Kathleen Verville

The Professor To Meet

Kathleen Verville, associate professor of biology, has been Washington College’s premedical advisor since you were applying bandages to stuffed animals in nursery school. She’s very good at her job.

“I’ve been directing the premedical program for a long time,” she says, “and the premedical committee’s emphasis has always been on encouraging students to pursue their interests—whether it’s music, literature or basketball—without losing track of what’s required to complete the premedical requirements. We don’t prescribe what our students do; we just talk to them about what they do well and urge them to explore things that interest them. Now is the time in their academic careers when students should embrace the opportunities available at Washington College.”

Premedical students by nature are generally self-motivated achievers who thrive on busy schedules. Some premed students choose to double-major, many are student-athletes, and others are involved in Greek life, student clubs and volunteer programs.

What all premedical students share—aside from challenging math and science classes—is a close-knit community where at least one member of the premedical committee will know who you are, the strength of your academic performance, and what you are capable of achieving. As chair of the premedical committee, Dr. Verville is the premedical student’s greatest advocate. She knows the ropes of the medical school admission process and can help you find a good match.

“The fact that I’m in the classroom helps. The fact that I’m a parent helps. When you come here, you will most likely have one of the premedical committee members teach you in class. When you come here, all of your sciences courses have labs and you can expect to use the equipment. The premedical committee is structured to represent all the sciences, and includes a representative from the humanities. How perfect!”

Research Program Summary

My lab is involved in a microbiological analysis of small drinking water systems in Puerto Rico: a collaborative project with Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, the University of Delaware, and Washington College.

We have also analyzed oysters, mussels, and clams from the Chester River for bacterial indicators of fecal contamination and the pathogen Salmonella.