who is currently applying to M.D.- Ph.D. programs.

This year’s HPO officers include:

• Nicole Baker ‘27, a biochemistry major from Clifford Township, president
  
  
• Andrew Mauriello ‘27, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Duryea, vice president of presentations
  
  
• Maria Petko ‘27, a physiology major from Blue Bell, vice president of presentations
  
  
• Emily Cosklo ‘27, a biology major from Clifford Township, secretary
  
  
• Jonathon Symuleski ‘27, a biochemistry major from Hop Bottom, treasurer
  
  
• Isabella Jacobs ‘28, a biology major from Shavertown, service chair
  
  
• Palben Patel ‘28, a biology major from Scranton, junior liaison
  
  
• Hannah Adams ‘27, a biology major from East Stroudsburg, pre-vet chair
  
  
• Justin Ely ‘27, a biology major from Dimock, pre-dental chair
  
  
• Andrew Blackledge ‘27, a neuroscience major from Spring City, pre-physician assistant chair
  
  

Providing Beneficial Networks ‘All Over the Globe’

“We meet every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and host presentations from alumni and admissions folks from professional schools. Our students do presentations as well. We host lunch-and-learn sessions here every other week by some distinguished faculty from our local medical school,” Dr. Ferentino said, of the HPO.

“We're engaging the medical alumni with our students to form beneficial networks.”

Baker, shown, inset, views the extensive alumni network as an unexpected benefit of being a Royal.

“It’s really surprising to me that if you go to Florida, there’s someone who’s a University of Scranton alum. If you go to California, all over the globe there’s someone that says, ‘I’m an alum from The University of Scranton.’”

Upcoming events that provide pre-health students opportunities to build relationships with some of those alumni include an event at the University’s Retreat Center at Chapman Lake with the Medical Alumni Council (MAC) on Oct. 23 – 24 and a MAC event on campus in the upcoming spring semester.

 “The highlight of our program is early intervention and helping students from day one all the way through so that they are on track, and they are their best applicant when they apply,” said Dr. Ferentino. ”We let them know that this office is the bridge to their profession. We're going to help them get there and be there every step of the way,”