Advisory Committee for the Health Professions

Welcome to the online presence of the advisory committee for the health professions (ACHP) at Utica University. This site is designed primarily as a resource for pre-health-professional students at Utica, but may also have significant value for potential students, either high school or transfer.

The Advisory Committee for the Health Professions (ACHP) at Utica University is a group of Utica faculty and local clinicians who assist Utica students in their preparation for graduate health studies like medicine, dentistry, etc. This help and advising occurs in conjunction with normal academic advising within the student's major.

Utica University - like most colleges and universities in the US - does not offer a major in prehealth studies (premed, predent, prevet, preoptometry, etc.). Instead, students prepare for graduate studies by selecting a major in one of Utica's academic departments that suits their interests, then declaring their 'prehealth' interest to the ACHP. In addition to meeting with their academic advisor regularly to ensure progress towards their degree, students also meet regularly with members of the ACHP to ensure adequate progress towards meeting the requirements for their graduate program of choice, both in terms of classes completed and entrance exams taken.

Our philosophy is that we don't get students into graduate health programs, we help students get themselves into graduate health programs. Our approach is a successful one, as our students are not only accepted at medical schools, dental schools, veterinary schools, optometry schools, chiropractic schools, PA (physician assistant) programs, and other programs - they are successful there and go on to fulfilling careers.

Utica students: If you haven't already signed up for the ACHP mailing list, please do so here. If you're not sure if you should, ask Dr. Pack

Information is also available on our Joint Health Professions Programs (commonly called 3-4 programs).

The Advisory Committee for the Health Professions at Utica College prepares students for successful lives as evidence-based health care professionals by:

welcoming all Utica College students
introducing diverse health care paths via direct interaction with practitioners
providing a rigorous curriculum based on discovery and critical analysis of scientific data
ensuring students retain the flexibility to determine the path for which they are best suited
encouraging and facilitating community service
providing access to current information regarding preparation for, and application to, professional schools

These are the members of the Utica College Advisory Committee for the Health Professions. If you plan to contact a clinical member of the committee, please do so through the chair. It is important that the chair of the committee have a record of how much shadowing you've done, plus he can facilitate distribution of students so one clinical member doesn't have ten students calling her in the same week.

Advisory Committee for the Health Professions, 2005-2006

Adam Pack, Ph.D., Chairman (315) 792-3129 apack@utica.edu Room 160, Gordon Science Center
Lawrence Aaronson, Ph.D. (315) 792-3092 laaronson@utica.edu Room 286, Gordon Science Center	Bryant Buchanan, Ph.D. (315) 792-3131 bbuchanan@utica.edu Room 162, Gordon Science Center
Daniel Kurtz, Ph.D. (315) 792-3923 dkurtz@utica.edu Room 183, Gordon Science Center	Judith W. McIntyre, Ph.D. (315) 738-0053 jmcintvre@utica.edu 8 Sherman Circle Utica, NY 13501
Peter Pawson, Ph.D. (315) 792-3385 ppawson@utica.edu Room 175, Gordon Science Center	Michelle Boucher, Ph.D. (315) 792-3071 mboucher@utica.edu Room 269, Gordon Science Center
Terri Provost, Ph.D. (315) 792-5286 tprovost@utica.edu Room 164, Gordon Science Center	Sharon Wise, Ph.D. (315) 792-3356 swise@utica.edu Room 161, Gordon Science Center
Julie Betro-Shkane, D.O. St. Elizabeth's Family Practice 1256 Culver Avenue Utica, NY 13501	Alyssa Thomas, Ph.D. (315) 792-2596 acthomas@utica.edu Room 283, Gordon Science Center
John DeTraglia, M.D. 2206 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13502	Michael Fanelli, D.D.S. 286 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13502
Daniel Herbowy, D.P.M. 6 Business Park Court Utica, NY 13502	Mark Hobaica, D.P.M. 2315 Genesee St., Utica, NY 13501
Brian Jackson, D.D.S. 2534 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13501	Mike Jones, D.V.M. 6127 Happy Valley Rd Verona, NY 13478
Sherry Anne Lints, D.C. 2044 Genesee St, Utica NY 13502	Frank Mondi, V.M.D. New Hartford Animal Hospital Box 431 Washington Mills, NY 13479
Anthony Palumbo, M.D. 4350 Middle Settlement Road New Hartford, NY 13413 dove@borg.com	Joanne Palumbo-Mozloom, O.D. 4350 Middle Settlement Road New Hartford, NY 13413 csee2020@dovelaswer.com
Scott Bushinger, O.D. 289 Genesee St. Utica, NY	Jeremy M. Welsh, DHSc, RPA-C Clarkson University P.O. Box 5882 Potsdam, NY 13699-5882 315-268-7942 Fax 315-268-7944 jwelsh@clarkson.edu
John Rubin, D.O. 308 Carson Rd. West Winfield, NY 13491 St E's Emergency Department 2209 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13501 jrubesdo@aol.com	Fred Talarico, M.D. 2115 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13501

Downloadable Forms

Reference request letter
Please give a completed copy of this form to each individual from whom you request a letter of reference.

Committee letter request
If you know you'll need a committee letter, please get this form (filled out of course) to Dr. Pack at least 8 weeks before you need the letter.

Letter of introduction
Bring this letter to people you'd like to shadow after you have Dr. Pack sign it.

Committee letter distribution request
You'll use this form to provide the Arts and Sciences staff the addresses of the schools to which you're applying
Letter of introduction Bring this letter to people you'd like to shadow after you have Dr. Pack sign it.

Progress worksheet
You should pull this out at least once a month and work on it. Meet with someone from the committee to discuss it!

GPA Calculator
Calculate your GPA for science courses or other classes taken with this easy to use Excel spreadsheet.

Information

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

The MCAT page(you can register here as well as get important info about the MCAT)

American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

Association of American Veterinary Colleges

The DAT page (you can register here as well as get important info about the DAT)

Application Services

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)

Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

Application Service Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)

Utica College is pleased to offer joint health professions programs with several professional schools. Students in the joint health profession programs study at Utica College for three years and spend four years at the professional school. UC awards the bachelor's degree after the first year of professional study is satisfactorily completed.

Although admission to the professional school is decided separately and not guaranteed, some preference - usually in the form of a guaranteed interview - is given to participants in the joint health professions program when they apply, usually in their sophomore or junior year at UC.

UC has agreements with the following medical programs:

State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dental Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kent State University, College of Podiatric Medicine
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
New York Chiropractic College
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Application Process

Admission to joint health professions programs is highly selective and involves a three-phase process.

Phase One

Applicants must complete and submit the Utica College application for admission by January 15 of their senior year in high school. The Admissions Committee then reviews the application for a decision on acceptance to Utica College. An acceptance to Utica College does not mean automatic consideration for the joint health professions programs. The Admissions Committee decides if the applicant is eligible for consideration for the joint health professions degree programs and, if so, a supplemental application is sent. Applicants lacking the academic credentials required for the joint health degree programs will be notified by Utica College.

Phase Two

Applicants who receive acceptance to Utica College and the supplemental application are required to complete and submit the supplemental application by February 15. The professional school will review applications and decisions will be made by April 1.

The selective nature of the program requires that all applicants visit campus for a personal interview with an admissions counselor at Utica College by February 15. If an applicant is unable to visit, a phone interview can be arranged.

Phase Three

Students admitted to the joint health professions program apply to professional school in their second or third year of college (depending on specific school requirements). Admission decisions by the professional school will be based in part on specific admissions test scores (e.g., MCAT, OAT, DAT). Admission to professional school is not guaranteed. Students not admitted to professional school complete their bachelor's degree at UC and may again apply to professional school again as juniors or seniors.

Specific admissions requirements vary for each joint health professions program. Regardless of the professional school, a strong record of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and community involvement are expected. Minimum requirements for each program are listed below.

Programs

SUNY College of Optometry in New York City offers both a 3 + 4 program and an early assurance program. It seeks to improve public access, cost-effectiveness, and quality outcomes of eye, vision, and related health care delivery.

Admissions Requirements: 93 cumulative GPA, 1360 SAT (700 Math) or 29 ACT

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME, reserves five seats for UC students. UNECOM has a primary objective of training osteopathic family physicians that will practice in the under-served areas of New England. Opportunities also exist for medical students to specialize in such areas as surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and radiology, among others. A distinctive characteristic of medical education at UNECOM is the focus on preventive medicine. Students are trained not only to care for the sick but also to participate with their patients to promote health.

Admissions Requirements: Be in the Top 20% of class, 1170 SAT or 26 ACT

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA, reserves 15 seats for UC students. LECOM's purpose is to educate and develop primary care physicians in the osteopathic tradition. It also proposes to provide students with a firm academic background so that those who wish may advance further into the osteopathic specialties, such as surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and radiology, among others. Students may also pursue seats in the LECOM School of Pharmacy or School of Dental Medicine.

Admissions Requirements: 3.5 or 90 GPA, 1240 GPA or 26 ACT

Kent State University, College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, OH, cooperates with UC in an accelerated binary degree program admitting highly qualified students who have demonstrated a commitment to the profession, proven academic abilities, and superior personal qualifications.

Admissions Requirements: Be in the Top 20% of class, 1170 SAT or 26 ACT

University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Buffalo, NY cooperates with Utica College in a 3+4 Early College Partnership. Students complete three years of study at UC, then apply for the PharmD program at UB. Once accepted, the students’ first year pharmacy credits are recognized and applied toward the completion of their Bachelor’s degree at UC.

Admissions Requirements: 1200 SAT or 27 ACT

New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, NY offers a 3+3 program in partnership with Utica College resulting in the completion of a Bachelor’s of Science in Liberal Studies from UC and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from NYCC. The Bachelor’s degree is awarded by UC after a student’s first year of successful completion of study in the Doctor of Chiropractic program at NYCC.

Admissions Requirements: 90 or 3.5 GPA, 1150 SAT (550 Verbal, 600 Math)

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY cooperates with Utica College in a 3+4 Dual Degree Program. Students complete three years of study at UC, then apply for the PharmD program at ACPHS. Once accepted, the students’ first year pharmacy credits are recognized and applied toward the completion of their Bachelor’s degree at UC. Students will apply to ACPHS in their third year at UC.

Admissions Requirements: Completion of at least 90 credits at UC with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, completion of required pre-pharmacy courses at UC, minimum PCAT score of 20, successful interview with ACPHS

Standards of Continuation

Each program has specific requirements for continuation. Upon acceptance into a program, students will receive the requirements for continuation. Students must receive the recommendation of Utica College's Advisory Committee for the Health Professions (ACHP) for continuation in the combined medical program and follow the admissions procedures stipulated by the graduate program.

Contact Us

Adam Pack, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

(315) 792-3129

apack@utica.edu