bmd
at the University of South Alabama
USA has a nationally-recognized, award winning health preprofessions advising program that has established such an excellent reputation and record of success with South's graduates that increasing numbers of postbaccalaureate students have been coming to South to prepare for careers in the health professions or research. The USA Postbaccalaureate Health Careers Advising Program is flexible and individualized to each student's needs. There are no additional fees, nor are there preset requirements. Our goal is to help each participant reach his/her personal objectives. We will also provide career counseling to make sure each participant's goal is realistic.
We can help students with a recently earned bachelor's degree who want to fulfill the basic requirements for professional school, or recent graduates who need to supplement their science coursework to strengthen their application to professional school. The University of South Alabama offers all basic courses required by professional schools (English, general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, math, and physics). In addition, the Biomedical Sciences curriculum offers upper division courses in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Microscopic Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Neurosciences, Issues in Biomedical Sciences, and Introduction to Research. Three of the courses, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology are offered online, as well as on campus. There are also ample opportunities for undergraduate biomedical research experience in Research Observation, Honors Research Thesis, and in lab assistant positions.
Nontraditional students interested in a career change will benefit from our rigorous undergraduate curriculum in preparation for professional schools. Not only will you cover material valuable to your new career, you will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your academic talents and skills to the professional school admissions committee, and you will be well prepared for the standardized entrance exams. In addition, you will receive help and guidance through the entire application process.
Dr. T.G. Jackson, Professor of Chemistry and Health Preprofessions Advisor with over 25 years experience, National President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, health preprofessions honor society, past President of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, and member American Association of Medical Colleges Committee on Admissions.
Ms. Melissa Wold, M.P.A., and Ms. Mary Haynes, Academic Advisors, College of Allied Health Professions
Dr. Stephen K. Itaya, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Sciences.
Mr. Mark Scott, Director of Admissions, USA College of Medicine.
There are a variety of extracurricular resources available to students. In addition to study guides for the MCAT, Dr. Jackson conducts several practice MCAT exams every semester. Admissions committee members from USA and UAB conduct mock interviews and panel discussions with students. Qualified students may enroll in a shadowing program to observe physicians, dentists, optometrists, and/or veterinarians for 3-4 hr/week for a semester. The university's award-winning Alpha Epsilon Delta preprofessional honor society chapter has plenty of opportunities for community service projects, from blood drives and hospital visits to fund raisers, tutoring, and visits to medical centers. Dr. Jackson also keeps up to date information about the DAT, OAT, and GRE.
An important part of the advising team is the extensive experience of Melissa Wold and Mary Haynes, Academic Advisors for the College of Allied Health Professions. Ms. Wold and Ms. Haynes have been involved in the admissions process for O.T., P.T., and physician assistants programs, and they provide career counseling and academic advising to all students in the college.
As chair of Biomedical Sciences for the past 7 years, Dr. Itaya has advised many students about different health related careers. Since the program began in 1987, there have been over 200 Biomedical Sciences graduates. Of those, over 60% have gone on to postbaccalaureate programs, and approximately 41% have gone on to medical school.
The USA Postbaccalaureate Health Careers Advising Program is an extension of an ongoing, highly successful on-campus program that has the experience and talent to help you achieve your goal. Advisors in the program maintain a close working relationship with the USA College of Medicine, USA's departments of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistants Studies, and with the USA College of Medicine Ph.D. Program in Basic Medical Sciences.
General Chemistry with Lab: two
semesters
Organic Chemistry with Lab: two semesters
General Biology with Lab: two semesters
Physics with Lab: two semesters
Mathematics: two semesters are recommended; some schools require calculus
Humanities: two semesters
English Composition or Literature: two semesters
USA
College of Arts and Sciences
USA Department of Biomedical Sciences
USA College of Medicine
USA Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department
USA Physician Assistant Studies Program
USA Physical Therapy Department
USA Occupational Therapy Department
USA Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences
Over the past ten years, many USA graduates have been accepted to:
Medical Schools (e.g., USA, UAB, Emory, Tulane, U. Tenn., U. Miss., Meharry,
East Tenn. State, McGill U., U. Conn, Med. Coll. Georgia, U. Kansas, Howard, Med. School
Carribean, U. Kentucky, U. Louisville, Michigan State, Georgetown, St. Louis)
Dental School (UAB, U. Florida)
Optometry School (UAB, Southern College of Optometry)
Veterinary Medicine School (Auburn, Georgia)
Osteopathic Medical School (West Virginia, NOVA Southeastern, Kirksville, Lake
Erie)
Physician Assistant Studies (USA, UAB, Baylor)
Physical Therapy Programs (USA, Old Dominion, U. Mobile)
Ph. D. Programs (USA, UAB, Tulane, Med. College of Georgia)
M.P.H. Programs (UAB)
Research Fellowships/Internships (NIH, CDC)
In addition to our own students, graduates from Tulane, Notre Dame, and other universities have attended classes at USA, participated in our preprofessional program, and been successful in applying to medical school and other health professions programs.
Interested students can attend a Health Preprofessions session on campus visitation days. Every November, February, and April, USA has a Get Acquainted Day open house for prospective students to visit with faculty, students, and advisors, tour the campus and dorms, and talk with representatives from the Offices of Admissions, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Housing, and various campus organizations. Contact the Admissions Office for more information (see below).
Interested applicants should contact Dr. Jackson, Ms. Wold, Ms. Haynes, or Dr. Itaya for an advising session prior to applying.
After the initial advising, applicants must apply to and be accepted by the university. Each student will work with advisors to formulate an individual plan to achieve his/her specific goals.
Applicants will then register for the appropriate courses and become a participant in the Postbaccalaureate Health Preprofessions Program.
Dr. T.G. Jackson
Dept. of Chemistry CHEM 223
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(334) 460-7356
(334) 460-7359 FAX
tjackson@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Ms. Melissa Wold and Ms. Mary Haynes
College of Allied Health Professions
UCOM 1550
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(334) 380-2772
(334) 380-2636 FAX
mwold@usamail.usouthal.edu, mhaynes@usamail.usouthal.edu
Dr. Stephen K. Itaya
Dept. of Biomed. Sci. UCOM 6000
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(334) 380-2710
(334) 380-2711 FAX
sitaya@usamail.usouthal.edu
Office of Admissions
University of South Alabama
182 Administration Building
Mobile, AL 36688-0002
334/460-6141 or 800/872-5247
admiss@usamail.usouthal.edu
UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTH ALABAMA
Department of Biomedical Sciences
UCOM 6000, Mobile, AL 36688,
sitaya@usouthal.edu
(251) 380-2710 voice, (251) 380-2711 fax