The Buck Hill Falls Conference on Medical Education and the College- Medical School Interface held at Buck Hill Falls, Pennsylvania from April 25 to April 27, 1968, drew representatives from 113 northeast medical schools, colleges and universities. Sponsored by the Northeast Region of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Group on Student Affairs, the meeting brought delegates together for the purpose of identifying and discussing the relevant problems in the transition from college to medical school and to establish communication between colleges and medical school admissions committees.

The Buck Hill Falls Conference was organized by Dr. Hugh Bennett, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean, Hahnemann Medical College, who served as chairman of the organizing committee, and Dr. Frederick Barnes, Professor of Medical Science, Brown University and Dr. Martin Begun, Associate Dean, New York University School of Medicine, who served as vice-chairman.

The most important by-product of the Conference was the formation of a permanent committee on premedical affairs, now known as the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP), to meet regularly with and work closely with the Northeast Region of the AAMC Group of Student Affairs. In time, health professions advisors in other regions across the United States formed similar organizations. In 1974 the National Association of Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP) was established to coordinate the activities and efforts of four independent regional associations Central (CAAHP), Northeast (NEAAHP), Southeast (SAAHP) and West (WAAHP), so that health professions advisors across the nation could function together and speak with one voice. Its membership encourages each regional group and each member to share more fully their experiences and information with other regions and advisors, and has given all advisors a nationally recognized forum in which to state their views and share their research studies.

Other Advising Organizations

NEAAHP seeks to advance undergraduate advising for the health professions and serve as the resource for advisors who guide students preparing for a career in the health professions.