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About Us

 

The Health Professions Program (HPP) was founded by Dr. Lee Witters, MD. Dr. Witters is an endocrinologist, award-winning educator, and Dartmouth Biology Professor, who remains the faculty advisor for the Nathan Smith Society.

HPP is Dartmouth's four-year+ Pre-health advising program for students interested in health professions. Our purpose is to provide academic advising and assistance for Dartmouth Undergraduates and Alumni, as you navigate the rigorous path of academic, experiential, and personal growth, and explore and prepare for a health profession (medical, veterinary, dental, nursing, etc.). We offer one-on-one advising, as well as group work-shops.  Dartmouth's Pre-Health Advisors can guide you through the process, from your first year of college to your matriculation into a health professions school. Advisors are available during weekly walk-in hours or by appointment.

What does HPP do?

  • Assists you to navigate your academic journey including course selection, D-planning, and study strategies.
  • Helps you explore extracurricular experiences, and research opportunities
  • Assists you to assess and reflect on your journey, your goals, and your evolution.
  • Oversees the Pre-Health Peer Mentor Corps
  • Develops the Pathways to Medicine initiative, which supports student from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine
  • Helps you navigate the entire application process for medical, dental, veterinary and other application process, even as alumni
  • Provides expertise and timely, relevant information about the Med/Dental/Vet school process and the journey of building a strong application
  • Facilitates and Sponsors workshops and community events to provide you with information and inspiration.
  • Partners with the Nathan Smith Society (NSS) — Dartmouth's largest pre-health student society — which runs the Shadowing Program
  • Works with the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) and Geisel School of Medicine to organize events
  • Connects students to resources across the Dartmouth community (Dartmouth College, the Geisel School of Medicine, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center)

Diversity and Inclusivity  

"Dartmouth's capacity to advance its dual mission of education and research depends upon the full diversity and inclusivity of this community. We must increase diversity, particularly among our faculty and staff. As we do so, we must also create a community in which every individual, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability, nationality, political or religious views, or position within the institution, is respected. On this close-knit and intimate campus, we must ensure that every person knows that he, she, or they is a valued member of our community.

Diversity and inclusivity are necessary partners. Without inclusivity, the benefits of diversity—an increase in understanding, improvement in performance, enhanced innovation, and heightened levels of satisfaction—will not be realized."

President Philip Hanlon '77 - Excerpt from May 2016 Letter to the Dartmouth community