Oregon's top pre-med program meets the growing demand for doctors

What exactly makes the pre-med program in the College highly successful? According to the College’s lead pre-med advisor Maureen Leong-Kee, a number of factors have contributed to the success of the program and pre-med students. The pre-med program has a well-deserved reputation for outstanding advising, student support structures and learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

Five years ago, a major restructuring of pre-med advising in the College was groundbreaking, ensuring that every student with a pre-med focus gained access to individualized advising within their own program. Now the pre-med program offers student-specific advising in almost every science major, which include biology, biohealth sciences, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology and biochemistry and biophysics. “Students are advised by an expert within their major who is also very knowledgeable about the pre-med pathway,” said Leong-Kee. Mathematics and physics majors with a pre-med focus are advised by faculty within the College’s pre-med advising team.

Rigorous core prerequisites and upper-level science courses give students in-depth knowledge and a strong foundation in their science major as well as a broad exposure to biomedical science. This prepares them very well for the MCAT (The Medical College Admission Test) and even for a successful academic career in medical school. Courses range from contemporary and cutting-edge science topics in immunology and virology to advanced molecular genetics.

Biology graduate Ashley Victor (’19), now a second-year medical student at Oregon Health and Science University, discovered that the biochemistry series and courses in vertebrate biology and introductory physics had significant overlap and applicability to her medical school pursuits, giving her a strong foundation to perform well in the MCAT.

“Science classes in my first three years at OSU proved highly useful. I took classes in genetics, biochemistry, ecology and evolution and just enjoyed learning everything,” said Victor.

A comprehensive, well-rounded education based in sciences and the humanities is a vital part of getting into medical school. In addition to science courses, science majors can also study for a Certificate in Medical Humanities at OSU, which immerses them in a broad range of medical issues from global public health to the art of healing and biomedical ethics. “Our pre-med students take lots of interesting and relevant upper-level science courses, but we also encourage them to get a background in social science, behavioral science and public health to expand their knowledge for medical school,” said Leong-Kee.

The College pre-med program has several other attributes that result in meaningful educational experiences for future doctors and scientists. These resources complement a very well-developed and successful study abroad program and undergraduate research opportunities, as well as scholarships to support undergraduate research:

• The pre-medical orientation seminar (BI 109) and the Application Seminar Series
• Medical Preceptorship Program
• International internships in medicine and healthcare

The pre-med orientation seminar, open to all students at OSU, introduces students to pathways to a career in medicine and diverse ways of connecting with the community to enhance their educational experiences. Students have the opportunity to hear from recent graduates, alumni physicians from diverse backgrounds and area physicians.

In addition to student-specific academic advising, pre-med students receive extensive guidance through the Application Seminar Series and workshops on writing a strong personal statement, as well as timely and comprehensive breakdown of important dates, timelines, guidelines, requirements and strategies to help them succeed in the medical school application process.

While the pandemic and remote work have affected the Medical Preceptorship Program, almost every other aspect of the pre-med journey, including workshops and seminars, has made a successful online transition. The Preceptorship Program, set to resume in fall 2021, partners with Samaritan Hospital and Corvallis Clinic to offer pre-med students valuable shadowing experiences with local physicians and a first-hand look at the clinical environment.

Making medical school possible for all talented students

Students attest that the College pre-med program supports a medical school aspirant’s unique abilities and interests. It encourages outside-the-box thinking, helping OSU students stand out from other medical school applicants.

Amanda Gamboa (’20), a biology Honors graduate, says that a broad array of resources and opportunities helped her prepare for medical school and there is a misconception “that all experiences must be related to the medical field.” Gamboa, a first-generation student from Los Angeles, has gained admission to medical school in the West Coast and is waiting to hear from several other institutions where she interviewed before making a decision.

“While it is important to display your knowledge of medicine and what you are getting yourself into, some of my most important experiences are not related to the medical field and have enhanced my social competency, ability to work under pressure and understanding of the evolving nature of today’s society,” said Gamboa.

She deftly combined academics with research, volunteer and outreach activities. Gamboa was an undergraduate researcher at an OSU skeletal biology lab investigating the effect of gene manipulation and spaceflight on bones for her Senior Honors thesis, in addition to being one out of four students selected nationally for a Health Sciences Orthopedic Research Internship at the University of Tennessee.

In addition to her work as a medical scribe at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, several other leadership and mentoring activities at OSU helped Gamboa broaden her horizons and strengthen her resume for medical school. She was a tutor at LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation), a volunteer in Nepal as a member of OSU’s Building Homes and Hope Program and a peer mentor in the OSU STEM Leaders Program.

Gamboa credits her professors and the pre-med advising team in the College for helping her achieve important academic milestones, and to adopt effective time management strategies that enabled her to focus on MCAT preparation and even find time to destress with friends.

“I definitely do not think I would have been as organized if it wasn’t for pre-med advisors like Maureen (Leong-Kee). Some of the faculty members I developed close personal relationships with provided letters of recommendation for me and always supported me in personal, professional, and academic endeavors,” said Gamboa. “Overall, Oregon State University did an exemplary job in guiding me through the pre-med track and preparing me for medical school.”

The pre-med track in the College of Science also equips students to make the most of a gap year between graduation and medical school. Benjamin Hauser (’20), a biochemistry and molecular biology graduate, joined the National Institutes of Health in Maryland for a post-baccalaureate fellowship. He does research pertaining to childhood growth and development at NIH.

A transfer student from Linn Benton Community College, Hauser worked summer jobs repairing streets and working graveyard shifts for the UPS. He spent two years at OSU during which, with the help of supportive pre-med advisors and professors, he studied in 11 biochemistry courses and engaged in substantive research.

“The NIH is one of the world's leading centers of biomedical research and being a member of this organization is humbling. For example, Dr. Fauci walked by me in a hallway the other day on my way into my lab in the Clinical Center,” said Hauser. “Working at the NIH is not an opportunity I ever really envisioned for myself, and I have Oregon State and the Biochemistry department to thank for setting me up for this. With their support, I made the transition from a community college student with only blue-collar work experience to someone who will be pursuing a career as a physician-scientist.” Hauser is also training with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute to become an EMT and will be applying to medical schools this year.

Among others, Hauser is grateful for the support of his biochemistry pre-med advisor Kari Van Zee. “She inspired me to switch my major to biochemistry which has prepared me for a career in research and medicine. I have been very grateful for her mentorship and support."

As a pre-med student, Hauser got opportunities to work at OSU’s Disability Access Services, served in a motor skills fitness program for children with special needs and shadowed neonatologists at OHSU. He was also a research assistant for the OSU TRACE COVID-19 public health project. Hauser conducted research on the infant digestive system in an OSU lab which led him to co-author multiple publications, and took part in a summer research internship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York).