Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Table of contents
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
One degree – many paths to success
About Geisinger and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine......... 2
Medical student
Why earn your MBS?...................................... 3
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Locations............................................................ 4 Alumni spotlight............................................... 5 MBS curriculum................................................ 6 Core courses and electives......................... 7
Research lab technician University of Pittsburgh
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student
Alumni spotlight............................................... 8
Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Student engagement................................... 10 Outcomes...........................................................11 Alumni spotlight..............................................12 MBS class profile.............................................. 15 Apply today........................................................ 16
Vaccine research technician Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities.
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals
PhD student Genetics, Genomics and Development Program, Cornell University
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
About Geisinger and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
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Everything we do is about caring for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger for her central Pennsylvania community, Geisinger has expanded and evolved to meet regional needs and developed innovative, national programs in the process.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine 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.
We’ve become a coordinated intersection of services and providers — primary care and specialists, hospitals and trauma centers, insurance, medical education and research. Having all that working together makes it possible to do more to improve care, and test and share innovation that works — and that’s vital. But what makes Geisinger unique is the patients and communities who are the focus of everything: our essential partners.
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 School of Medicine embraces these advances while meshing them with the age-old
philosophy of biomedical science: care and concern for community. Our curriculum encourages students to take a 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 small groups and professional interactions, will serve students well in any career in medicine or science. Whether you are seeking to position yourself for further graduate study, attend professional school (such as medical, dental or optometry), gain entry into a healthrelated field or advance within your organization, Geisinger Commonwealth’s Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program prepares you to succeed.
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Why earn your MBS? Academic rigor
Enhanced credentials
Geisinger Commonwealth emphasizes excellence. Our curriculum is rigorous, intensive and recognized, which means education institutions and employers know that as a holder of a Geisinger Commonwealth MBS degree, you are an exceptionally qualified candidate.
Highly qualified 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
Explore opportunities to take part in community health research, which emphasizes proposal writing, survey design, ethics, data management and analysis, qualitative research and field investigation.
Our MBS students learn in an intimate, close-knit environment. We provide personalized advising to ensure you’re making the best academic and professional choices. Geisinger Commonwealth offers a host of student and academic services to enhance your educational experience.
Real-world education Our intensive biomedical curriculum includes elective courses that allow you to choose a personal path to success. We offer a range of experiences, including research, shadowing, corporate visits, community engagement and mentoring from faculty.
Student-centered schedules You can complete your MBS degree in approximately 10 to 16 months. Whether you’re on campus or online, coursework is available in a flexible format. Daytime and evening class schedules are available.
Research experience
Career focus Our Professionalism and Professional Identity Formation for Healthcare Careers course will help you craft your personal statement and curriculum vitae (CV), practice interviewing skills and gain insight about your career options from a variety of health professionals.
Standardized test prep The Princeton Review MCAT, DAT or GRE prep course will prepare you for professional school. These comprehensive courses are offered as part of the standard curriculum.* * 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.
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Locations Scranton
Doylestown
Medical Sciences Building 525 Pine St. Scranton, PA 18509
Baruch S. Blumberg Institute at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County 3805 Old Easton Road Doylestown, PA 18902
In Scranton, classes take place fulltime in our LEED Silver–certified Medical Sciences Building. Geisinger Commonwealth is a fully accredited medical school. MBS students interact with MD students and other learners regularly. Scranton, located in northeast Pennsylvania, offers a host of cultural events, outdoor activities, affordable housing, and a variety of healthcare and education institutions. We are approximately two hours from several major cities, including New York City, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
In Doylestown, Geisinger Commonwealth teams up with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute (BSBI) to offer evening classes as part of a flexible-format program inside the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County. BSBI is the home of the largest concentration of nonprofit scientists working toward cures for hepatitis B and liver cancer. Less than 50 miles from Philadelphia, Doylestown has a rich history and vibrant cultural scene.
Scranton Campus
Online Earn your degree wherever you are! Geisinger Commonwealth’s online MBS program delivers the same highquality education our students receive in Scranton and Doylestown with courses that are engaging, interactive and
asynchronous. Online students have access to the same support and resources as on-campus students, and our team ensures a rewarding distance-education experience. Doylestown Campus
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Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Alumni spotlight Laël Ngangmeni, MBS ’19 Laël Ngangmeni’s childhood struggle with preventable illnesses and her father’s stroke were formative experiences that explain her interest in both medicine and research. Laël grew up in the French-speaking region of Cameroon, Africa. “I seemed to always be sick as a child,” she said. “I was in the hospital a lot with mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria. I was exposed early to the kindness and skill of doctors and nurses.” At the age of 16, she enrolled in Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Mass., and lived up to her reputation as a prodigy. Already fluent in French and English, Laël learned and doublemajored in pre-med and psychology — and graduated from Simon’s Rock in May 2018 at 19 years old. As she looked to further her education, coming to Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for her Master of Biomedical Science (MBS) degree seemed to be the wisest choice. “Given my experiences with preventable illness, Geisinger’s focus on population health really appealed to me. The fact that the school was started by the community to address a community problem resonated with me. It’s important that we recognize that when one person is sick, their whole family and the community are affected.” Laël excelled in the MBS program and will be attending the University of Massachusetts Medical School as a MD/PhD candidate.
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
MBS curriculum Full-time format (Scranton) • 10- to 12-month program • Day and evening classes • Traditional and virtual course formats
Flexible format (Doylestown) • 16-month program • Evening classes • Traditional and virtual course formats
Full-time format (Online) • 10- to 12-month program • Virtual course format
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Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Core courses
Electives
Bioethics Cancer Biology
Cell Biology
Community Health Research Emergency Medical Technician
Biochemistry
Epidemiology & Biostatistics Histology Immunology Integrated Group Learning Laboratory Techniques
Human Genetics
Management Neuroscience Pharmacology
Physiology
Professionalism and Professional Identity Formation for Healthcare Careers
Princeton Review Readings in Basic Science Seminars in Biomedical Sciences
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Alumni spotlight John Coulter, MBS ’18 John Coulter enrolled at Slippery Rock University as an exercise science major but discovered in his fourth year that physical therapy wasn’t for him. “I talked to an advisor and discussed my interest in physiology and interacting with people. He said, ‘It sounds like you want to be a doctor.’” John realized the advisor was correct. The problem now was that his college years hadn’t really helped him to prepare for medical school. John reached out to a friend who was a third-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. “He recommended the MBS program and told me it would prepare me for medical school,” John said. “The level of support I received throughout the MBS program and the resources that were available to me were unbelievable. Everyone was so caring. I took advantage of every opportunity Geisinger Commonwealth provided,” he said. John successfully completed the MBS program with the Class of 2018. Recently, he was accepted as a medical student to Geisinger Commonwealth’s Class of 2023 and was accepted into the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program. “Back in high school, I wanted to be a doctor and I always knew I wanted to stay in this area,” he said. “Being accepted to Geisinger Commonwealth tells me this is right. This is what I want to do. Everything is lined up perfectly for me.”
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Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Sagar Bhatt, MBS ’17 A well-known aphorism says that 80 percent of success is showing up. According to Sagar Bhatt, that’s only 20 percent correct — and showing up is only useful if you ask questions. Sagar attended interactive guest lectures at Geisinger Commonwealth’s Doylestown Campus. He leveraged the information he learned into his rewarding career in drug development at Janssen, a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson. Doylestown students are invited to attend weekly seminars by eminent scientists at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. The speakers are CEOs, researchers and physicians from around the globe. “I found the flexibility of the program attractive because I could hold a full-time job and work in the biotech industry to gain valuable experience simultaneously. I knew it would be difficult, but it helped me build a robust résumé early in my career,” he said. “It was a challenge, but I found that if I worked hard, it was manageable.” Since his graduation, Sagar’s career has thrived. He was recently recruited to join the new CAR-T Discovery Platform development team at Janssen BioTherapeutics. CAR-T is a new type of cellular therapy receiving a great deal of attention from cancer researchers — which Sagar said could be “the next big thing” for cancer treatments.
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Student engagement Diversity
Academic advising
Students get involved with Safe Zone training, Geisinger Commonwealth’s Regional Education Academy for Careers in Health – Higher Education Initiative (REACH-HEI), Minority Association of Pre-medical Students (MAPS) and diversity and inclusion events.
Acedemic advisors provide guidance to help students achieve their academic goals and develop their professional identity. Advisors discuss students’ strengths and weaknesses, goals, study skills, professional engagement and academic planning.
Students attend professional identify formation workshops, create an e-portfolio of their cocurricular experiences and participate as a member of the Graduate Student Council as well as a multitude of other clubs and organizations. These experiences provide training to our students and make them strong candidates for medical or professional school and other healthcare-related fields.
Service
Research
Our students quickly become immersed in the local community by participating in our Colleges Building Community events. Other service opportunities include experiences with local healthcare clinics, hospitals, food kitchens and pantries, health screenings and wellness and diversity initiatives.
Students can pursue research opportunities with our faculty members or participate in our laboratory boot camps offered at our Doylestown Campus.
Career services Geisinger Commonwealth assists students in developing and supporting their career goals through offering a variety of workshops, networking opportunities, professional school and career fairs, and individualized career coaching. 10
Cocurricular support
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Outcomes Our MBS graduates have been accepted to health professional schools (MD, PhD, DO, veterinary and dental schools), including: • Albany Medical College • Boston University School of Medicine • Drexel University College of Medicine
Alumni of our MBS program have also had successful researchoriented careers, including: • Associate scientist, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA
• Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
• Clinical research assistant, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Clinical research coordinator, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
• Howard University College of Medicine
• Laboratory technician, Deibel Laboratories, Bethlehem, PA
• Larner College of Medicine at The University of Vermont • Penn State College of Medicine • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine • Ross University School of Medicine • Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy • Sidney Kimmel Medical College • Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine • University of Central Florida • University of Illinois College of Medicine • University of Massachusetts Medical School • University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
• Pathology clinical laboratory coordinator, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA
MBS placement data* 2010 – 2017
Medical school and health professional school
Industry
18%
79% Other *known outcomes
3%
• Post-baccalaureate IRTA, clinical coordinator, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD • Quality assurance 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
• University of Virginia Medical School
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Alumni spotlight Rainya Heath, MBS ’17 Rainya Heath had an early fascination with the brain. “I had a cousin who lost her vision as the result of a brain tumor, and also had a friend who died of brain cancer,” she said. “Seeing how the brain and nervous system control quality of life, I was drawn to neuroscience and medicine because I was interested in healing both the body and the mind.” Rainya, who was born in Jamaica and grew up in Fishkill, N.Y., graduated from University of Rochester in 2014 with a degree in neuroscience. At that point, she wanted a break from school and thought she might build a career in research, so she went to work for PRA Health Sciences in Philadelphia. She said she knew she wanted to go to medical school, but needed to boost her application with a master’s degree. “I chose Geisinger Commonwealth because I knew it would simulate the first year of medical school,” Rainya said. “I chose the Doylestown location so I could learn more about clinical research at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center.” Rainya excelled at Doylestown, and in 2018 she joined University of Miami School of Medicine’s Class of 2022, where she is performing neuroscience research in interventional neuroendovascular surgery, with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon.
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Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Andrey Dementyev, MBS ’16 When Andrey Dementyev graduated from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in May of 2016 he “literally started a new job the next day,” he said. The job was in the highly specialized field of medical device sales, first with Dryan Medical in Connecticut and now with Johnson & Johnson in the Hudson Valley of New York. In the medical device sector, sales professionals function more like consultants. “I don’t really ‘sell’ in the way the word suggests,” he said. Instead, Andrey functions as an extension of the surgical team. He reviews X-rays, participates in planning and accompanies the team into the OR. “I am a professional advisor for orthopaedic surgery,” he said. “I have to know every surgery, the implant size and options if things go wrong.” Andrey said the medical background he received while pursuing his MBS at Geisinger Commonwealth has been key to his success. “Besides achieving a personal goal for me, the MBS has put me on the same page as the surgeons I work with — we use the same language. It gives me an advantage over my competitors,” he said.
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Alumni spotlight Alfred Hamilton III, MBS ’17 Alfred Hamilton III, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2022, was accepted into its AAMC’s leadership development program, RISE: Developing Future Leaders in Academic Medicine & Science. There he hopes to hone his networking, team-building and conflict-resolution skills. He said Geisinger Commonwealth has already laid a strong curricular foundation in these areas. “When I was part of AmeriCorps, working in Boston as an English tutor, I began looking for a master’s program that would provide the science background I needed to apply to medical school,” he said. He joined a GroupMe text that convened people of color who were interested in pursuing medical careers Among his GroupMe peers, he developed a particular friendship with a firstyear medical student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The two were surprised to later learn they both chose Geisinger Commonwealth for their MBS. Alfred graduated with his MBS in 2017. “I really liked how the school is purpose-driven and its emphasis on diversity and inclusion,” he said. “Also, students in the MBS program receive individualized, personal attention, which I thought was very important.”
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Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
MBS class profile • Total applications: 1,030 • Enrolled: 117 • GPA: 3.15 • Gender (male/female): 40/77 • Pennsylvania students: 50 • Regionally preferred counties: 26 • Students who are underrepresented in medicine: 44 • First-generation-to-college students: 52 • Disadvantaged students: 38
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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Apply today Requirements
Application process
1.
1.
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 (one year/two semesters) • General chemistry with laboratory (one year/two semesters) • Organic chemistry with laboratory (one year/two semesters) • General physics with laboratory optional (one year/two semesters) • English and English composition (one semester) 3. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence *College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits may not be used to fulfill any of the above course requirements. AP credits can be used toward required courses.
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Submit your completed application through Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s application portal: apply.graduate.som.geisinger.edu
2. Request official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed. Transcripts can be mailed to Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 525 Pine St., Scranton, PA 18509, or emailed to admissions@som.geisinger.edu. 3. Standardized test scores are optional, but can be uploaded with your application material. You can upload MCAT, DAT or GRE scores. 4. Submit one committee letter or three letters of recommendation. Letters can be uploaded or sent directly to admissions@som.geisinger.edu.
Academic and professional performance Academic and professional performance of all MBS degree candidates is reviewed at the close of each term by the Committee on Graduate Academic and Professional Performance. All degree candidates are required to maintain a minimum average GPA of 2.25 to remain in good academic standing and progress to the next academic term. For MBS students who do not meet the minimum average GPA of 2.25 at the end of the fall term, MBS degree candidacy will be rescinded. An MBS degree will be conferred by Geisinger Commonwealth to students who have successfully completed the required 36 credit hours of coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.
Contact us Phone: 570-504-9068 Text: 570-600-1142 mbs@som.geisinger.edu geisinger.edu/gcsom
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
525 Pine St. Scranton, PA 18509
570-504-7000 geisinger.edu/gcsom mbs@som.geisinger.edu
951-3012-8/19-HDAV/BF