MASTER OF
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM
ONE DEGREE. MANY PATHS TO SUCCESS.
ABOUT Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Geisinger Commonwealth educates aspiring physicians, scientists and the healthcare team members of the future to serve society using a community-based, patient-centered, interprofessional and evidence-based model of education that is committed to inclusion, promotes discovery and utilizes innovative techniques.
person-centered approach to problem-solving and we inspire our learners to meet change with confidence and an open mind. These qualities, coupled with superior communication skills fostered in innumerable small groups and professional interactions, will serve you well in any career in medicine or science.
Our students learn in an environment created specifically to address the medical and scientific realities of the 21st century. Geisinger is a pioneer in technologies and techniques ranging from fully integrated electronic health records and care delivered by multidisciplinary teams, to bioinformatics and an unparalleled genomics program. Geisinger Commonwealth embraces these advances while meshing them with the ageold philosophy of biomedical science: care and concern for community. Our curriculum encourages students to take a
Whether you are seeking to position yourself for further graduate study, attend professional school (such as medical, dental or optometry), gain entry into a health-related field or advance within your organization, Geisinger Commonwealth’s Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program prepares students to succeed.
WHY EARN YOUR MBS? ACADEMIC RIGOR
ENHANCED CREDENTIALS
Geisinger Commonwealth emphasizes excellence. Our curriculum is rigorous, intensive, comprehensive and recognized, which means education institutions and employers know a Geisinger Commonwealth diploma means an exceptionally qualified candidate.
Highly qualified medical school program educators and research scholars will guide you through the MBS curriculum, which closely models courses typically found in the first year of medical school.
PERSONAL ATTENTION
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Our students learn in an intimate, close-knit environment. Each MBS student receives personalized advising to assist in making the best academic and professional choices. Geisinger Commonwealth’s Center for Learning Excellence provides a host of personal, academic and referral services to enhance the interpersonal and educational experiences of our students.
Students can explore opportunities to take part in community health research or apply to become an intern or research assistant in one of the research settings within our system or with an education partner.
REAL-WORLD EDUCATION Our intensive biomedical curriculum includes elective courses that allow a student to choose a personal path to success. Between our two campuses, we offer a range of experiences that could involve research, corporate visits and mentoring from faculty, research scientists, business executives and entrepreneurs.
STUDENT-CENTERED SCHEDULES
CAREER FOCUS Our professional development courses will help you craft your personal statement and Curriculum Vitae (CV), practice interviewing skills and gain insight from a variety of health professionals regarding your career options.
EXCEPTIONAL PREPARATION If you are interested in professional school, coursework is aimed at this preparation through the Princeton Review MCAT Prep Course, or participants may choose to study for the DAT or GRE. These comprehensive courses are offered at no additional charge.*
At our Scranton Campus, students attend classes full-time and complete the degree in approximately 10-12 months. At our Doylestown Campus, students earn their degrees in approximately 18 months, attending part-time, evenings and weekends. * Students who achieve a benchmark score in the MCAT or other standardized exam may elect to opt out of the Princeton Review and take an additional elective course.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Inspired by physician/author Michael Crichton, Marc Incitti knew he was interested in medicine, but wasn’t sure how to get there. As a registered nurse, he knew about healthcare, but was unsure about the medical school admissions process. The MBS program at Geisinger Commonwealth helped. Marc describes a phenomenon common among students trying to navigate through the often bewildering higher-ed landscape, which consists of many requirements, deadlines and forms. Through the MBS program, Marc learned from faculty advisors and medical
MARC INCITTI, MBS-SCRANTON 2017
students that he could, indeed, walk the road they traveled. At Geisinger Commonwealth he said he found a clear path toward attaining his dream and an entire community dedicated to his success. “Being inside the school connected me with people who were friendly and helpful, who were willing to teach me and who cared,” he said. “It was an eyeopening experience.” Marc received his MBS from Geisinger Commonwealth in May 2017 and will begin medical school with our MD Class of 2021.
TWO LOCATIONS
USQUEHANNA USQUEHANNA SQUEHANNA SQUEHANNA WAYNE WAYNE WAYNE WAYNE
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LACKAWANNA LACKAWANNA LACKAWANNA LACKAWANNA
Scranton Scranton Scranton Scranton
Choose between two unique learning environments – a fully-accredited medical school or an internationally renowned research institute. PIKE PIKE PIKE PIKE
ERNE NE MONROE MONROE
MBS-Doylestown Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (BSBI) at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902
CARBON CARBON
ding eading
Allentown Allentown
MBS-Scranton Medical Sciences Building (MSB) 525 Pine Street, Scranton, PA 18509
Doylestown Doylestown
In Scranton, classes take place full-time in Geisinger Commonwealth’s LEED Silver certified Medical Sciences Building (MSB), complete with research facilities boasting state-of-the-art technology and a Clinical Skills and Simulation Center.
In Doylestown, Geisinger Commonwealth teams up with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (BSBI) to offer part-time classes inside the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, an innovative, market-minded biotechnology incubator. The Biotech Center, operated by BSBI, is a multipurpose, stateof-the-art research facility, which maximizes synergies between nonprofit scientists and their commercial colleagues. BSBI is the home of the largest concentration of nonprofit scientists working towards a cure for hepatitis B and liver cancer.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ARIANNA KIM, MBS-SCRANTON 2017
When Arianna Kim was in the seventh grade, an astute teacher changed her life. “There was something about science that excited me,” she said. “And I was good at it. My teacher noticed and urged me to join a science club that exposed students to all fields of science. That’s when I decided I would pursue a career in science.” When she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, Ariana was looking for an MBS program offering a rigorous curriculum in life sciences that would make her academic credentials shine. She chose the MBS program at Geisinger Commonwealth for two reasons. “First of all, the program was demanding – it mirrors the first year of medical school – but the faculty is a treasure,” she said. “They are always available to
help you. The other important thing is the small class sizes. You get to know your professors and your classmates, creating a pretty tightknit group.” She graduated with the MBS-Scranton Class of 2017. Ariana will now embark on the research job of her dreams. She has been chosen to work at the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda. She will specifically work in the Undiagnosed Diseases Program. “I’ll be involved in clinical research with fellow scientists working in the care and treatment of patients who have undiagnosed diseases. This is an amazing opportunity. The NIH in many ways is like the Google of the science world,” she said. “It’s very competitive and prestigious and I think my MBS from Geisinger Commonwealth really made me stand out.”
MBS PROGRAM CURRICULUM COURSES REQUIRED COURSES
CREDIT HOURS
Biochemistry
4
Cell Biology
4
Physiology
4
Human Genetics
4
Professional Development
3
Princeton Review
3
ELECTIVES Seminars in Biomedical Sciences Readings in Basic Sciences
1-2 2-4
Histology
3
Immunology
3
Neuroscience
3
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
3
Pharmacology
3
Management
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
SUMMER
Professional Development
Professional Development
Princeton Review
Cell Biology
ELECTIVES Seminars in Biomedical Sciences
ELECTIVES Readings in Basic Sciences
Readings in Basic Sciences
Bioethics
Histology
Management
Immunology
Laboratory Techniques
8-16 Week Courses
Biochemistry
1
Bioethics
1
Laboratory Techniques
2
Integrated Group Learning
1
Physiology
Human Genetics
8-16 Week Courses
Neuroscience Epidemiology & Biostatistics Pharmacology Management Integrated Group Learning
8-16 Week Courses
understanding of how the human nervous system operates in health and how the brain functions can alter under pathological conditions. The course will emphasize basic cellular aspects of neuroscience, architectural design of the nervous system, the CNS sensory system, CNS disorders, and motor systems.
PHARMACOLOGY
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS BIOCHEMISTRY
Prerequisites: 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry This course has been designed to emphasize the key principles related to metabolic biochemistry laying the foundation for potential further study of human biochemistry or other related fields.
CELL BIOLOGY
This course will emphasize the basics of cell structure and function, modern investigative techniques used in the cell biology laboratory and exposure to the practical application of cell biology concepts under normal physiological conditions and disease states.
HISTOLOGY
Foundations: This course is designed to introduce students to basic histology. After a brief introduction to cellular structure at the light and electron microscopic level, the course will survey the four basic tissues: epithelium, connective tissue, muscle and nerve. The students will also receive a brief introduction to organ systems. Organ Systems: This course will utilize the information used in Histology: Foundations, which is a prerequisite. Students will learn the histology of organs and organ systems, and some clinical applications of this knowledge.
HUMAN GENETICS
This course introduces students to classical and molecular genetics. The emphasis of this course will center on inherited human disorders and the emerging model of the human genome. Major topics include: mendelian genetics, cytogenetics, multifactorial inheritance, developmental genetics, epigenetics, RNA biology, cancer genetics and genomics.
IMMUNOLOGY
This course is intended to provide a fundamental knowledge of the role of the immune response in human health and disease. The tissues, cells and molecules that comprise the immune system will be examined and the principles of the immune response in the context of microbial infection and immunopathogenesis will be studied. Both immunologic and microbial features that influence host-microbe interactions and outcomes of infection will be highlighted. Students will also apply basic immunological principles to develop an understanding of various diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer and the immunotherapeutic approaches used to treat such diseases.
INTEGRATED GROUP LEARNING
IGL is a student-run small group elective course. IGL sessions are clinically oriented with the hope to expose pre-medical students to clinical concepts in a safe learning space with medical student facilitators. The curriculum employs a flipped-classroom model so that the students are equipped to walk through clinical scenarios with their medical student counterparts.
LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
This course is designed to introduce current laboratory techniques to students who are interested in pursuing medical and research careers. It covers experimental techniques of molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell biology, biophysics and animal research. This course will allow for the practical application of students’ biomedical knowledge.
NEUROSCIENCE
This course will introduce fundamental neurobiological principles to students so that they will have a basic
Prerequisites: Biochemistry, Physiology This course will introduce students to medical pharmacology. The emphasis will be on the big picture of drugs in general, and to prepare students for future succession modern medicine, research, industry, or matriculation to health science programs. The course also will introduce sources of drug information, concepts in drug development, and pharmacogenomics.
PHYSIOLOGY
This course will introduce students to the physiological aspects of the human body by using a systems based approach. The course emphasizes broad concepts that form the basic understanding of human physiology and the physiology of each organ system.
PRINCETON REVIEW
The Princeton Review course for preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a proven means of improving your score.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This course is designed to assist students in developing their professional skills and to engage them in postgraduate career planning. The course will focus on professional identity formation, career planning, interpersonal skill development, and reflection and self-directed lifelong learning.
READINGS IN BASIC SCIENCES
Provides for a period of independent study in an area of the student’s choice, allowing the student to gain mastery and further depth in an area either related to their chosen field or of interest within the Basic Sciences Department. The student will write a scientific review on the selected topic, provide a lay-language summary in the style of a blog post, and produce a lay audience three- to five-minute PowerPoint presentation with an audio.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
From academic advising to tutoring and professional development, Geisinger Commonwealth guides and cares for its students.
[930a] Begin my day. By this time of the day, I’m generally awake and have eaten breakfast and started getting my day underway. If I don’t have a meeting scheduled at school, I’ll run an errand or stay at home and study before class. Since the master of biomedical sciences (MBS) program is pretty intense, I’m likely to be found preparing for the next upcoming exam or reviewing the previous day’s material.
[115p] Walk to school. Living in downtown Scranton definitely has its perks. I’m roughly a 10-minute walk from campus, so when the weather is nice, I try to get in some extra steps. This is also a good opportunity for a little ‘me’ time as I plug in some tunes and try to not think about school for a few minutes.
[130p] Time for class! It’s nice to see my fellow classmates. Spending as much time together as we do, we form some pretty tight-knit friendships in the MBS program.
[6p] Yoga. Geisinger Commonwealth offers a
Students cite the rigor of the program as one of the chief reasons they selected Geisinger Commonwealth.
Some of the perks of living in Scranton: Low crime rate, affordable rent, geographic proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.
The MBS class schedule has been revised with greater flexibility for the student in mind.
In addition to faculty availability, another advantage of small class sizes is that students grow in friendship and come to support each other throughout the program.
free yoga class every Monday night. JESSICA BONDY, MBS-SCRANTON 2017
[8p] Review the day’s material. Prepare outlines and flashcards galore. Procrastinate a little by frequently checking social media. Study some more.
Care and support of students goes beyond your coursework. There are plenty of health, wellness and community involvement activities planned to benefit our students.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT The moment Amanda Touey stood in front of her first group of students enrolled in Biology 110, she knew she was meant to be a professor. “I loved it from the get-go,” she said. “I find it so exciting. The work is intense, but when you find you are inspiring students, there’s nothing else like it.” From that first exhilarating class, Amanda has followed a path that’s taken her to the heights of academia. She is now going to be a PhD student at Cornell University in the department of Genetics, Genomics and Developmental Biology. She says the doors to academia began to open for her after she earned her MBS degree from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. “My first job after getting my MBS was at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. From there, I taught a several more classes at a variety of local
AMANDA TOUEY, MBS-SCRANTON 2012
colleges,” she said. “I fell in love with academia and my passion must have showed because student feedback was always positive and some of my students even decided to pursue science after taking my course. I never would have gotten these jobs and found out how much I love teaching if I did not have the solid background the MBS gave me.” Now, she is headed to Cornell University to conduct her research and, after completing rotations, hopes to be part of Cornell’s Center for Reproductive Genomics and to continue teaching. “I think everything happens for a reason,” Amanda said. “Since getting my MBS from Geisinger Commonwealth, I’ve learned the importance of finding your fit. Getting my MBS put me on the right path – I found the place I needed to be.”
EXPERT FACULTY Here are just some of the faculty members you’ll encounter at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine:
BOARDMAN
DOANE
KULP
KUMAR
JENNIFER BOARDMAN, PhD
DARINA LAZAROVA, PhD
Assistant Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and MBSDoylestown Course Director Research Interests: Programmatic Assessment, Diversity and Cultural Competence
Director of Master of Biomedical Sciences Program and Associate Professor of Molecular Biology Research Interests: Etiology, Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer, Signal Transduction Pathways in Neoplastic Cells
KATHLEEN DOANE, PhD
PAMELA LUCCHESI, PhD, FAHA
Professor of Anatomy Research Interests: The Interaction of Cells with the Extracellular Matrix using Matrix Receptors
Professor of Physiology Research Interests: Cardiovascular Disease
JOHN KULP, PhD
MICHELLE SCHMUDE, EdD
Regional Assistant Dean for Doylestown Campus, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor, BSBI, Computational Chemistry Research Interests: Bioorganic Chemistry with specialization in Protein Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Structure Determination, Computational Methods for studying Protein Structure, Synthetic Peptide Chemistry, and ComputerAided Drug Design with a specialty focus on Computational Fragment-Based Methods
Associate Dean of Admissions, Enrollment Management, and Financial Aid and Assistant Professor Research Interests: Communication and Professionalism Skills for Healthcare Providers, Assessment of Students’ Interpersonal Communication Skills, and Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center Usage
RAJ KUMAR, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology Research Interests: Epigenetic Maintenance of Gene Expression in Drosophila Melanogaster during Epithelial and Stem Cell Development. Epigenetic Regulation of DNA Repair Processes in the Fly. Chromatin Organization in Drosophila
Professor of Biochemistry Research Interests: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology; Protein Biochemistry, Structural Biology, and Biophysical Chemistry; Thermodynamics of Protein Folding/ Unfolding; Cancer Biology; Pharmacology and Pathology of Gastrointestinal Tract; Diabetes; Signal Transduction, Post transcriptional Modifications; Endocrinology; Biology of Nuclear Hormone Receptors; Inflammation; and, Allergy and Asthma
LAZAROVA
LUCCHESI
SCHMUDE
GREGORY SHANOWER, PhD
SHANOWER
STUDENT SUCCESS
Our MBS graduates have been accepted to healthprofessional schools (MD, PhD, DO, Veterinary and Dental schools), including: Boston University School of Medicine Case Western University School of Medicine Drexel University College of Medicine Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine George Washington University Medical School Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – Rutgers University Sidney Kimmel Medical College – Thomas Jefferson University Temple University School of Dentistry Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine University of South Florida College of Medicine
Alumni of our MBS program have also gained success in research-oriented careers, including: Clinical Research Assistant, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Clinical Research Coordinator, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA Laboratory Technician, Deibel Laboratories, Bethlehem, PA Pathology Clinical Laboratory Coordinator, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA Post-bacc IRTA, Clinical Coordinator, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Quality Insurance Analyst, Allen Flavors, Edison, NJ Research Technician, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA Research Technologist, College of Medicine at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA Senior Clinical Research Assistant, Proove Biosciences, Irvine, CA
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT JOHNNY (JING RAN) CHEN, MBS-DOYLESTOWN 2017
Some kids like dinosaurs, others like insects. For Johnny (Jing Ran) Chen, the fascination was sharks. “I was always interested in science, largely because I loved sharks and water bugs so much as a child. I even planned to become a marine biologist,” he said. The attraction lasted until Johnny reached high school and decided becoming a veterinarian was a more realistic career choice. Despite the decision to pursue science, Johnny’s veterinarian ambitions faded in college. “At that time I was searching for my place in the world,” he said. During his two years at community college, he volunteered in labs and joined a medical seminars club. His searching led to the realization that human biology was his new passion. After graduation, he enrolled at Stony Brook University majoring in biology with an eye on going to medical school. He was intent on becoming the best med-school applicant possible. He was looking
for a way to strengthen his medical school application. Advisors at Stony Brook suggested he look for a post-baccalaureate program like the MBS program at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Johnny attended an Open House at our Doylestown Campus in the spring of 2016 and the experience persuaded him that Geisinger Commonwealth’s was the right program for him. “Everyone I met from Geisinger Commonwealth was so receptive and supportive,” he said. “I wanted academic rigor, but I also wanted personal attention. At other schools, you are one of many, many students. At Geisinger Commonwealth, I felt the faculty and staff would really get to know me.” Geisinger Commonwealth was the perfect fit and Johnny thrived in the MBS program. In fact, he did so well, he is now a member of Geisinger Commonwealth’s MD Class of 2021.
APPLY TODAY Requirements
Non-Degree Seeking Students
1.
Are you interested in the Master of Biomedical Sciences curriculum, but are not sure you want to complete the entire degree program? Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine allows non-degree students who may want to take just a few classes for career enhancement to enroll.
A bachelor’s degree from a U.S. or Canadian accredited undergraduate college or university (must be completed before enrollment in MBS program) 2. The following coursework: General Biology with laboratory (1 year/2 semesters) General Chemistry with laboratory (1 year/2 semesters) Organic Chemistry with laboratory (1 year/2 semesters) General Physics with laboratory (1 year/2 semesters) English and English Composition (1 semester) *AP credits can be used towards required courses 3. Be a United States citizen or permanent resident Students are encouraged to take additional science courses to support their candidacy to the MBS Program. * On-line coursework or college level examination program (CLEP) credits may not be used to fulfill any of the above course requirements.
Non-degree students can take up to 12 credits over the course of two semesters before having to apply for full admission into the MBS program. Students will be expected to submit all required application materials. Course credits earned in the non-degree status will be considered when evaluating a student for full admission and course grades will be transferred into their degree program should the student be accepted. All Geisinger Commonwealth students, regardless of degree status or program, have full access to the Center for Learning Excellence’s academic and personal support services as well as personalized advising to help you meet your academic and professional goals.
Application Process 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
Submit your completed application through Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s application portal. Submit your application fee. Request official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed. Send results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE Code 1795), and/or Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Students who have not taken a standardized test may still apply without a score. Send letters of recommendation: One (1) committee letter, OR Three (3) letters of recommendation Letters should be written by faculty members within the department of the applicant’s major or advisors who can attest to the applicant’s ability to learn and succeed both academically and personally.
570-504-9068 mbs@tcmc.edu
geisinger.edu
MBS-SCRANTON CLASS OF 2017 PROFILE Total Applications: 749 Enrolled: 73
MCAT average: 26 MCAT 2015 average: 496 Average GPA: 3.33 Gender (m/f): 33/41 PA students: 32 Northeastern and north central PA students: 19 First-generation college students: 27 Disadvantaged: 15 Students who are underrepresented in medicine: 21
COMMUNITY-BASED PATIENT-CENTERED INNOVATIVE EDUCATION
525 Pine Street Scranton, PA 18509 www.geisinger.edu Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities.