Barry S. Rothman, Ph.D. { Health Professions Home Page}

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Benefits

 

  • Participants will be able to complete pre-requisite course work efficiently and with guaranteed entrance into Program classes.

 

  • Participants move through the Program as a cohort of up to 50 students. Based on experience with our present group of post-bacs (Cohorts 1, 2 and 3), they will likely form a cohesive group with similar goals and mutual support. This feature emphasizes cooperation rather than competition.

 

  • Class size is reasonable. Lectures will have up to 50 formal post-bacs (the maximum size of the Cohort), while labs and discussion sections have up to 25 formal post-bacs each.

 

  • Auxiliary course work in the form of discussion sections (Sci classes) will enhance learning. These Sci classes are mandatory during the first summer and optional thereafter.

 

  • The Program provides a Health Professions Colloquium in which students will receive individual and group help in writing personal statements and practicing for interviews.

 

  • The Program provides a comprehensive "committee" letter upon completion of all core courses.

 

  • Participants will be allowed to take additional, non-Program course work as electives. These courses have lower tuition (about $250/unit), and add flexibility to the Program.

 

  • The Program provides a number of support services:

 

    1. At a nominal fee, optional Chemistry Boot Camp and Math Boot Camp to help participants prepare for summer chemistry and math courses. Chemistry Boot Camp is held during the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday prior to the beginning of summer classes. Math Boot Camp is held Monday-Friday, 1½ hours per day, during the first two week of summer classes (math classes begin in the third week of summer classes). The Boot Camps have received rave reviews from Cohorts 2 and 3.

    2. During the first summer, a mandatory weekly 1½-hour support group at no cost, led by an SFSU faculty member, tailored to the needs of Program participants. The support group can be continued on an optional basis in future semesters, but at nominal cost to participants,

    3. Access to a Learning Specialist associated with the Program at a cost of about $60/hr.

    4. Access to a Psychotherapist associated with the Program at a cost of about $60/hr.

 

  • The Program will help participants find productive clinical experiences in the San Francisco Bay area. Academic credit can be gotten for these through AU 693 (Cooperative Education) or Bio 699 (Special Projects).

 

  • The Program strongly promotes admitting a diverse group of participants. Participants will be part of SFSU's diverse student and faculty population.

 

  • Participants will have the support of the Program Director, Program Assistant and the Faculty that teach their courses.

 

  • The Program fees, although substantially higher than regular fees at SFSU, are lower than those charged by most other formal post-bac programs.

 

  • The Program integrates modern teaching methods and supplementary, health related information into its curriculum. This includes integration of the following into appropriate course material:

 

    1. The use of MCAT/DAT/GRE-style test questions.

    2. The use of case-based learning exercises (used in many health profession schools).

 

  • Information on healthcare disparities and complementary and alternative medicine.

 

  • MCAT/DAT/PCAT/OAT/GRE preparatory courses may be offered on campus at a discounted rate in collaboration with commercial providers.

 

  • The Formal Post-Bac Program (PHPCP) interacts synergistically with the other post-bac programs on campus: the Informal Post-Bac (2nd-Bac) Program and the Dental Post-Bac Programs. For example, pre-dental students entering the Formal Post-Bac Program have the opportunity to interact with dental post-bacs who have already completed pre-requisite course work and have gained a considerable amount of clinical experience. Such pre-dental Formal Post-Bacs can also take advantage of SFSU's close ties with the UCSF and University of Pacific Dental Schools, which partner with SFSU in running the SFSU/UCSF/Pacific Dental Reapplicant Program.

 

  • We are in the process of creating a nationally recognized program with a modern curriculum, high standards and a high success rate that will train the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.

 

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