The following is a brief overview of the history of health-professions advising at Gordon College, Wenham, MA, composed by the current advisor, Dr. Craig M. Story, who took over the reins during the summer of 2004.
I. History of Gordon College
Gordon College itself was originally established as a school of Christian theology and missions in 1889 in Boston Massachusetts. As the institution grew and desired a more rural location, the current Wenham, MA campus site was purchased from Fredrick Prince. The land, including several buildings and a large polo field was originally known as Princemere. In 1970 the theological seminary was established as a separate institution and moved to a location nearby in South Hamilton, MA, and is known as Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Gordon College has since become widely known and respected for its quality liberal arts curriculum, and rigorous academic standards.
II. The Percentage of Gordon Students that get in to Medical School
Around 1995, with Dr. Don Munro as the new pre-health advisor, an informal retrospective study was done to determine the answer to the first question everybody asks: "What percentage of Gordon students get into medical school?" It turns out the answer to this question is not a simple one, as it depends on how you define the question. For example: Do you mean successful on the first attempt? Do you mean only students who were included in the pre-health advising program? Do you include allopathic and osteopathic schools? The best answer I can give after poring over the information is that PLENTY of Gordon students do get into even the most competitive of medical schools. The first record on the "history list" is of a 1975 graduate who matriculated to Pennsylvania State University in 1977. There are a total of about 45 different allopathic medical schools that have accepted Gordon students, including acceptances to Harvard Medical School, Tufts, Cornell, BU, Georgetown, Albany, UMass, UConn, and many others. A total of 78 Gordon grads have matriculated to allopathic medical schools (which includes three in combined MD/Ph.D programs) as of 2003. Gordon students have also entered Osteopathic medical school, dental school, optometry school, pharmacy school, and physician assistant school. For prospective students entering Gordon, I would say that if you maintain high academic standards and take advantage of the many opportunities available at Gordon, I am very confident that you WILL get into medical school.
III. History of Health Professions Advisors at Gordon
Health professions advising has typically been a part-time position taken on by a professor in the natural science division, or an adjunct faculty. The first faculty to have this official role, was Dr. Richard Wright, retired, of the biology department. He was succeeded in 1981 by Dr. Robert Herrmann, who remained active as an adjunct professor of Chemistry until 1995. Dr. Herrmann came with experience as a former member of the admissions committee of Boston University of Medicine from 1969-1976. As part of his role at Gordon, he placed several pre-meds in university laboratories and local medicine practices each summer and in some cases during the school year. Dr. Herrmann also established a "premedical seminar" course, which provided a forum for students to receive direct advising as well as meet working professionals from various health professions careers who came to speak to the students. Dr. Don Munro took over as pre-health advisor in 1995. Dr. Munro also came with much prior experience, having been in this role for many years at Houghton College. Dr. Munro continued the premedical seminar course, renamed "Health Professions Seminar," which currently has a strong component of student discussion of current issues in Biomedical ethics.
IV. Status report, September 2004
As of the 2004-2005 school year we are continuing with the Health Professions Seminar course. There may be minor changes and adjustments as a new advisor takes over, but the course will continue with good pre-med advising, writing emphasis, exposure to issues related to the helping professions, and last but not least, direct contact with health professionals. One final enhancement to our program this year is the health professions website and the resource library in Emery Hall, 3rd floor. Please suggest any ideas for improving the site or the health professions course.
9/15/04
Craig M. Story Ph.D.
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
Gordon College, Wenham, MA
-search for HP link
978-867-4393