As a HSSP first-year student, you will have the opportunity to enroll in the program's two-semester core course, ALA 106 and 109 (Perspectives on Health & Health Care), which will introduce you to a broad range of health-related issues, health professions, perspectives on public health, and opportunities in health and health care.
In ALA 106 and 109, you will:
- Read articles on current developments in health care
- Hear from faculty and clinicians from a wide variety of fields
- Attend evening discussions with faculty, students, and staff from U-M's health schools as well as health professionals from the Ann Arbor community
Professional Observations
Each semester, HSSP members participate in two four-hour professional observations. Students will observe health professionals at work in a variety of settings, from clinical to administrative. These experiences provide students with first-hand insight into how health professionals work and the opportunities that await them in these fields.
Professional Autobiographies
On some Tuesday nights, HSSP students attend short talks known as Professional Autobiographies. These talks are excellent opportunities for you to hear directly from practicing healthcare professionals in an informal, "fireside chat" setting. Professional Autobiographies take place four to five times each semester in the Couzens Hall Multipurpose Room. You will learn about speakers' motivations for their career choices, how their interests and experiences influenced their career trajectories, and how their passions influence their work. These sessions are also an excellent opportunity for you to connect with professionals who may be able to help or provide valuable advice during your Michigan career.
Study Groups
HSSP offers Peer-Led Study Groups facilitated by second- and third-year HSSP students. These study sessions are held in Couzens Hall study rooms and are designed to support HSSPers in popular introductory science and pre-health courses. These study groups are the same as the ones offered by the SLC (Science Learning Center), except they are exclusively for HSSP students.The purpose of these study groups is to get together with your peers and use each other as learning resources, as well as to learn how to study for your science courses here at the University of Michigan. They are extremely helpful and cover many different areas, including: a review of class discussions and notes, study strategies, practice problems, group activities, practice exams, and other information vital to academic success. HSSPers are encouraged to actively participate in one or more study tables depending on academic need. Each group meets for only 2 hours per week. If none of the times work in your schedule, the SLC also offers study groups (you can find more information at this link).
