Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC)

The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) is a group of volunteers consisting of SUNY Oneonta faculty and local healthcare providers who assist the HPAC Chair in evaluating the attributes of medical, dental, and optometry school candidates by summarizing a candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall qualifications for Health Professional School (HPS).

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Committee Letter

The Committee Letter is a competency-based summary of a student’s clinical experience, community engagement, and research experiences, as well as academic performance, professionalism, and additional interpersonal competencies as indicated by materials presented to the HPAC Members and during the candidate's HPAC Interview. The final HPAC evaluation is compiled into a Committee Letter of Evaluation by the HPAC Chair and includes full content of all evaluator letters and summaries provided to the HPAC plus an evaluation from the HPAC Chair & HPAC Members assisting at the candidates individual interview.

The Committee Letter is submitted to the indicated medical, dental, and optometry school application portals upon request by the applicants, after the candidate submits their applications to the HPS.

The year a student applies for an HPAC interview depends on their timing of application to medical, dental, or optometry school. Students should consult with their Pre-Health Advisor to determine the best time to apply.

Committee Letters are optional for students planning to apply to Medical, Dental, and Optometry School and are not accepted for others.

Committee Letters are not able to be used for application to Post-Baccalaureate or any other Programs.

Students desiring a Committee Letter for their medical, dental, or optometry school applications should plan to apply in December for an HPAC interview in March. If a student does not meet all deadlines and all requirements, they will not be eligible to receive a Committee Letter during the application cycle.

It is highly recommended that students considering applying for an HPAC interview & letter to attend one of the Fall HPAC Information sessions:

  • Wednesday. October 16 at 5 p.m. – location 246 Physical Science
  • Tuesday. November 19 at 5 p.m. – location 246 Physical Science

NOTE: SUNY Oneonta Alumni are eligible to apply for a Committee Letter up to four years after their SUNY Oneonta degree is conferred and must follow the below application process and deadlines to be eligible for a Committee Letter.

NOTE: Students who have already completed the HPAC Letter Application Cycle can apply for an addendum to their Committee Letter up to four years after their original HPAC interview. For example, students who completed the HPAC Interview Cycle in 2020 may request an addendum through 2024. Contact the HPAC Chair for additional information.

HPAC Interview & Committee Letter eligibility, applications, & approval process:

Students apply and are approved for Committee Interviews & Letters in two phases:

  • Only students approved at Phase 1 will be eligible to submit documents for Phase 2.
  • Spring 2025 HPAC interviews will be held in Late March.
  • Students must have Junior or Senior standing and have a minimum 3.0 Overall GPA to apply for an HPAC Interview.
  • HPAC Choice
  • FERPA Release
  • FERPA Waiver
  • Application Acknowledgement
  • Major GPA
  • BCPM GPA
  • Names of 3-6 individuals completing the HPAC evaluation form
    • evaluators must include, at the minimum:
      • one healthcare provider (ideally from the applicant's intended field - shadowing or clinical experience)
        • Students who have not been able to secure placement in a Healthcare Facility can submit an Evaluation Substitution Request to the HPAC Chair to Substitute either 1 additional Faculty/Employer/Professional evaluator for the Healthcare Provider Evaluation.
      • one BCMP faculty (Biology/Chemistry/Math/Physics)
      • one employer or other professional reference (eg. work supervisor, coach, other as appropriate)

NOTE: Only students approved after Phase 1 will be eligible to submit documents for Phase 2.

  • HPAC evaluation form from 3-6 references (emailed directly from evaluator to HPAC Chair)
    • NOTE: Optometry Candidate HPAC evaluation forms must also include a FULL recommendation letter (signed, on official letterhead), emailed directly from evaluator to HPAC Chair.
  • HPAC Candidate Documents (emailed to HPAC Chair)
    • Personal Statement (best draft)
    • CV (resume)
    • Transcript (all college courses, all colleges/universities; can be student copy)
    • MCAT, DAT, or OAT scores (or results of practice tests), if available.

Phase 2 approved students will receive HPAC interview invites beginning March 3, 2025.

HPAC Chair & Members

HPAC members are volunteers who assist in evaluation of our students who are seeking admission to Medical, Dental, or Optometry School. Members serve under the guidance of the HPAC Chair.

HPAC Chair:

  • Tami LaPilusa, M.S. (Director, SUNY Oneonta Office of Health Careers, SUNY Oneonta Alumni, Class of '12G)

HPAC Members:

  • Bruce Aaronson, D.D.S. (Retired Dentist, SUNY Oneonta Alumni, Class of '74)
  • Kimberly Cossey, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, SUNY Oneonta Chemistry/Biochemistry Faculty)
  • Lisa Curch, Ph.D. (Professor, SUNY Oneonta Social Science Faculty)
  • Allan Green, Ph.D. (Professor, Emeritus Faculty, SUNY Oneonta Chemistry/Biochemistry)
  • Sallie Han, Ph.D. (Professor, SUNY Oneonta Anthropology Faculty)
  • Michael Levenstein, M.D. (Retired Physician, SUNY Oneonta Alumni, Class of '74)
  • Taryn More, D.D.S. (Dentist, SUNY Oneonta Alumni, Class of '18)
  • Maurice Odago, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, SUNY Oneonta Chemistry/Biochemistry Faculty)
  • Junryo Watanabe, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, SUNY Oneonta Biology Faculty)
  • Fred Zalatan, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, SUNY Oneonta Biology Faculty)

HPAC related questions should be directed to Tami LaPilusa, M.S., HPAC Chair & Director, Office of Health Careers.

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