Dickinson alums: In their own words

“I knew coming to Dickinson that I wanted to be a doctor. The guidance from professors in the biology, chemistry and psychology departments was invaluable during the process of moving through the Pre-Health Program, taking the MCAT and applying to med schools. I did research with a psychology professor for two-and-a-half years, and the experience was perfect for my future line of work, both directly and indirectly. I learned how to work in a laboratory and gained skills in critical thinking, reading and writing; leadership; responsibility; self-motivation; and communication.” — Brian McGettigan ’03, medical student at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

“I chose Dickinson for superficial reasons—I liked the campus and the location of the school—but it was probably the best un-educated decision I ever made. I participated in the medical-rotation program, where I ‘scrubbed in’ to my first surgical procedure, a gall bladder removal. After the rotation, I arranged an internship with an alum who is an orthopedic surgeon. The doctor included me in all aspects of his practice, including interviewing patients, in-patient treatments and surgeries. Learning what my life will be like as a doctor was very valuable. With this type of hands-on experience, I didn’t go blindly into medical school. Based largely on the research I did with professors at Dickinson, I won a Fulbright award in 2002 to study the biochemical and physiological causes of aging in Australia. All the skills on which I based my Fulbright research, I learned at Dickinson.” — Rebecca Levit ’02, medical student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

“I knew before I went to college that I wanted to be a veterinarian, so the Pre-Health Program was a given. I worked with biology professors in the Merck Scholars program and on an independent-study project. Those experiences are why I am where I am today. They gave me the research experience, both in academia and industry, to qualify for a combined-degree program (I’ll leave Penn with a VMD and a Ph.D.). Working in the physiology lab also gave me surgical experience I will need as a vet. I had more hands-on experience at Dickinson than I get in vet school!” — Mary Alles Robinson ’01, veterinary student and doctoral candidate in pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania

“When I initially came to Dickinson I was undecided in terms of my major. I was most interested in the sciences, and medicine was always in the back of my mind. I participated in the hospital internship program to explore careers in medicine and rotated through a variety of doctors’ offices in a number of specialties. I instantly knew medicine was the field for me. I knew I would have a strong science education with the pre-health curriculum, so I opted to major in an entirely different field. In the spirit of liberal arts, I chose Latin. That is what is so special about a Dickinson education—you can learn about a wide variety of fields and get some specialization in more than one area. I also think my diverse educational experiences made me an attractive medical student. My major helped me stand out to admissions committees, and it provided me with the critical-thinking and communication skills necessary to succeed in medical school and as a practicing physician.” — Molly Cummings Gavin ’99, resident in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital

A track record of success

Medical and graduate schools attended by Pre-Health Program students:

• Dartmouth
• Georgetown
• Harvard
• Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
• Johns Hopkins
• Stanford
• UCLA
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Vanderbilt

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