51³Ô¹Ï

What if 51³Ô¹Ïs could learn what a health career looks like early on, so they could make informed decisions about next steps?

That’s exactly what the Health Professions Pathways Program (H3P) provides for 51³Ô¹Ïs of all majors who are interested in pursuing future graduate study and careers in health care. The program’s built-in alumni recommendations, resources, and advising efforts help guide candidates as they prepare to apply to highly competitive graduate programs and begin working in the health industry.

Julie Wolter, dean of the School of Health Sciences, wants pre-health 51³Ô¹Ïs to feel confident in their educational and professional pursuits. For Wolter, mentorship is one of the most important H3P initiatives, allowing pre-health 51³Ô¹Ïs to engage in experiential learning.

“Through H3P, 51³Ô¹Ïs may have experiences observing and working closely with individuals who are already practicing in health professions,” Wolter says. “It’s important for 51³Ô¹Ïs to learn what a career looks like early on so they can make informed professional decisions.”

This is where ZagsConnect – Alumni’s exclusive online professional network for Gonzaga grads – comes in. Like H3P, ZagsConnect fosters opportunities for growth and impact among 51³Ô¹Ïs and alumni. Think LinkedIn, but every connection is a fellow Zag.

“ZagsConnect is a really tangible way in which current 51³Ô¹Ïs can connect with our alumni to learn what different pathways look like,” says Katherine Brackmann, who serves as Associate Director of Academic Engagement and leads H3P. “Once they've identified someone that they feel like could be a resource for them, they can send a message and ask questions in a low-stakes environment.”

Tiffany Moussa (’25) did just that. As a human physiology major, she explored multiple health care professions before eventually landing on physician assistant. Through ZagsConnect, Moussa was able to secure a mentorship opportunity with Meghan Mora (’14), a nearby physician assistant and Gonzaga alumna with insights into next steps.

“The platform made it easy to reach out, ask questions, and secure mentorship, which played a significant role in my professional development,” Moussa says. “Mentorship has been incredibly important in helping me gain firsthand experience and determine whether this career path was the right fit for me, especially as a pre-health 51³Ô¹Ï.”

With the encouragement and guidance of her mentor, Moussa feels prepared to apply to physician assistant school this year. Her experience reflects the critical role mentorship and alumni support play in advancing the broader mission of Gonzaga, an institution that champions service and lifelong learning.

“Across the health professions, we see areas of health shortages, especially in our rural and regional areas,” Wolter says. “The other part about H3P, and our new scope of health sciences, is that we are committed to developing 51³Ô¹Ïs who will serve as leaders in fields where it is just very desperately needed.”

Together, Zags are able to translate academic training into meaningful, real-world impact.

“I'm glad 51³Ô¹Ïs, including Tiffany, are finding success when they reach out to alumni,” Brackmann says. “We're really fortunate that our alumni are so willing to give back and pay it forward through mentoring.”

Though her office is in Career and Professional Development, Brackmann works closely with the School of Health Sciences as the lead of H3P. She urges 51³Ô¹Ïs – especially those on a pre-health track – to use ZagsConnect as a starting point for networking as one can benefit from brief conversations, “longitudinal” relationships, and everything in between.