Page 42 - WesternU View Summer 2019

MSMS program setting students up for success

By Rodney Tanaka

The goal of Western University of Health Sciences’ Master underserved areas. They are more likely to be in
of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) program, part of concordance with their patients. At this point we have 88
the Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (GCBS), is to percent of our graduates who are either in professional
prepare underrepresented and diverse students for careers school or have graduated.”
in health professions by helping them gain acceptance to
MSMS Class of 2019 graduates are grateful for the skills
professional schools, with an ultimate goal of increasing
and experience gained this past year. The MSMS program
the number of health professionals in underserved areas.
taught the stamina needed to be successful in professional
MSMS students are immersed in anatomy, biological school, said Ahmed Elsheikh, MSMS ’19, who is entering
chemistry, molecular biology and other rigorous academic the College of Dental Medicine. He learned how to
courses while also learning about absorb the material quickly and
professionalism, completing a “Our vision for the efficiently, and gained confidence in
research project, and performing himself.
community service. program is to put
“The MSMS program is really
Since the inception of the program, underrepresented and setting you up for success. Those
more than 230 MSMS students who matriculated (to other
have transitioned to the WesternU diverse students into WesternU programs) are doing
College of Osteopathic Medicine of health care to close that exceptionally well,” Elsheikh said.
the Pacific (COMP), the College of “You gain a great deal of
Dental Medicine (CDM), and the gap in health care confidence by being around a lot of
College of Optometry, with more people in professional school who
than two-thirds of them considered disparities…” don’t look down on you. They
diverse or underrepresented in came from this program. You’re
medicine, said GCBS Professor and Associate Dean of around the health profession community. When you tie all
Academic Affairs Christina Goode, PhD. this stuff together with faculty mentorship, you are highly
equipped to succeed in professional school.”
The MSMS Class of 2019 continues this trend, with 15
graduates entering COMP and five graduates entering GCBS graduate Joshua Chan, MSMS ’19, said the
CDM in fall 2019. program taught him the value of flexibility. He will enter
COMP in the fall, and some of the MSMS courses were
“Our vision for the program is to put underrepresented
taught by COMP faculty.
and diverse students into health care to close that gap in
health care disparities, and we meet it,” Goode said. “Our “We understand their expectations,” he said. “It’s great
graduates are more likely to go to rural areas and to for us to learn from this experience.”

“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan and “The MSMS program has provided me with
not the goal; the MSMS program was my other foundational knowledge I need to succeed in
plan and it helped me achieve my dreams and medical school and throughout my future
for that, I am eternally grateful.” medical career. I am grateful for the guidance
and support the program has provided me...”
Ifeoluwa Adesina, MSMS ’19
College of Osteopathic Medicine David Ashley, MSMS ’19
of the Pacific, Class of 2023 College of Osteopathic Medicine
of the Pacific, Class of 2023

40 | WESTERNU VIEW Summer/Fall 2019