Preparing for a healthcare career involves more than completing prerequisite courses.
The Health Professions Pathway Program (H3P) provides a four-stage developmental journey that helps students explore healthcare careers, engage in meaningful experiences, prepare intentionally for professional school, and apply and transition into the next stage of their healthcare journey. Rooted in Gonzaga's commitment to reflection, service, and whole-person development, the pathway supports students as they cultivate the knowledge, skills, experiences, and values necessary to serve others through healthcare.
Students move through the stages at different times and in different ways, recognizing that there is no single "right" pathway to a healthcare career. Rather than focusing solely on prerequisite coursework or application requirements, the pathway emphasizes self-awareness, professional competencies, experiential learning, reflection, and intentional planning.
Explore
Discover your interests, values, and possible healthcare pathways.
Engage
Gain meaningful experiences, serve for and with others, and develop professional competencies.
Prepare
Assess your readiness and create a strategic plan for application.
Apply
Tell your story, submit applications, and prepare for your next chapter.
Guiding Question: How are you discovering your path in healthcare?
Focus: Explore healthcare careers, build your academic foundation, and reflect on your interests, strengths, values, and motivations for pursuing a career in healthcare.
Key Milestones & Activities
Launch Your Pre-Health Journey
Reflect on Your Values & Motivation
Investigate Healthcare Careers & Resources
Create Your Academic Success Plan
Chart Potential Timelines
Complete a Planning Conversation (with H3P)
What Success Looks Like
By the end of this stage, you can:
Describe healthcare careers that interest you
Identify personal values that may shape your future work
Navigate H3P resources and opportunities
Create an initial academic plan
Understand common healthcare career timelines
Identify your next developmental goals
Featured Gonzaga Opportunities
Health Professions Living Learning Community
Magis Seminar
Health Careers Association
H3P / Pre-Health Workshops
Guiding Question: How are your experiences shaping your understanding of healthcare?
What This Stage Is About: Gain firsthand experience in healthcare and community settings to better understand your chosen profession, develop professional competencies, and explore how you hope to serve others.
Key Milestones & Activities
Learn How to Build Meaningful Experiences
Explore Healthcare Through Clinical Exposure
Engage with Communities and Perspectives
Reflect on Your Growth and Professional Development
What Success Looks Like
By the end of this stage, you can:
Describe what you've learned from clinical and community experiences
Demonstrate growth in service, empathy, and professionalism
Connect experiences to your future healthcare goals
Identify strengths and areas for continued growth
Explain how your experiences have influenced your understanding of healthcare
Featured Gonzaga Opportunities
Center for Community Engagement
Undergraduate Research
Community-Based Learning
Health Careers Association
GU-UW School of Medicine Partnership
Guiding Question: How are you preparing for the next step?
What This Stage Is About: Assess your preparation, identify any gaps, and create a realistic plan for graduate school applications.
Key Milestones & Activities
Assess Your Application Readiness
Explore the Financial Side of Professional School
Develop Your Admissions Exam Strategy
Complete an Application Readiness Conversation (with H3P)
What Success Looks Like
By the end of this stage, you can:
Assess your strengths and growth areas honestly
Develop a realistic testing strategy
Understand the financial commitment of graduate education
Identify next steps before applying
Create a clear application preparation plan
Featured Gonzaga Opportunities
Admissions Exam Preparation Resources
Graduate School Fairs
Career & Professional Development Programs
Guiding Question: How will you tell your story and prepare for what comes next?
What This Stage Is About: Prepare applications, tell your story, and reflect on how your values and experiences will guide your future work.
Key Milestones & Activities
Prepare Your Pre-Health Application
Complete an Application Planning Meeting (with H3P)
Practice and Reflect on Professional Communication
Look Back, Look Forward
What Success Looks Like
By the end of this stage, you can:
Communicate your story with confidence
Connect your experiences to your future goals
Navigate interviews professionally
Make informed decisions about your next steps
Articulate the values that will guide your future work
If you are a current student needing access to Canvas, please complete the pre-health interest survey. If you are an alumni needing access to application resources and cannot access the link above, please email us directly.
Connect with H3P
Not sure what your next step is? We're here to help.
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