Creating Opportunities and Access to Careers in Health is an undergraduate advising and retention program that engages Pitt undergraduate pre-health professions students in developing competitive portfolios beginning in their freshman year.
In collaboration with University Housing's Pre-health Living Learning Community and the Honors College, COACH students participate in programming that provides students with specific information and advice about the necessary tools to be competitive applicants for health professions school.
Through COACH, students set milestones, monitor their academic and professional development, evaluate their personal growth, and track their progress toward becoming a competitive applicant into Pitt health professions schools.
Through the use of an online portfolio (VAULT), COACH enables students to set milestones, monitor their academic and professional development, evaluate their personal growth, identify areas of improvement, and clearly see their progress toward becoming competitive applicants into the health professions programs.
COACH Advantages
- Mentoring
- Clinical Exposure
- Career Development
- Portfolio Development
- Academic Development
- Preparation for Applications to Medical School, Dental School, and Other Graduate Programs
- Assistance with Personal Statements to Graduate School
- Interviewing, Networking, and Public Speaking Skills Development
Participation
To participate in COACH students should:
- Be serious about their pre-health preparation -- evident in study habits, academic performance, and participation in the pre-health community
- Have a demonstrated interest in issues of diversity-inclusion in the health professions
- Have a demonstrated interest in issues affecting under-served populations
- Identify with a group that is under-represented in the health profession they are targeting
- Come from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background
Events
2013 Pre-health Summit (program)
2014 Pre-health Summit
Contact Us
Please contact the Office of Health Sciences Diversity for more information.