Biophysics and Pre-Health

Three healthcare professionals posing for a picture in a radiology room
Three healthcare professionals in a radiology room

Biophysics is an excellent track within the physics major for students interested in a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and allied health fields.

Check out some of our alumni who have chosen to do exactly this:

  • Bill Newsome, a Stetson Physics alum, got a PhD in biology and is a professor of neurobiology at Stanford Medical School.
  • Raoul Sanchez, a Stetson Physics alum, is now a pediatrician.
  • Renée (Dickinson) Butler, a Stetson Physics alum (far right in the photo), is now a medical physicist.

Professional schools in the health profession areas require students to complete a core set of science courses that generally includes General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry (plus several physics and mathematics courses that all physics majors take). Since all of these additional courses include a laboratory, careful planning is required to schedule them in a sequence with a manageable work load. One possible sequence for the courses is a Biophysics track within the physics major with pre-health goals, which can be found in The Physics Major and Minor. Students should consult advisors in both the Physics Department and in the Pre-Medicine and Health Professions Program prior to registering each semester. More information on the Pre-Medicine and Health Professions Program can be found on the Stetson pre-health web site, and Dr. Mike King, the pre-health professions advisor, is willing to help and guide any physics major interested in a medical field.