ASU West Pre-Health Conference gives details on medical careers

Anyone interested in pursuing a career in a health-related field can gather information and talk with medical school representatives during a Pre-Health Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The event at Arizona State University’s West campus is set to run from 4 to 8 p.m. in the La Sala Ballroom of the University Center Building at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road in Phoenix.

The conference is hosted by ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, the core college on the West campus.

The fifth annual Pre-Health Conference will include breakout sessions focusing on topics such as preparing for the MCAT and preparing personal statements for medical school applications. There will also be a practitioner panel that features a physician assistant, pharmacist and veterinarian. Information tables will feature representatives from institutions including the University of Arizona College of Medicine, A.T. Still University, Midwestern University, Northern Arizona University’s physical therapist and physician’s assistant programs, Kaplan Test Prep and The Princeton Review.

The day’s keynote speaker is Dr. Richard Zimmerman, a neurosurgical consultant at Mayo Clinic and a professor of neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Zimmerman is a member of the Mayo Clinic Executive Operations Team in Arizona, serves as chair of the Mayo Clinic Quality Committee in Arizona and is the Medical Director for Education. He has worked closely with the Arizona Hospital Association and the Arizona Quality Improvement Organization on statewide healthcare quality and safety improvement initiatives. Zimmerman will speak at 4:30 p.m.

The remainder of the schedule includes a networking opportunity with program representatives from 5 to 6 p.m., breakout sessions from 6 to 7:30 and table visits with representatives from 7:30 to 8:00.

“This event provides a great opportunity for students in any major to find out about the medical career options and educational paths available to them once they complete a bachelor’s degree,” said Sue Lafond, academic success coordinator in New College’s School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. “Attendees can learn more about various potential career paths, whether they plan to pursue an M.D. or D.O. degree or become a pharmacist, dentist, optometrist, physical therapist or physician assistant.”

The Pre-Health Conference is free; visitor parking on campus costs $2 per hour. Participants may pre-register at ncevents@asu.edu. On-site registration begins at 3:30 p.m. on the day of the event. For additional information, contact sue.lafond@asu.edu or heidi.maxwell@asu.edu.