The White Coat and More: Fordham Pre-Health Intensive

June 23-27, 2025 Rose Hill

Non-Credit Course

This comprehensive symposium is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required for a successful journey toward careers in the healthcare professions. Over five days, students will engage in a dynamic learning experience that covers a range of critical topics, including academic planning, clinical exposure, ethical considerations, and community health awareness. Through a combination of interactive sessions, field experiences, and expert speakers, participants will gain a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and the path to medical school and other health professions.

Skills/Learning Outcomes

• Academic Planning Skills: Students will develop a clear understanding of the academic steps necessary to gain admission to medical and health professions schools. They will learn effective strategies for approaching their undergraduate academic careers, including time management, organizational skills, and study techniques tailored to major-level sciences.
• Clinical Exposure: Participants will gain exposure to clinical environments, including visits to geriatric and community hospitals, where they will interact with patients and healthcare professionals. This experience will help students develop essential skills in ethical patient communication and deepen their understanding of the healthcare field.
• Discernment: Through reflective exercises and discussions, students will cultivate the ability to discern their own strengths, weaknesses, and motivations for pursuing careers in the health professions. They will explore the concept of vocation and its role in their career choices.
• Healthcare Professions Awareness: Students will become familiar with various healthcare professions, including medicine, dentistry, and allied health professions. They will learn about the requirements, experiences, and expectations of different health professions schools through insights shared by school administrators and healthcare professionals.
• Community Building: An integral part of the course is community building and engagement with peers, FCRH staff, and healthcare professionals. Students will develop a supportive network for their pre-health journey.

Overall Takeaways

Students will get a clear understanding of the following:

• What is involved in the path to and preparation for medical school and other health professions.
• The academic preparation necessary for admission to healthcare programs. This will include science faculty guest speakers and hands-on science lab experience.
• Exposure to various clinical environments.
• Familiarity with the various healthcare professions, such as medicine and dentistry.
• An understanding of their own motivations for pursuing health professions careers through exploration of the concept of vocation and its role in a career choice. 
• Time management and planning for the college program.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Laura Bigaouette 
With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Bigaouette serves as the Associate Dean and Pre-Health Advisor at Fordham University. Passionate about counseling and teaching, she specializes in advising students for health careers. Dr. Bigaouette's teaching background spans various levels, including traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and doctoral courses. She has been with Fordham University for six years, previously holding positions at Manhattanville College and having a 20-year corporate career in telecommunications. Dr. Bigaouette, who completed her doctorate in educational leadership in 2019, brings a wealth of expertise to her role, guiding students through academic planning and competitive health program applications.