The Pre-Health Advisor provides one-on-one guidance to students pursuing various healthcare careers, assisting with application materials and standardized exam preparation. The role also involves developing mentorship programs, managing student organizations, and building partnerships with healthcare stakeholders.
Requirements summary
A bachelor's degree is required, with a master's in counseling or student affairs preferred. Candidates need at least one to two years of experience in pre-health advising or admissions depending on their degree level.
The Pre-Health Advisor is a key member of the Health Professions Advisory Office (HPAO) team, supporting undergraduate students and recent alumni as they explore, prepare and apply to pursue advanced training and careers in a wide range of health professions (A-Z: Athletic Training to Veterinary Medicine) —including, but not limited to, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, and physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
The position leads to the development and integration of building campus and community partnerships that expand experiential learning, mentoring and service opportunities that enhance student’s career readiness for healthcare professions. In addition to providing targeted advising and programming, the Pre-Health Advisor co-develops exploration and preparation resources, supports events and workshops that guide students through their pre-professional/pre-health journey. This role reflects the office’s forward-looking mission by emphasizing innovation in program development and collaboration within community and healthcare-based settings, to enhance the impact of traditional advising responsibilities.
Key Functions and Expected Performance
Advising & Student Support
Provide one-on-one advising in person and virtually (zoom/phone) for pre-health students pursuing health professions regarding healthcare career exploration, holistic preparation strategies, program admission requirements and standardized exam preparation.
Offer professional school application feedback, including personal statements, additional essays, and letters of recommendation preparation, under the guidance of the Assistant Director and Director.
Resource Development & Engagement
Create and maintain digital documents and platforms that help pre-health students explore clinical health care career options and community-based healthcare experiences and opportunities.
Develop and host pre-health related events, workshops and group sessions that support healthcare exploration, preparation and overall professional development.
Programs & Mentoring Support
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with a wide range of healthcare stakeholders on and off campus, including community partners, to support pre-health students in exploring and preparing for healthcare careers.
Create, organize and coordinate local, regional, national, and international pre-health related experiences and opportunities.
Design and implement a pre-health mentorship program that provides second year and above students with healthcare industry experience, training, and resources, fostering meaningful community-based service and experiential learning that addresses community needs shaped by the social determinants of health.
Assist in developing methods to build, collect and record indirect support within student facing metrics, particularly for technology and communication-based initiatives for the pre-health mentorship program(s) for second year and above students with healthcare industry experience, training and resources in coordination with the Director of External Partner Engagement or appropriate Career Center project assigned colleague.
Student Organization Support
Serve as the advisor of at least five Vanderbilt University pre-health related student organizations, such as:
Student Volunteers at VUMC
National Patient Advocate Student Chapter
Vanderbilt Undergraduate Pre-Health Association
Vanderbilt Global Brigades
Helping Hands for Refugees
Communications
Disseminate pre-health events, workshops and group events on Vanderbilt University Anchor Link platform to ensure cross-marketing of all events offered on a weekly basis.
Compile and share weekly pre-health related student announcements related to clinical experiences and opportunities with the Assistant Director for dissemination.
Respond to pre-health student email inquiries received via HPAO that cannot be resolved by the HPAO Graduate Assistant.
Meetings & Professional Development
Attend all monthly meetings regarding affairs to support overall office needs.
Actively engage in and attend the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions and Southern Association of Advisors of the Health Professions conferences, meetings, and workshops to gain ongoing career education, professional development activities, and training.
Represent the office at meetings and events on campus and externally in the Director or Assistant Director’s absence.
Operational Duties
Identify and troubleshoot obstacles that arise and escalate, as appropriate.
Perform additional responsibilities, as assigned by the Director or Assistant Director.
Supervisory Relationships This position does not have employee supervisory responsibility but has responsibility for oversight of health professions programming and advising five pre-health related student organizations. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Director of the Health Profession Advisory Office.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, student affairs or related field from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.
Experience and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in any subject and at least two (2) years’ experience in health professions advising or post-baccalaureate or M.S. program (including counseling, educational programming, faculty engagement, admissions collaboration, and administrative responsibilities); OR Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, or related field, with at least one (1) year of experience in pre-health advising, admissions, or a related career setting is necessary.
Understanding of healthcare careers and professions (including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, allied health professions, etc.) is preferred.
Ability to conduct individual coaching sessions.
Proven ability to manage projects effectively.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Commitment to working in an academic environment with undergraduate and/or graduate students.
Creative, innovative, and open-minded approach to problem-solving and program development.
Strong initiative, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Responsible and independent nature. Ability to set goals, prioritize tasks, and follow through to completion.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and sensitive information.
Flexibility to work evening hours and adapt to varying schedule needs.
At Vanderbilt University [http://www.vanderbilt.edu] , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville [https://www.nashville.gov/], Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum [https://www.vanderbilt.edu/trees/] dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
