A new student organization with a noble goal has sprung up on campus.
The Pre Health Professions Club was recently founded to create a network for students who are working towards health care professions, such as medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry and a host of other fields.
The group was founded by WVU Tech biology student Lindsey Ray. Ray, who has been accepted into the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, wants to build an organization for students like her – for students who are overwhelmed by the process of applying to, testing for and preparing for professional health care programs.
The first goal of the group is create connections between WVU Tech students who are in these fields. Many of them are working towards the same goals (studying for specific exams or undergoing specialized trainings, for instance), so the group wants to create a community where these students can rely on one another, share their own experiences and share resources.
The second goal is to connect these students with professionals in the field. In order to do this, the group is seeking health care professionals from all related fields to serve as guest speakers, to allow students to shadow them on the job or even to mentor students as they move through the process.
Taken together, the group’s goals are aimed at preparing these students to better take on the health care challenges of Southern West Virginia and allowing the existing health care community to start working with a new crop of enthusiastic, well-trained professionals.
The group has already begun hosting community events, with the most recent being a free CPR training seminar on campus October 8.
From Pre Health Professions Club president, Lindsey Ray
On the benefits of the new group:
“With the school growing, we have a lot of increased interest in the health care fields. The club automatically creates connections. It allows you to share information. These students all have an application process and testing. They all need reference letters. They all are working towards similar goals, so they fit right together.”
On her drive to start the organization:
"When I started approaching this, I knew I wanted to go to medical school. I'm from Greenbrier County, so I grew up around WVSOM. I didn't know what I needed to do. I knew I needed experience, but didn't know where to get it. It's overwhelming, so we're looking for direction and to share other perspectives on what working professionals did to get where they are today.”
Why getting involved as a professional is beneficial:
"It helps you aid people who want to do what you're doing and allows you to give back. It allows you to see students who are passionate about the things you're passionate about. It lets you share your experience and your passion."
“It also creates a network of strong students for the health care community to choose from. It allows them to bring in students during their education and to get them more engaged in the regional health care community.”