Two students consult an anatomy book during a class at UM

Pre-Health Professions Advising

Supporting Pre-Health Students

The Undergraduate Advising Center’s Pre-Health Professions Academic Advising team are the primary advisors for undeclared pre-health professions students. We offer secondary supplemental academic advising to students in declared majors who are interested in pursuing a career in the health professions. We support all students interested in any health profession or health-related field. The team also advises students in the Gerontology Minor.

The Pre-Health Professions Academic Advising Team works in cooperation with UM's College of Health, the College of Science, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, , and the Pre-Medical Sciences Advising Program.

Students interested in the health professions degrees offered through Missoula College will work directly with their program advisor at Missoula College.

Pre-Health Programs at UM

  •  focuses on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves — and the patient’s health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. They do not prescribe drugs or perform surgical procedures, although they do refer patients for these services if they are medically indicated.

    For additional information on Chiropractic programs, please visit the .

    The Pre-Chiropractic cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Chiropractic.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Stephanie Domitrovich, stephanie.domitrovich@umontana.edu

  •  are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.

    In performing the dental hygiene process of care, the dental hygienist assesses the patient’s oral tissues and overall health determining the presence or absence of disease, other abnormalities and disease risks; develops a dental hygiene diagnosis based on clinical findings; formulates evidence-based, patient-centered treatment care plans; performs the clinical procedures outlined in the treatment care plan; educates patients regarding oral hygiene and preventive oral care; and evaluates the outcomes of educational strategies and clinical procedures provided.

    The  lists several types of Dental Hygiene program. For additional information on Dental Hygiene programs, please visit the .

    The Pre-Dental Hygiene cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Dental Hygiene.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Stephanie Domitrovich, stephanie.domitrovich@umontana.edu

  •  is the branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining oral health. It is a dynamic health profession, offering opportunities to become a successful, highly respected member of the community.

    A degree in dentistry offers a number of career options, including:

    • Academic dentistry
    • Private practice either as a general dentist or specialist (self-employed, employee, associate/ partner)
    • Dental research
    • Dental public policy
    • International health care
    • Federal government (military dentist)

    For additional information on dental program, please visit  (ADEA).

    The Pre-Dental cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Dental.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu

    Pre-Med Faculty Advisor: Mark Pershouse, mark.pershouse@umontana.edu 

  • The Pre-Med advising cohort is part of .

    There are two ways to become a physician:  (MD) and  (DO).

    MDs focus on traditional medical practices while using system-based diagnosis and treating symptoms when serving their patients.

    • (AAMC)
    • (AMA)

    DOs focus on a holistic or whole-body approach to understanding a patient’s symptoms when diagnosing and treating their patients.

    The Pre-Med cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Med.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu

    Pre-Med Faculty Advisor: Mark Pershouse, mark.pershouse@umontana.edu

  •  is distinguished as a primary health care profession by its emphasis on prevention, treatment and optimal health in combination with the human body’s innate ability to heal.

    For additional information on Naturopathic Medicine, please visit

     (CNME) 

     (AANMC)

     (AANP) 

    The Pre-Naturopathic cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Naturopathic Medicine.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu.

  • The Pre-Nursing advising cohort focuses on the  (RN) career path. Students interested in the CNA career path should contact the .

    Students have two choices when pursing an RN degree: Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), which is a two-year degree, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which is a four-year degree. UM does not have a nursing degree program. Pre-Nursing students can complete the pre-requisites for either an ASN or BSN at UM but will have to transfer to a school that has a RN program. ASN students typically transfer to Missoula College. BSN students typically transfer to  or .

    Check out these General Education courses that transfer to other nursing programs. 

    The Pre-Nursing cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Nursing.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: depends on which campus you are enrolled on.

  •  help people of all ages to fully engage in their daily lives, from their work and recreation to activities of daily living like getting dressed, cooking, eating and driving.

    For more information about Occupational Therapy, please visit:

     (AOTA)

    The Pre-Occupational Therapy cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Occupational Therapy.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Stephanie Domitrovich, stephanie.domitrovich@umontana.edu

  •  is the field involving virtually everything that has to do with eyes and vision, including examination, diagnosis and treatment of the eyes and surrounding structures, and the treatment of vision problems.

    For more information about Optometry, visit the  (ASCO) 

    The Pre-Optometry cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Optometry.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu.

  •  start their career as Pre-Pharmacy. Once they successfully complete the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum, they apply to the professional program.

    Pre-Health Professions Advising only pre-registers Pre-Pharmacy first-year students for their first semester. Once Pre-Pharmacy students are enrolled, then they meet with their Pre-Pharmacy Advisor.

  •  is a dynamic and evidence-based profession that helps to improve or restore mobility, relieve pain and reduce the need for surgery and prescription drugs. Physical therapy professionals diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

    For more information about Physical Therapy, please visit:

     (APTA)

    The Pre-Physical Therapy cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Physical Therapy.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Stephanie Domitrovich, stephanie.domitrovich@umontana.edu.

  •  are medical providers who are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and to prescribe medication for patients. They work in physician offices, hospitals and clinics in collaboration with a licensed physician.

    For more information about Physician Assistants, please visit:

     (PAEA) 

     (AAPA) 

    The Pre-Physician Assistant cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Physician Assistant.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Stephanie Domitrovich, stephanie.domitrovich@umontana.edu

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu

    Pre-PA Faculty Advisor: Mark Pershouse, mark.pershouse@umontana.edu 

  •  is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease. The human foot has a complex interrelation with the rest of the body, which means that it may be the first area to show signs of serious conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

    For more information about Podiatric Medicine, visit  (AACPM)

    The Pre-Podiatric Medicine cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Podiatric Medicine.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu

  •  are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. While many people associate psychiatry with psychoanalysis, most psychiatrists today provide a wide range of biological, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial treatments tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Psychiatrists also serve as the medical experts for the mind/brain/body interface.

    For more information about Psychiatry, visit (APA)

    The Pre-Psychiatry cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Psychiatry.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold, jason.granvold@umontana.edu

  •  is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as disease prevention in animals of all types, from family pets to farm livestock and zoo animals. Veterinary health care workers also contribute to human public health by working to control zoonotic disease, those diseases passed from non-human animals to humans. 

    For more information about Veterinary Medicine, visit (AAVMC). 

    The Pre-Veterinary Medicine cohort is a non-degree advising program. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

    Pre-Health Professions Advisor: Jason Granvold. jason.granvold@umontana.edu

    Biology majors Pre-Veterinary Medicine Advisor: Kerry Bright. kerry.bright@umontana.edu 

Resources for Pre-Health Students