Admission to medical, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other health professional programs is increasingly competitive. Successful applicants must demonstrate more than strong grades — they must show sustained academic excellence, clinical engagement, leadership and clear professional purpose.

At Alma College, students pursuing health careers don’t navigate that process alone.

Through the Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC), Alma has built a structured, faculty-led system designed not just to help students apply to graduate programs — but to stand out in them.

Co-chaired by Associate Professor of Chemistry Nancy Dopke and Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health Science Brianna Harfmann ’11, the PHPC brings together faculty and staff from across STEM disciplines, Admissions and Student Life to provide coordinated, comprehensive advising.

“Something that we wanted to do when we started the committee was to create a holistic advising process, Dopke said. When multiple faculty members and staff are part of the conversation, we’re able to provide a much more complete understanding of a student’s strengths and readiness.

A Structured Approach to Success

The PHPC supports students from early exploration through final application submission. Students receive supplemental advising beyond their major, helping them strategically plan coursework, pursue clinical and research experiences, and build leadership credentials long before senior year.

For Ava Gilbert ’25, now pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, that structure proved invaluable.

The application process is confusing. There are so many moving pieces, Gilbert said. When you’re just trying to get through your coursework, it can be overwhelming to figure out what you should be doing and when. The PHPC helped me understand the timeline — when to pursue leadership roles, when to start shadowing, even connecting me with people for those opportunities.

When students are ready to apply, the committee coordinates a comprehensive letter of evaluation reflecting input from faculty across campus and provides detailed feedback on application materials before submission.

They reviewed my entire application and gave detailed feedback, so it was much more refined, Gilbert said. And having a committee letter written by faculty who had all worked with me made me feel so much more confident. Without PHPC, I would have felt a lot more frantic and unsure. Instead, I felt supported and ready.

Said Harfmann: Applying to health professional programs is an expensive, involved process that takes years of preparation. If we can provide clarity, structure and honest feedback along the way, we’re helping students strengthen their applications long before submission.

Direct Pathways to Graduate Study

In addition to individualized mentorship, Alma has developed formal agreements that create defined pathways into competitive programs. Qualified students may receive early acceptance consideration through an agreement with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Alma also maintains articulation and matriculation agreements with leading institutions, including:

  • The Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, reserving up to five seats annually for qualified students.
  • The Washington University School of Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy.
  • The University of Michigan-Flint for both occupational therapy and physical therapy programs.
  • Central Michigan University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, where Alma may nominate two qualified students each year for direct admission consideration.

These partnerships, combined with PHPC’s structured mentoring model, reinforce Alma’s commitment to preparing graduates for a competitive and evolving health care landscape.

For students who aspire to careers in health care, preparation at Alma is collaborative, rigorous and intentional — built around mentorship, early preparation and measurable outcomes.

Learn more about the Pre-Health Professions Committee and how Alma supports students pursuing health careers.