PHSRC Pulse
From Rural Minnesota to the U of M Medical School: Mikayla Bartelt’s Pre-Health Journey
Bartelt’s journey from a rural Minnesota farm to the University of Minnesota, through public health and clinical research, and ultimately to medical school took a few more turns than she originally expected. But those experiences helped her find a path that feels right for her, and has led her to encourage current pre-med students to explore their options.
Expand your pre-health journey by spending winter break in South Africa!
The PHSRC is excited to launch a brand new study abroad course in a brand new destination this year: “The Anatomy of Inequality: Health Disparities in South Africa.” The course will launch this winter break and the deadline to apply is October 1. Read more for a sneak peak into the program.
"The historical and cultural foundations of medicine": A perspective on AHS 3005
Student Briana Joseph was among the participants in this year's AHS 3005: Modern medicine through history in Greece course. For a perspective on the global program and what it taught Briana, check out her thoughtful and inspired blog post!
PHSRC at NAAHP 2026
This past June 2026, Zoe Marquis-Kelly, Dana Hegre Lovold, and Kelsey Pedersen travelled to New Orleans, Louisiana for the National Association of the Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP) Conference. Over three and a half sweltering summer days, they attended conference presentations from other health profession advisers, swapped student support strategies with colleagues, and even managed to fit in a beignet or two!
From pre-health to health professional: PHSRC success stories
At the PHSRC, our mission is to empower students to explore health careers and prepare successful applications to health profession programs. As such, we have compiled the stories of health professional students that we have worked with in years past, so that current undergraduates can get a sense of not only the services the PHSRC has to offer, but also gain a window into the many ways of navigating a pre-health path.
Global Health Starts Here: Why Pre-Health Students Choose To Study Abroad in Thailand
Through daily classwork, field experiences, and self-reflection, students who participate in this course reflect on the unique impact they want to have in global health and learn about the interdisciplinary nature of health, culture, humans, animals, and the environment we all share - globally and locally.
Pathways Students Get Hands-On In AHS 1104
The Health Profession Pathways Program at the University of Minnesota supports undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds as they develop into future leaders in health professional careers. The Pre-Health Student Resource Center launched the Pathways program in 2021, and is recruiting students to join the 6th cohort!
This Pulse blog post shares a glimpse into one of the Pathways program signature experiences, AHS 1104: Experiences in Health.
Taking the Gap Year: How Joxery Mezen Camacho Found Clarity on the Road to Medical School
For Joxery Mezen Camacho (CLA ‘25), an alum of the Health Profession Pathways program, taking a gap year became one of the most meaningful decisions in her journey from the University of Minnesota to the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
What is a DO, and how does it differ from an MD?
Titles are helpful because they create easy shortcuts for complex definitions, roles, education level, and even career pathways. As a pre-med student, knowing the differentiations between different types of doctors is important in informing your future career path.
PHSRC Welcomes Laura Dammer Hess — A Champion for Narrative Medicine and Student Growth
Joining the team in February 2026, Laura Dammer Hess embarked as the new Director of the PHSRC, with a career rooted in collaborative, interdisciplinary higher education spaces. In this blog, we get to know Hess on a deeper level, exploring her passion for narrative medicine, the arts, and her personal encounters with the healthcare system.