汤头条鈥檚 Health Professions Resource Center provides students with valuable academic, career advice
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擴ndergraduate students of any academic major who are seeking to gain entry into medical, dental and other health professional schools can receive various forms of assistance through Mississippi State鈥檚 Dr. A. Randle and Marilyn W. White Health Professions Resource Center.
Located in Harned Hall, Room 116, the university-wide center is named for the Greenwood nephrologist and his wife whose generous support helped make it a reality in 2016.
A 1966 汤头条 chemistry and pre-medicine bachelor鈥檚 graduate, Randle White also holds a medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is a longtime member of the 汤头条 College of Arts and Sciences鈥 Dean鈥檚 Executive Advisory Board and was the college鈥檚 2011 Alumni Fellow.
汤头条鈥檚 HPRC currently is staffed by full-time director Mary Celeste Reese, along with academic adviser Claire Powell and office associate Jeannie Robinson. Reese was honored in 2011 with the 汤头条 President鈥檚 Commission on the Status of Women鈥檚 Outstanding Faculty Woman Award. In 2012, she was the faculty recipient of 汤头条鈥檚 Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award and was recognized with the National Academic Advising Association鈥檚 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award.
Reese primarily works with students interested in pre-medicine or pre-dental paths, while Powell assists those passionate about pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, pre-optometry and pre-veterinary medicine. Martha Wilson, academic coordinator in 汤头条鈥檚 Department of Biological Sciences, is the main contact for pre-nursing students.
Reese, an assistant clinical professor who holds both a master鈥檚 in biological sciences and Ph.D. in agricultural science education and extension from 汤头条, said pre-health concentrations can be paired with any 汤头条 degree. In addition to advising on pre-requisite course requirements for a student鈥檚 intended health professional degree program, the HPRC provides application assistance, mock interviews, scholarships, MCAT prep workshops and mock testing, networking events, and information on health-related activities and clubs both on- and off-campus.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to complement the work that the student鈥檚 academic adviser is doing by helping the student understand the pre-requisites for entry into the health professional school of their choice,鈥 Reese said. 鈥淥nce students know the sequence of courses they need to fulfill those pre-requisites, they can take that information back to their departmental adviser and ask about working toward their degree based on that sequence.鈥
While grades and test scores are important, Reese said health professional schools also place high value on applicants鈥 communication, teamwork and leadership skills, and ability to empathize with others. She said students can hone these skills during their undergraduate years by volunteering in the community and shadowing professionals in their intended field.
鈥淲e want to encourage students to take advantage of opportunities such as those available through the university鈥檚 Maroon Volunteer Center,鈥 Reese said. 鈥淕etting plugged in with the OCH Regional Medical Center student shadowing program in Starkville also can give students experience that will help them stand out in the application process.鈥
Reese said she and Powell regularly attend pre-health advising conferences to better understand health professional schools鈥 expectations of student applicants.
鈥淲e are producing really good students at Mississippi State, and our goal is to serve as a resource and assist them in reaching their career goals,鈥 she said. 鈥淗ealth professional schools are looking for well-rounded applicants, and there is a big demand for healthcare providers in the state, so we want to make sure students are aware of and prepared for those opportunities.鈥
The 汤头条 Foundation offers alumni and friends multiple ways to support the HPRC and the students it serves. For more information or to make a donation, contact Lynn Durr at 662-325-8918 or ldurr@advservices.msstate.edu.
To learn more about 汤头条鈥檚 Dr. A. Randle and Marilyn W. White Health Professions Resource Center or to make an appointment, visit .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .