The Dr. Dennis J. Patterson
Center for the Health Professions
A Person of Action
Meet Lauren Williams, a future doctor and Elmhurst’s fifth Fulbright Scholar.
Read more
Student-Faculty Research
Wake Up!
Kathleen Sexton-Radek asks why Americans aren’t getting the sleep they need.
Alumni Stories
Practical Ethicist
Bill Nelson ’68 uses clarity, pragmatism, and humor to advocate medical ethics.
» Patterson Center
Preparation for a Career in Health Care
The Dr. Dennis J. Patterson Center for the Health Professions brings together students from across the health care spectrum for an innovative mix of academic and co-curricular programs.
We offer a wide range of professional and preprofessional programs to prepare you for a successful career in any area of health care—including medicine, dentistry, speech-language pathology, exercise science, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, nursing and many more. We also offer a medical humanities minor to support your ongoing examination of ethical issues.
No matter which program you choose, you’ll gain first-hand experience through internships and fieldwork at some of the nation’s leading hospitals and organizations. You’ll participate in seminars and workshops and meet professionals in your field of interest. And you’ll build a strong portfolio of your work to show to professional schools or future employers.
Along the way, you’ll meet regularly with an expert health professions advisor, starting as early as your first week on campus. Your advisor will help you refine your career goals and chart an academic and co-curricular course to achieve them.
Questions? Please contact us. We'd be happy to tell you more about how the Patterson Center for the Health Professions can help you reach your goals.