Begin Your Career in Healthcare
Buffalo State is a great place to begin your career journey in medicine, dentistry, and other healthcare fields. We offer flexible degree programs that can be tailored to your specific health-career goals and provide ample opportunities for hands-on learning, professional internships, and undergraduate research experiences.
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Work with your advisor to choose other General Education courses or choose a minor and take courses in that minor. You can look ahead to see what other courses are needed and take one of those as well. Just pay close attention to required pre-requisites!
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Career and Professional Education (CAPE) at Buffalo State is an amazing resource for investigating career options. You can make an appointment to see any of the CAPE counselors or visit Cleveland Hall 306.
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For general course advisement, please see your professional or academic advisor (they are found in your Navigate360 Success Network.) Advisors can help you figure out your course needs for your major and guide you on what pre-health courses will fit in that schedule. If you have specific questions about health-based careers you can email prehealth@buffalostate.edu, stop by to see Shannon Casterline in SAMC337, or contact Cate Vivacqua in CAPE which is located in Cleveland Hall 306.
Alumni Spotlight
James Hayes, '25
James Hayes is a recent graduate of Buffalo State who is currently a medical student at D'Youville in the DO program. James graduated from Buffalo State in 2025 with double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a recent graduate of Buffalo State University, where I studied Psychology and Biology and developed a strong interest in pharmacology and neuroscience. Before returning to school, I served over four years on active duty in the U.S. Army and continue to serve in the New York National Guard, where I’ve led and trained soldiers in high pressure environments. I’m passionate about continuing my path into medicine and giving back to the Buffalo community that’s been a constant part of my journey.
Tell us about how your experience at Buffalo State:
My time at Buffalo State University played a major role in shaping both my academic interests and long term career goals. Courses in cell biology, neuroscience (across both psychology and biology), and organic chemistry/biochemistry helped me connect molecular mechanisms to behavior and disease, ultimately steering me toward a career in medicine and pharmacological research. Working as a statistics TA for the psychology department also strengthened my ability to think critically about data and communicate complex concepts clearly. I was especially influenced by faculty such as Dr. DiPirro, Dr. Suwal, and Dr. Skerrett, whose teaching and mentorship challenged me to think deeper and stay engaged with the material. Their guidance, along with my academic experiences, helped solidify my trajectory toward medicine and reinforced my commitment to continued learning and service.
What piece of advice would you give to a pre-health student at Buffalo State:
Stay curious, have fun, and don’t just memorize, focus on understanding how what you’re learning applies to the world around you and the systems within your own body. When you connect the material to real life, it sticks better and actually becomes enjoyable. That mindset will carry you much further than just studying for exams.
Share your story with us!
We would love to hear from our former Pre-Health students. Please reach out and share where you are now and what you are doing.
Add Yourself As a Pre-Health Student
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