Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. today announced the formation of the TCU Pre-Health Professions Institute, part of an effort to raise the profile of TCU’s pre-health program, already considered one of the best in Texas.

The Chancellor said, “I am pleased to announce today that this stellar program has been elevated to institute status. Because of this added prestige, we are confident that Pre-Health Professions education at TCU will become even more distinctive.”

For more than a century, TCU has prepared students interested in the health professions for post-graduate study through rigorous coursework, access to high-quality clinical experiences, volunteer opportunities and personalized academic and pre-professional advising delivered by caring faculty mentors.

Over the past 30 years, approximately 1,000 pre-health alumni have been accepted to professional schools around the country, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, New York University and all 13 medical and dental schools in Texas.

“TCU’s 80 percent acceptance rate into medical school over several decades is double the national average and a testament to the quality of the program,” said Matt Chumchal, director of the Pre-Health Professions Institute.

Over the coming years, Pre-Health Professions Institute staff will work to enhance the visibility of the program and increase advancement efforts.

“Our goal is to make an already strong program even better - without sacrificing the personalized nature of the program that characterizes TCU in general,” said Shauna McGillivray, associate director of the Pre-Health Professions Institute.

Today’s announcement was the result of a process initiated by Demitris Kouris, former dean of the College of Science and Engineering. In September 2011, Kouris formed a committee of campus leaders to evaluate the pre-health professions program. The committee made a number of recommendations, including the formation of an institute and appointing an external advisory board. Kouris and Provost Nowell Donovan approved the plan in spring 2012.

Appointed last fall, the advisory board is composed of leaders in the health care community united in a common purpose: to foster excellence in the Pre-Health Professions Institute at TCU.

“Our board members are alumni of the program and parents of current and former students,” said Chumchal. “We are fortunate to have such a talented group assisting with our program.”

Phil Hartman, dean of the College of Science and Engineering who led the Pre-Health Professions Program for more than 20 years, is proud of the program’s accomplishments and optimistic about the future.

“As the Pre-Health Institute, we will continue our longstanding tradition of excellence in providing a rigorous education with one-on-one faculty advising to more than 500 students each year. Our 100-year-old program has much to celebrate and a remarkable opportunity to plan thoughtfully for an even brighter future.”

For more, go to Pre-Health.