An open-door approach
Pass by David Crouch’s office in Althouse Hall and chances are you’ll find the door open. The associate professor of chemistry may be working on a complex reaction in his lab or editing a journal article, but his students are always welcome to stop in.
That receptive, open-door approach is the norm at Dickinson, Crouch says. “Professors, not graduate students, teach our lab classes. Students get personalized attention. They see us in labs, in the classrooms and hallways. We don’t just teach; we build relationships.”
A former high-school teacher, Crouch recognizes the importance of his role as a pre-health adviser. “In this country if you’re good at science, high-school teachers say you should be a doctor. Very rarely do they say you should be a chemist. It’s hard to know what’s out there.”
 |
| David Crouch, associate professor of chemistry, finds the best health professionals are those with the “whole package.” |
Turns out, there’s a lot. While many of Crouch’s students go to medical school, others have chosen a doctorate in pharmacy or a graduate degree in chemistry over an M.D.
His advice to students considering the health professions: Take the science classes you need, work hard, prep for your MCATs and get good grades. But also have fun. Take a few electives in areas you find interesting and seek out research or internship opportunities that challenge you.
Crouch’s advisees have a wealth of experience to draw upon:
- Co-authoring his published research
- Discussing current scientific developments
- Interning with physicians and pharmaceutical companies to establish specific fields of interest
- Earning fellowships for post-baccalaureate research before going to grad school.
Overall, Crouch says, students who succeed in Dickinson’s Pre-Health Program do so because they have the whole package. “We’re looking for good people, however you define that (academic excellence, hard work, intellectual curiosity), and the students who are bright and diligent here also tend to be well-rounded people.”
In his experience, those dynamic people are the ones who make terrific health professionals.
Bio note:
David Crouch teaches introductory and organic chemistry. He is a frequent contributor and an editor for The Journal of Chemical Education and other scholarly publications. To date, 25 Dickinson students have been co-authors on publications from his lab. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, master’s degrees from Shippensburg University and Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. |
Opportunities: Hands-on exploration
Back to Admissions | 
