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 Medical School, preparing students for the rigor of medical school.
• Courses such as Evidence-Based Medicine; Experimental Design and Data Analysis; Assessing Evidence in CIM; Critical Readings in CIM provide students 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; 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; Complementary & Integrative Medicine in Oncology.
• An eight-week experiential offered by experts in Mind-Body Medicine teaches the 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.  

• Students receive guidance from the faculty from the first moment they step on campus. Students are assigned a faculty mentor but also have the opportunity to form close relationships with other faculty due to the high faculty/students 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 the students in the preparation of their application materials, academics, etc. 
• 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 already in the admissions cycle.
• BGE runs the Office of Career Strategy & Professional Development. 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 in the IMHS program library.

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 collaborations. Furthermore, the IMHS program works with many clinics in the DC area that accepts our students for shadowing experiences.

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

Students can contribute to the exciting student life on campus by participating in a large number of student-run organizations both in the Medical Center and on the main campus. These include but are not limited to Graduate Student Organization, Medical Center Graduate Student Organization, Medical School organizations such as Patient Safety and Advocacy group, and many others. Furthermore, students can help plan events and contribute in various ways within the IMHS program.

In addition to courses and seminars, in the Spring semester students participate in integrative medicine hands-on workshops and field trips. Furthermore, the eight-week CIM Practicum is an internship 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 life-long enrichment.

Students are exposed to many different 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. These careers include but are not limited to 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. 

• 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 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.