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Premedical Scholars
Premedical Scholars News:
Springfield College premedical students will be eligible for early acceptance at Lake Erie School of Dental Medicine.A Note from Dr. Mark Kenton
- Springfield College already has a number of alumni working in the medical field. One recent alumnus is Dr. Mark Kenton, the head of the emergency department at Springfield’s Mercy Medical Center. Kenton earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College in 1994 and 1996, respectively, studying under Springfield College Director of the Premedical Scholars Program and former dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies Mary Healey.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without Mary Healey. Everybody at some point in their career needs someone who believes in them, and she was the one person that truly believed in my potential,” he said. “Springfield College prepared me both clinically and from a hands-on standpoint. Academically, it made me much stronger going into medical school.
“The new program is outstanding,” he added. “It’s going to give students a lot more experience early on, and allow them to determine what direction they want their career to take. The connections Dr. Healey has established with these impressive medical schools makes things much easier for the students.”
A Solid Foundation
Launched in September 2011, the Premedical Scholars Program is a dedicated office for academic advising and counseling for students intending to pursue advanced education in medicine and the sciences. Many Springfield College students are interested in health-related professions. Although Springfield College does not offer professional medical degrees, the Premedical Scholars Program helps prepare students planning to pursue a career in medicine gain entry into graduate and professional programs that will lead to terminal degrees in health-related fields.
The Premedical Scholars Program provides academic advising and counseling, and arranges internships and job shadowing. Many students will partake in internships with Springfield College alumni working in such medical fields as primary care, dentistry, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, chiropractic, podiatry and more. Internships are offered at hospitals, clinics and medical offices, and opportunities are available for physician shadowing.
Springfield College has long prepared students for medical school, and has a renowned reputation for preparing leaders in human-helping fields. Springfield College graduates are highly sought not only for the skills and experience they’ve gained, but also because they are empathetic professionals who are committed to going out into the world and making a difference in the lives of others.
Affiliation Agreements
Springfield College holds affiliation agreements with several medical schools providing various special opportunities such as early or guaranteed acceptance or accelerated/fast-track completion. These schools include: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), New York College of Podiatric Medicine, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), including its Doctor of Dental Medicine Program.
For many of these programs, students are accepted at the end of their sophomore year and upon meeting graduation and other requirements, such as fulfilling internships or practicum experiences, are guaranteed placement in the partnering medical schools. For example, both UNECOM and LECOM accept students after three years at Springfield College, with students’ senior year at Springfield College simultaneously serving as their first year in medical school. This allows exceptional students to shorten their academic career by one year.
Preprofessional Committee Members
- Mary Healey, Ph.D., Coordinator of Preprofessional Committee
- Joseph Berger, Ph.D., Committee Chair
- Julie Smist, Ph.D., Premedical Scholars Club Advisor
- Charles Redington, Ph.D.
- Peter Polito, Ph.D.
- Susan Keys, Ph.D.
- Frank Torre, Ph.D., Chair of the Biology/Chemistry Department
- Marissa Blauvelt, Ph.D.
Healing Lives and Passing the Torch
Dr. Vaughan Allen, with biology major Jevin Carruth ’11 and sports biology major Ashley Kelley ’11. Carruth and Kelley were joined by senior sports biology majors Sara Graber and Jaclyn Hill in Nashville, in July, where the four participated in internships at the Howell Allen Clinic. Read the full article in Triangle Magazine.