The Pre-Health Professions Student Association (PHPSA) is helping students in the health field select a post-graduate school and choose a career.

“Students who go into health professions need support,” said Professor Barry Rothman, who has been the PHPSA adviser for the last 10 years. “The organization (PHPSA) helps navigate the waters for students interested in health professions.”

The PHPSA, located in HSS 111, assists students in pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinarian, pre-pharmaceutical, or nursing programs by offering moral support, advising for classes, and study guides for entry tests to post graduate schools.

According to PHPSA President Grace Malvar, a 26-year-old post-baccalaureate student, the most helpful aspects of the organization are the leaderships the networking and the resources available,

The association, created in 1979, holds workshops for students and brings recruiters and speakers from different medical schools to campus, allowing students to develop connections in the health field.

It also provides old exams that members can use as study guides.

Teada San, 20-year-old biology sophomore, said in an email that she joined the association because she saw that preparation books were available in the PHPSA office.

“The Pre-Health Professions Student Alliance has a lot of practice books for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and a lot of pamphlets for different schools that I may be interested in going to for med school,” explained San, who has been in the program for two semesters. “The people and officers are really helpful and nice; without them I would be clueless.”

According to Rothman, the student run organization has helped hundreds of students in achieving their professional goals over the years.

PHPSA now has approximately 120 students in the organization, according to Ferdos Abdulkerim, 20, PHPSA vice president of members.

Most of the students in charge of the PHPSA are in pre-health courses themselves.

“We (PHPSA) really care because we share the same interests and goals as the students who join,” said Henrietta Tran, the pre-nursing chair.

“It’s (PHPSA) definitely important because SF State doesn’t have a pre-med program, so there isn’t much guidance,” said Abdulkerim. “It’s difficult for students to apply for medical school because of the lack of resources on campus. The organization provides it (the resources).”

To join PHPSA students must be enrolled in at least six units at SF State and submit applications to the PHPSA office.

Meetings will start at the end of this month and will be held monthly, according to Malvar. Office hours are Monday through Friday at various hours according to Tran, a physiology junior.

The PHPSA is in the midst of negotiating with the Post Baccalaureate Student Organization, an organization of graduate students returning to school. By taking more classes involved students can benefit from a wider range of resources. Students currently in the program will be able to talk and network with students who have graduated already.

”Pre-meds have to get good grades, get clinical experience, take the MCAT, apply to graduate schools, make a personal statement, and be savvy with medical technology,” said Rothman. “It’s good to have an organization that is like a family and professional group to help support the students.”