Often before undertaking the years of preparation for graduate school as well all the hardships involved, undergraduate pre-health students will seek to find out whether the profession they have chosen is really the one for them. Several pre-health organizations have been founded at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to assuage the fears undergraduates may have and to prepare them for what their future in a certain profession may hold.

Pre-Medicine. For pre-medical students, the Society of Future Physicians (SFP) exists to assist them in their endeavors. The mission statement of SFP is "…to provide the opportunity to UIC pre-medical students to discover what a medical career is all about." SFP benefits its members by hosting numerous activities that expose them to various aspects of medicine. In the past, SFP has offered surgery viewings, medical ethics seminars, medical school admissions seminars, and a CPR certification class. Members of SFP also have had the opportunity to pose questions to medical school student panels and prominent guest speakers from the medical field and to take tours of the UIC medical school campus.

Rishi Garg, Treasurer of SFP, says, "By becoming a member of SFP, pre-medical students receive first-hand exposure to the medical field, as well as the issues they will be forced to deal with when they are in medical school and while they are leading their professional lives." New members were initiated into the organization this past September 2001 at the annual SFP induction ceremony and were given a preview of what the 21st-century holds for medicine by Dr. Leslie Sandlow, UIC Medical School Dean. For more information about the Society of Future Physicians, contact Jeff Meglin at jmegli1@uic.edu.

The Health Oriented Latino Association (HOLA) is another pre-medical association found at UIC. HOLA was established in 1981 to provide a source of encouragement and assistance to all students interested in achieving a career in the health sciences. This student run organization provides academic and social support to its members through sharing old exams from science classes as well as hosting various guest speakers from different health colleges at their meetings. Undergraduates are better prepared for the future by listening to guest speakers, who can relay to HOLA members what classes they will need to take, the specifics of their professions, and how members can achieve their goals of becoming health professionals. The speakers act as mentors, sharing advice about classes or experiences they have gone through, and members are given the information they need so they are aware of what the future holds.

HOLA networks with its members, other students, and organizations to create a warm and family oriented atmosphere. HOLA President Jesus Rosas stresses that the organization is not just for Latino students. He said, "Most people think that because of our name we only deal with Latino students. This is not the case. We are here to help all minority students, and if someone who is not a minority student wishes or needs our help, we are here to help them as well." This past semester, HOLA members volunteered at the AIDS Run/Walk and participated in the UIC Taste. The association also plans to give members a tour of the UIC College of Medicine. For more information about HOLA, visit www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/cultures/hola/.

Pre-Dentistry. The UIC Pre-Dental Club was founded in 1999 by Ahmed El Maghraby with the purpose to provide information about dentistry to students entering the field. This year's president of the club, Hyeon Lee said, "The Pre-Dental Club provides an opportunity for pre-dental students to meet others like themselves. We help them prepare for dental school and for their admissions tests, and we provide guidance and support as their peers." Since its origin, the club has strived to keep up with changes in dentistry. They keep members updated on new findings and other issues that they will face once they are in dental school. The benefits of being a member of Pre-Dental Club are numerous. They include obtaining useful information as an undergraduate student, receiving guidance about how to become a better dental candidate, and communicating and interacting with others of the similar interest. Members are also introduced to guest speakers such as dentists, counselors, and advisors at meetings, and they tour the UIC College of Dentistry as well as shadow dental students for a day. In addition, the club hosts seminars regarding Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation. This semester, the Pre-Dental Club plans to invite speakers from different fields of dentistry, watch videos about dentistry, visit the UIC dental school, attend some UIC first-year dental school classes to dissect cadavers, and invite current dental students to their meetings. They will also give away a scholarship at the end of the year. For more information about the Pre-Dental Club at UIC, please contact Hyeon Lee at hlee32@uic.edu.

Pre-Pharmacy. Pre-pharmacy students can also obtain the benefits pre-health organizations have to offer from the Pre-Pharmacy Club. The mission of the UIC Pre-Pharmacy Club is to expose members to the field of pharmacy and the College of Pharmacy itself. There are many benefits to becoming a member, including learning about the pharmacy program, interacting with professors and students at the College of Pharmacy, and also meeting students in pre-pharmacy programs at other schools. Alice Kim, a member of the Pre-Pharmacy Club, states, "I believe that it's a good idea for Pre-Pharmacy majors to join the club, because it will give them a better background of the type of work and opportunities that are involved as a pharmacist." This year, the Pre-Pharmacy Club has several activities planned for its members, including fundraisers, practice Pharmacy College Admission Tests (PCAT), meeting with advisors from the College of Pharmacy, and several volunteer activities. The advisors play a major role in helping students prepare themselves for what is to come in the future. President Thomas Ochcocinski Jr. summarizes his view of the club by saying, "I think the club is fun and gives pre-pharmacy students the chance to build a support network. The College of Pharmacy is a very small college and the better we all know each other, the better we will do overall." For more information about the Pre-Pharmacy Club, contact Thomas Ochcocinski at tochoc1@uic.edu.

By becoming a member of the Pre-Dental Club, Society of Future Physicians, Health Oriented Latino Association, or the Pre-Pharmacy Club, pre-health students prepare themselves for most of the issues they will face as they pursue their careers and are given a head start in their future endeavors.

Alisha Bhatia is a second year student studying Biological Sciences and Psychology. She intends to pursue a career in medicine.