Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Health Professions Advisory Committee is composed of faculty from ISU's College of Arts and Letters, College of Pharmacy, College of Science and Engineering, and Kasiska Division of Health Professions who have an interest in educating health professionals. One of the functions of the committee is to evaluate a student's preparation for application to a health professions program by reviewing each student's credentials and interviewing the student. The comments of committee members who participate in a student's interview are combined into a letter of recommendation called a committee letter. Many health professions schools require a committee letter to accompany the student's application materials in addition to letters of recommendation from individuals who know the student well. The committee highly encourages students to apply for a committee interview in the semester prior to submitting their applications to the health professional schools.

In addition to providing evaluative interviews, the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee members serve as sources of information and advice about developing successful health professional school applications for students with academic majors in many different departments.

Committee Members

Curt Anderson, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences; Location: Life Science 330, Phone: 208-282-5813, Email: andecurt@isu.edu.

Ralph Baergen, PhD, Professor, Department of English and Philosophy; Chair, Human Subjects Committee, Office for Research; Location: Kegel Liberal Arts Building 247, Phone: (208) 282-3371, Email: baerralp@isu.edu.

*Catherine Black, MS, Academic Programs Coordinator, ISU-Idaho Falls; Location: Bennion Student Union, Phone: (208) 282-7804, Email: blaccath@isu.edu.

Kori Bond, PhD, Professor, Department of Music; Location: Fine Arts Building 214, Phone: (208) 282-2551, Email: bondkori@isu.edu.

Elizabeth Cartwright, PhD, Professor, Department of Anthropology; Location: Graveley Hall 159, Phone: (208) 282-3509, Email: carteliz@isu.edu.

Brian Crawford, DDS, FICD, Chair & Associate Professor, Program Director of the Idaho Advanced General Dentistry, Department of Dental Sciences; Location: Pocatello Family Medicine B15, Phone: (208) 282-5275, Email: crawbri3@isu.edu.

Karl De Jesus, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry; Location: Physical Science Complex 355, Phone: (208) 282-2673, Email: dejekarl@isu.edu.

*Barbara Frank, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences; Location: Tingey Administration Building, Idaho Falls 110, Phone: (208) 282-7899, Email: franbar2@isu.edu.

James R. Groome, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences; Location: Gale Life Sciences 321, Phone: (208) 282-2791, Email: groojame@isu.edu.

Rebecca Hoover, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, Associate Professor, Director of the Idaho Drug Information Center, College of Pharmacy; Location: Leonard Hall 211, Phone: (208) 282-2587, Email: hoovrebe@isu.edu.

Rachel Hulse, EdD, MLS(ASCP)cm, Program Director & Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Science Program; Location: Leonard Hall 218, Phone: (208) 282-4456, Email: hulsrach@isu.edu.

Trent Jackman, DPT, PT, Clinical Associate Professor & Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy; Loction: Garrison Hall 31, Phone: (208) 282-3065, Email: jacktren@isu.edu.

Margaret Johnson, PhD, Professor, Department of English and Philosophy; Location Kegel Liberal Arts Building 232, Phone: (208) 282-2537, Email: johnmarg@isu.edu.

*Sharlene Jolley, Associate Lecturer, Department of Chemistry; Location: Tingey Administration Building, Idaho Falls, Phone: (208) 282-4444, Email: jollshar@isu.edu.

Dave Martin, MPAS, PA-C, Clinical Associate Professor & Academic Coordinator, Department of Physician Assistant Studies; Location: Red Hill 209, Phone: (208) 282-4709, Email: martdavi@isu.edu.

Jeffrey Meldrum, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences; Location: Gale Life Sciences 309, Phone: (208) 282-4379, Email: meldd@isu.edu.

Allisha Weeden, PhD, RDN, LD, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics; Location: Garrison Hall 604, Phone: 208-282-3591, Email: weedalli@isu.edu.

* Idaho Falls

Requesting an Interview with the Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Health Professions Advisory Committee offers students an opportunity to go through a mock interview (to prepare for medical and dental applications/interviews). Students are required to submit a packet of information including a transcript, a personal statement, and a list of activities similar to a medical or dental school application. These materials provide the interview committee with information for the interview. Students then receive feedback and a letter of evaluation that can be used in medical or dental school applications. Packets will be accpeted from December 1 to February 1. Students will not be considered for the HPAC interview if all materials are not submitted by February 1. These materials provide the interview committee with information for the interview. Students then receive feedback and a letter of evaluation that can be used in medical or dental school applications.

Requirements to participate in the interview:

Overall 3.3 GPA (Must include all coursework - each attempt except attempts with a "W" grade)
BCPM 3.3 GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math. Must include all coursework - each attempt except attempts with a "W" grade.)
MCAT or DAT must be complete or scheduled
The following courses must be complete with a C or better prior to interviewing:

BIOL 1101/Lab General Biology I
BIOL 1102/Lab General Biology II
BIOL 2206/Lab Cell Biology (For Dental - may use microbiology with a lab)
CHEM 1111/Lab General Chemistry I
CHEM 1112/Lab General Chemistry II
CHEM 3301/Lab Organic Chemistry I
PHYS 1111/Lab General Physics (Medical only)
PHYS 1112/Lab General Physics II (Medical only)
PSYC 1101 Introduction to General Psychology
Social Sciences class (history, anthropology, sociology, economics, etc.)
Humanities class (Art, Music, Theater, Literature, Philosophy, etc.)

Must be complete or in progress:

CHEM 3302/Lab Organic Chemistry II and BIOL 4432 Biochemistry (may also use BIOL 4445 Biochemistry I)

Patient Care Experience – must be 30-40 hours (Medical Only)
Community/Volunteer Experience – at least 50 hours within the last 4 years
Leadership – 1 leadership role within the last 4 years
Physician or Dentist Shadowing – at least 20 hours within the last 4 years
Must have read and understand the AAMC & AACOM Core Competencies OR ADEA Core Competencies

If you meet the above requirements or have questions contact the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office at hlthprof@isu.edu. In the subject line write “2021-2022 Applicant”.

Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet

How to use:

Print or Download Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet. This is an editable PDF.
Students complete the information on page 1.
- Waiver of Access – recommended. This means that you will not be able to view the letter. Medical schools will not give your letter of recommendation a great deal of weight if you do not waive your right to view the letter.
- Denial of Waiver – this means that you will be able to view the letter of recommendation. Because letter writers may not be as candid, medical and dental schools will determine that your reviewers are not as candid as they would be otherwise.
Enter your name (the student)
Enter your student ID
Check the professional program that you are applying for (medical or dental)
Sign the form
Date the form
Print the name of your letter writer
Print the writer's title (professor, doctor, dentist, etc.)
Give the form to you letter writer. It will explain how they send the letter to the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office.