Pre-Med & Pre-Health Career Preparation

• Challenging science courses in Human Physiology, Biochemistry and Cellular Sciences, and Pharmacology are taught by the same faculty that teach at the Georgetown School of Medicine, preparing students for the rigor of medical school.
• Courses such as Evidence-Based Medicine, Experimental Design and Data Analysis, Assessing Evidence in CIM and Critical Readings in CIM provide students with tools and practice in thinking critically about study design and outcomes, learning to analyze scientific data, searching the scientific literature, reading and analyzing basic science publications, and understanding and assessing clinical trial design.
• Students are provided a broader context for understanding the medical profession and issues in medicine with courses such as Bioethics, Reflective Writing and Self-Awareness Through Personal Essays, and The Legal Issues in Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
• Most of IMHS courses are taught by experts in their respective areas of integrative medicine, including Survey of Complementary and Integrative Medicine; Mind-Body Skills; Seminars in Physiology, Biophysics, and Integrative Medicine; Clinical Nutrition, Botanicals and Supplements; Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Pathophysiological States; Mind-Body Medicine and Physiology; Western Practice of Eastern Medicine; and Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Oncology.
• An eight-week experiential practicum offered by experts in mind-body medicine teaches students self-care and self-awareness. Students are taught how to handle academic stress, build long-lasting friendships and connections with their classmates, and acclimate to the new school environment.  

Our students:

• Learn to collaborate and work in a team with health professionals in multiple areas of medicine.
• Develop critical thinking skills to interpret and evaluate evidence from research and clinical trials.
• Understand the principles and practice of integrative medicine.
• Nurture the promotion of preventative healthcare in our society.
• Appreciate the influence of cultural heritage in medicine and medical practice.
• Acquire thorough knowledge of nutrition, botanicals and supplements, which is not commonly offered in medical school.

In addition to courses and seminars, in the Spring semester students participate in hands-on integrative medicine workshops and field trips. Furthermore, the eight-week experiential practicum is an opportunity for the students to develop their real-life skills in the field of integrative medicine or IMHS research. Students are given the opportunity to showcase and apply what they learn in the classroom in the workplace. Past students have attested that their experiences were very positive and provided lifelong enrichment.

During the year, the IMHS Research Techniques and IMHS Literature Research courses afford students many opportunities for research in various fields spanning basic science, clinical research and social sciences.Students can also do research during the summer Practicum. These opportunities have allowed students to be co-authors on publications and to present at scientific conferences.

Students are exposed to many career paths while in the program. They learn about integrative medicine careers from material in various courses and by networking with visiting faculty and seminar speakers.

Students may learn about careers in medicine, osteopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, traditional Chinese medicine/Oriental medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga therapy, art therapy, music therapy, health coaching, functional medicine, law, bioethics, basic science and clinical research, and others. 

Students are taught in small-classroom settings by visiting clinicians, researchers and experts in various fields of medicine. Students also meet for lunch with seminar speakers. These interactions provide networking opportunities and further possibilities for shadowing and collaboration. Furthermore, the IMHS program works with many clinics in the D.C. area that accept our students for shadowing experiences.

We have curated Integrative Medicine & Career Resources that will support students in preparing for professional schools and jobs.

• Students receive guidance from faculty from the first moment they step on campus. Students are assigned a faculty mentor, and also have the opportunity to form close relationships with other faculty due to the high faculty-student ratio and the close-knit community in the IMHS program. The Program Directors act as pre-med advisors throughout the year. They have access to AAMC resources and guide students in the preparation of their application materials. 
• The Program Directors write a joint recommendation letter for medical school and other professional school admissions. They also write a letter of good standing at the end of the Fall semester for students who are already in the admissions cycle.
• Georgetown Biomedical Graduate Education’s Office of Career Strategy & Professional Development helps students to prepare for the next step after their master’s degree. In addition, students are encouraged to attend events provided by the undergraduate pre-med group on campus. 
• Workshops on MCAT preparation are offered based on student interest. We also offer an extensive library of MCAT prep books for borrowing from the IMHS program library.

Students can participate in student life on campus through a large number of student-run organizations, both in the Medical Center and on the Main Campus. These include the Graduate Student Organization (GSO), Medical Center Graduate Student Organization (MCGSO), School of Medicine organizations such as Patient Safety Interest Group, and many more. Furthermore, students can help plan events and contribute in various ways within the IMHS program.