Pre-Med

Why Choose the Pre-Med Track?

An undergraduate degree from Lewis & Clark is excellent preparation for those looking ahead to medical school and health-related careers. You will sharpen your voice, challenge ideas, and gain hands-on experience that sets you apart and prepares you for the rigor of earning your professional degree. Plus, all incoming students interested in medicine will automatically be paired with a pre-med advisor from day one.

Connect With Lewis & Clark!

The Lewis & Clark Pre-Med Track 

Pre-Med Advising

From your first semester, you’ll have access to our dedicated pre-med advisor, Carolyn L. Zook, who will help you map your courses, prepare for the year-long medical school application process, and connect with alumni mentors in the health field. Our mentorship philosophy revolves around personalized guidance, skill development, and holistic support.

I draw inspiration and energy from working with students, witnessing their resilience and growth, and coaching them as they navigate the complexities of finding their career path in the health professions.

—Carolyn Zook 

Pre-Med Coursework

We offer the coursework and skills necessary to apply to graduate programs in medicine, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, counseling, and more.  Check out our pathways to nine healthcare careers.  Pre-Med students can pursue any undergradutate major they choose. The popular majors and minors for our pre-med and health-minded students are biology, chemistry, and health studies. 

Our health studies minor provides the narrative, psychological, and cultural contexts that supplement the coursework of those interested in medicine, physical therapy, and other clinical careers. It also offers the statistical and scientific foundation necessary for students interested in public health, counseling, health care administration, global health, health policy, and more.

Intent to Apply: MD

Our Intent to Apply program guides Lewis & Clark juniors, seniors, and alumni through the year-long medical school application process. The program is designed to demystify the medical school application process and keep you on track toward your goals.

Center for Community and Global Health

Lewis & Clark’s Center for Community and Global Health offers a wide range of experiences inside and outside the classroom for students interested in health.

• Through the center and a partnership with the Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative, you are introduced to narrative medicine—a practice of sharing stories and listening closely to humanize health care interactions, and it is taught at 80 percent of medical schools in the United States.
• Internships and community-based projects, where you can discover, explore, and build on your interests in health, including placements at Adventist Health, Madrona Recovery, and Legacy Health.
• Collaborative research projects with faculty in biology, chemistry, psychology, and other health-related fields including behavioral health.

A Student Community That Cares

• The Pre-Health Professions Club, where you can find community with other pre-med students, share resources, provide peer mentorship, and improve the success of your graduate school applications.
• The Palatine Support Network, which supports mental health and wellbeing through peer-led group sessions.
• The Harm Reduction Community Outreach Club, where you can educate the community about safer drug practices, stigma reduction, and harm reduction resources.

After Lewis & Clark

Recent graduates of Lewis & Clark College who work with their pre-med advisor have a medical school admission rate of 70-75 percent, and have been admitted to medical schools such as Oregon Health & Science University, University of Washington, Pennsylvania State University, Dartmouth University, University of Minnesota, and more!

Here are some other examples of what recent L&C graduates are doing with their degrees:

• Jesus Ramirez Del Muro ’22, is a public health regional care coordinator.
• Hannah Innis-Skinner ’22 is a veterinary assistant.
• Kalevi Paavola ’23 is a medical scribe.
• Priyanka Tomlinson ’23 is a clinical research assistant.
• Hannah Lasky ’25 is studying for the MCAT.
• Hernando Magallanes ’25 is a certified medical interpreter.
• Jonathan Westlake ’25 is a research assistant.
• Cameryn Nagaji ’25 is pursuing a doctor of psychology degree.
• Tessa Robinson ’25 is pursuing a master’s in mental health counseling.
• Ella Stephan ’25 is pursuing a master’s of public health.
• Lilly Elise Sullivan ’25 is pursuing an MD degree.

Dedicated Faculty

Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.

Invest in Yourself

A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.

Lewis & Clark Pre-Med Program FAQ