The Return of a NEW Gaels Pre-Health Advising Program: Pediatrician works with the Career Center

For many aspiring pre-health students and alumni, the road to a professional doctoral program in healthcare (medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, optometry, veterinary, etc...) can seem long, winding, and at times, overwhelming. But with the right guidance, resources, and experiences, all Gaels can navigate this complex journey with more clarity and confidence. One crucial resource that can make all the difference is pre-health advising programs offered by colleges and universities. As of January 2024, there is not one, but two pre-med/pre-health advisors that guide students and alumni from career exploration to application package and everything in between. While I support pre-health first-years and sophomores in career exploration and professional development, the most unique part of the new "Gael Pre-Health Advising Program" is Dr. Jessica Johnson, a valuable mentor and a pediatrician, who shares knowledge of her own medical journey with aspiring student doctors.  

The Journey Begins: A Personal Story

Dr. Jessica Johnson, M.D., a full-time pediatrician in Kansas City works remotely on the weekends with Saint Mary's College juniors, seniors, and alumni that are actively applying to medical school. Since Fall 2024, she has led five hour-long virtual informational sessions for any student looking to explore a career in medicine; topics range from "Career Exploration in Healthcare" to "Crafting a Personal Statement for Medical School" and "Choosing Clinical Internships and Experiences."  Dr. Johnson graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences and writes, "when I was growing up, I was surrounded by friends' parents who were in healthcare and told me to go all the way and become a doctor" because of her strong academic performance. Therefore, that was the "seed" that was planted and how one lets that grow into full bloom is what Medical School Admissions Committees want to know.   As Dr. Johnson excelled academically, the idea of becoming a doctor seemed like the perfect path. She majored in biology, driven by a strong interest in science and the only classes she "had to work really hard in." She then quickly realized, doing well in college was just the beginning. The application process for medical school, especially without a mentor, was far more complex and competitive than she initially understood.

Dr. Johnson disclosed that "without a mentor, I navigated medical school alone. I ended up applying twice and taking the MCAT (Medical College Acceptance Test) multiple times before I was accepted." In the end, her perseverance paid off. "Looking back, I can confidently say that the journey was well worth it."

The Importance of Pre-Health Advising Programs

Pre-health advising programs are designed to support students who aspire to enter healthcare-related fields, particularly those aiming for medical school. In the 2025 application cycle, according to AAMC (MD) and AACOMAS (DO) advisor portals, approximately 52,000 nationwide applicants applied for allopathic medical schools (MD) and 23,000 applied for osteopathic medical schools (DO).  At Saint Mary's College, there are 60-70+ self-reported applicants per application cycle for all pre-health  professional programs. With GPA, MCAT, and other standardized test scores getting higher and higher for admissions, pre-health advising programs are not just for students struggling academically or those who are unsure of how to move forward; they’re valuable for anyone looking for structured support and mentorship.

From the moment a student begins considering a career in medicine, these advising programs provide a roadmap. They offer resources on everything from course recommendations, MCAT prep, and application timelines, to advice on gaining clinical and volunteer experiences that are vital to becoming a competitive applicant. An applicant, current student or alumni, can meet with an Advisor as often as they like, usually once a week on Zoom or in-person during an application cycle, at no cost. 

In addition, clinical experience is essential. Not only does it demonstrate a commitment to medicine, but it also helps students figure out whether they truly want to pursue this career. Dr. Johnson advises students that volunteering or shadowing in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings allows students to witness firsthand what a career in medicine entails. "Don't be afraid to pull strings from family, friends, neighbors, to help get your foot in the door for these experiences," she shares. These experiences also help solidify the "why" behind the decision to pursue a medical career and help the "seed" grow. 

But simply gaining clinical experience is not enough. Pre-health advisors often emphasize the importance of a well-rounded application and how to focus on understanding one's “degree of impact” (UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine webinar, 2024). Dr. Johnson has also met a handful of professors, either during Committee Letter sessions or participating in the Health Science Committee, and knows that there are "excellent research opportunities so students should be encouraged to seek out those opportunities to join--further bolstering their application." Strong leadership experience and community service, whether related to medicine or not, can go a long way. 

The new "Gael Pre-Health Advising Program" continues the work and commitment from its two prior Pre-Health Advisors, Dr. Rainbow Rubin and Dr. Jassi Kaur, who have gathered a wealth of informational "at-a-glance" handouts, 50+ alumni contacts in healthcare, and a structured protocol for students to obtain a committee letter. As the secondary Pre-Health Advisor & Career Counselor for School of Science majors, I have been working diligently behind the scenes to piece together the process to capture early applicants and to also share the outcomes of Saint Mary's College alumni in not just medical school, but other professional health programs as well. Since I transitioned from general Career Counselor to School of Science Health Counselor, I would hear anecdotes of who got into this school and that program, but there was no actual log of all reported applicants. I submitted my credentials to the Universal Advisor Portal and AAMC Advisor Information System, and now I can track trends from the last 5 application cycles like range of GPA and MCAT scores for alumni and how many 'gap years' an applicant takes. The answer to that is at least 1-3 years. 

A Recommendation from Pre-Health Alumni

Ryan Quock, B.S. Biochemistry '23, is grateful for the new pre-health advising support. He writes, "one important lesson I’ve learned is that pre-health advising is not just for current students. In fact, all pre-health alumni, no matter where they are in their career journey, can benefit from the resources." Both Dr. Johnson and I have simultaneously supported Ryan during his secondary questions into dental school in this past application cycle. Secondary questions, or supplemental questions, are 5+ additional questions that the applicant must answer about specific aspects of a program i.e. "how will you uphold the mission and vision of the program?" or "what are your ties to this state?" These responses may take days and weeks to reflect, craft, revise, and revise again. There is typically a shorter character count, so therefore the responses must be clear and concise. Ryan mentions that the "detailed feedback in all the essays and the mock interviews have confidently prepared me and I would not have gotten accepted into dental school without their assistance."    

Marissa Nisihara, B.S. Health Science '24, will enroll in Samuel Merritt University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program this Fall 2025. She mentions that without the structure of the Career Center to offer pre-health advising support, the admissions process for physical therapy is notoriously difficult. "With their guidance of researching schools, personal statement review, and preparation for the interview process, it helped ease my stress when making such a major decision in my life," shares Marissa, "they are genuine people who want to help you succeed." 

Dr. Jessica Johnson summarized it up best in that "everyone has something to gain from meeting with an advisor, whether they're the first person in their family to pursue a career in medicine or they come from a family of physicians. You can never have too much support along this journey." Some students do navigate the admissions process on their own or do not want to meet with an advisor because they are worried the application isn't enough. Rest assured Gaels, both advisors approach each student authentically and genuinely because we truly want students to achieve their dreams. 

Contact Emails: 

Dr. Jessica Johnson (jrj8@stmarys-ca.edu) works with juniors, seniors, and alumni actively applying to any program

Maria Rajanna (mer19@stmarys-ca.edu) explores career pathways with first-years, sophomores, and alumni 

Upcoming Gael Pre-Health Advising Events: (register on Handshake for more details)

February 21, 2025 "Medical School Requirements & Frequently Asked Questions" 

March 7, 2025 "Finding Healthcare Internships & Clinical Opportunities"