Meet Annie Lee and Laura Salem, Pre Health Program Co Directors

College of Arts and Sciences

You may know them as professors of biology and chemistry.  Yet these two tireless faculty are integral to the RU Pre Health Programs.  Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem became the pre-medical and pre-health advisors and program co-directors in the 2012-2013 academic year.  While their accomplishments are too many to list here, several highlights include: 

  • Established a new Pre-Health Seminar course for upper-level students
  • Developed a new cornerstone seminar course with a “Social Determinants of Health” theme for the Wisdom Core
  • 100 % RU student admission into St. Louis University Medical School, KCU and A.T. Still University during the pandemic
  • Established new partnership for discounted course rates for MCAT, DAT, and GRE Prep with Princeton review
  • Alumni Medical Network (AMN) events occurred during the pandemic, allowing for national participation
  • Expanded post-baccalaureate to include OT, PT, Prosthetics/Orthotics, and Nursing

In addition, Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem serve as the primary academic and professional advisors to all of the RU pre-medical scholar and post-bac students, advising over 150 students per year.  This includes maintenance of the very popular Pre-Health Canvas page and website, maintaining currency in the health professional advisor field by subscribing to the NAAHP list-serve and attending meetings when the budget allows, Dr. Salem serving as faculty sponsors for Pre-Dental Club and Dr. Lee serving the Phi DE Pre-Medical Fraternity, and helping coordinate all of the events and speakers throughout the year.  This is above the typical advisor duties of building schedules in Banner, advising meetings with all students, and pre-registering all incoming pre-health freshmen.  In addition, Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem serve as Freshmen Seminar instructors for all pre health students.

Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem also work very closely with Alumni Relations.  They established the Alumni Medical Network, which hosts two to three events per year in Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Omaha.  Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem provide information to our Office of Advancement for potential donors, and continue relationships with alumni to engage them in our programs through alumni participation in the Pre-Health Seminar class.

Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem also co-chair the Pre-Medical Committee.  These responsibilities include interviewing all pre-health students the spring before their applications are submitted, writing letters of evaluation for medical, dental and physician’s assistant programs, reviewing applications for professional schools and providing the student applicants with invaluable written feedback, and committee meetings six hours per week during the spring semester.  Student Reid Horton states “Interviewing with the Pre Health Committee allowed me to ask specific questions that I had in the medical school application process. Dr. Salem and Dr. Lee also provided concise feedback on my interview skills, personal statement, and CV. Overall, the interview gave me an idea of what an actual medical school interview would look like, as well as provided valuable feedback on my application materials."  Student Senate President Nhukim Nguyen shares “After I had a mock-interview with the Pre-Health Committee, I felt more confident and prepared for my first medical school interview. They also wrote a letter of recommendation for me, which was based on the quality of my interview and stories I told throughout my answers. The committee gave me insightful feedback, guidance, and tremendous support as I was in preparation for my next journey. I really appreciate the opportunity to get to practice with Rockhurst professors who truly have your best interest at heart and want to see you succeed."

In addition, Dr. Lee and Dr. Salem work to develop and maintain regional partnerships, serving as liaisons to all of our Pre-Medical Scholars programs including UMKC, A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Medicine, Saint Louis University, and Kansas City University of Medical Biosciences.  New partnerships include KCU Dental School and Drake Pharmacy School.  This work involves continual and frequent communication with admissions directors and deans to update criteria, and hosting admissions directors on the Rockhurst campus.  Dr. Lee is currently working with Loyola of Chicago on a potential new partnership.

Amongst all these responsibilities, Dr. Lee is the Co Chair of the Chemistry Department, and Dr. Salem is the Co Chair of the Biology Department.

When do they sleep? 

We are so thankful for their work for RU and our students.  Well done!