GEISINGER SCHOOL OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
One degree. Many paths to success.
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student
About Geisinger and Geisinger College of Health Sciences
At Geisinger, our work is focused on one thing. Making better health easier. It’s how we fulfill the promise Abigail Geisinger made 100 years ago to her community. A Geisinger education shapes future healthcare leaders who understand how to take the complex — integrated systems, advanced technology like AI and medical innovations like MyCode — to make things simple, easy and better for patients and communities.
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 advanced genomics program. Geisinger College of Health Sciences embraces these advances while blending 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 communication skills fostered in small groups and professional interactions, will serve students well in any career in medicine or science.
Whether you’re 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 College’s Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program prepares you to succeed.
Why earn your MBS?
Academic rigor
At Geisinger College of Health Sciences, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. Our rigorous curriculum is designed to challenge and empower you, making sure that as a Geisinger MBS graduate, you stand out as an exceptionally qualified candidate in the eyes of educational institutions and employers alike.
Personal attention
Our MBS students benefit from a close-knit learning environment. With individualized advising, we help you make the best academic and professional decisions. Our wide range of student and academic support services is here to enrich your educational experience and guide you to success.
Real-world education
Experience the excitement of real-world education with our diverse opportunities, including hands-on research, shadowing, corporate visits, community engagement and mentoring from our dedicated faculty.
Flexible scheduling
Full-time students can complete their MBS degree in just 10 months. Online students have the flexibility to choose between completing the program fulltime (1 year) or part-time (two years).
Enhanced credentials
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.
Research experience
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.
Career focus
Our 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.
Test prep
Our Professional School Application Enhancement course prepares you for professional school and equips you to excel on standardized exams like the MCAT, DAT or GRE.
Scranton Campus
Alumni spotlight MBS curriculum
Oluwaseyi Olulana, MD ’24, MBS ’19
Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Olulana, MD, is on her way to a neurology residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. That successful journey began at Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ Master of Biomedical Sciences program.
As an alumna of the program, Dr. Olulana most appreciated its rigor and the early exposure she received to the wider Geisinger community.
“The program really prepares you for the demands of medical school,” she said. “My MBS provided a strong foundation and the opportunity to be involved in leadership at the medical school and in the local community. The MBS program’s faculty and staff give students such a level of support and care that continuing with Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine was an easy decision to make. Geisinger became my home away from home.”
After earning her MBS, Dr. Olulana worked as a research extern at the Geisinger Neuroscience Institute Decode Lab in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Geisinger Medical Center through the externship program offered by Geisinger Commonwealth’s Center of Excellence. At this externship, she worked with the research team to input data for the IMAGENE research study, contributed to the writing of research papers to be published on topics such as disparity and stroke, and helped further the understanding of stroke assessment within Geisinger under the mentorship of Ramin Zand, MD.
Dr. Olulana also gained leadership experience, first as diversity and inclusion chair for the class of 2024, then as Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter president to the regional executive committee for Region VIII — a region that includes all medical schools in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware — and as the SNMA regional director for Region VIII.
Full- or part-time format (online)
• Earn your degree from anywhere, and enjoy the freedom to learn wherever life takes you!
• High-quality education with engaging, interactive courses.
• Enjoy the same comprehensive support and resources as our oncampus students, which give you everything you need to succeed.
• 2-year part-time or 1 year full-time program.
• Synchronous virtual course format
Full-time format (Scranton campus)
• Classes take place on our Scranton campus in the LEED Silvercertified Medical Sciences Building, providing a positive and ecofriendly learning environment.
• MBS students have regular, enriching interactions with our MD students and other learners right here on campus.
• Day and evening classes
• Traditional and virtual course formats
MBS-Scranton and online program curriculum
Semester 1
• Cell Biology
• Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Principles of Population Health
Semester 2
• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Immunology
• Professional Identity Formation I
Semester 3
• Professional School Application Enhancement
• Medical Humanities
• Professional Identity Formation II
• MBS Selective*
MBS Selectives
• Independent Study
• Biomedical Research and Debate
• Practical Clinical Genetics
• Virology
Part time – online
Semester 1
• Cell Biology
• Epidemiology
Semester 2
• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Professional Identity Formation I
Semester 3
• Medical Humanities
• Professional Identity Formation II
• MBS Selective*
Semester 4
• Genetics
• Neuroscience
Semester 5
• Physiology
• Anatomy
Semester 6
• Professional School Application Enhancement
*Course offerings are subject to change.
Alumni spotlight
Helena Eby, MBS ’24
Late to the résumé-building required for medical school, Ms. Eby knew she had work to do. So, she did two things upon graduation from college: She gained hands-on clinical experience and began looking for a master’s degree program to burnish her credentials.
Ms. Eby was also looking for outstanding academics and plenty of guidance and support. “I was looking for academic enhancement, opportunities to expand on my leadership skills and volunteer opportunities,” she said. “I decided on Geisinger College of Health Sciences because I could interact one on one with faculty. I felt I would get all the guidance and support I needed.”
The MBS program, which closely mirrors the first year of medical school, was challenging. “I had to hit the ground running as soon as the program started,” Ms. Eby said. With ample academic support, she excelled in her classes and took on the volunteer and leadership roles she wanted on her résumé.
“At Geisinger, every faculty member and every staff member I’ve interacted with has provided me with great advice. Everyone wants me to succeed.”
Student spotlight
Sagar Patel, MBS ’24
Sagar Patel was inspired at an early age to pursue a life of service thanks to the example of his father, Dr. Samir Patel, a bariatric surgeon in Atlantic City.
“I’ve always wanted to become a physician since I was a kid,” he said. “My dad has always been my role model because a lot of people look up to him and he always talks about how much he loves his job and loves medicine. He says it gives him a sense of purpose.”
In addition to being drawn to medicine, Mr. Patel is drawn to competition. He was a highly decorated distance runner in both high school and college.
As a biochemistry and molecular biology major and psychology minor at Elizabethtown College, he competed year-round in both track and field and cross country.
He even won a national award recognizing his dedication to academics, extracurricular activities and service. That’s why, when the time came to apply to medical school, Mr. Patel felt he needed to train his focus exclusively on some missing pieces of his academic record and sought a master’s degree program that would help him do that.
“I feel like I’m more focused now. I got that insight from Geisinger,” he said. “This is especially true with some classes in the MBS program that I never took in undergrad,
like immunology and pharmacology. Thanks to these courses, I’m building up my academic base and making connections.”
Mr. Patel credits Geisinger faculty — especially Jennifer Boardman, PhD, associate dean for graduate education, and Greg Shanower, PhD, assistant dean of graduate program and curriculum development — with helping him define and understand his goals. “They’ve been supportive and encouraging, and they know I’m willing to put in the work. It’s been a good journey,” he said.
Thanks to support from the MBS program, Mr. Patel has also been able to continue to research — something he enjoyed as an undergraduate. He finds Geisinger’s focus on clinical research a good match for his interests.
The Medical College Admission Test and a medical school application are still ahead for Mr. Patel. But he says the MBS program has given him the confidence, solid grades and research experience he needs to go forward with his dreams. And with luck, his dreams will find him back at Geisinger.
“Thanks to the MBS program, I’ve made a lot of connections at Geisinger. And I like the focus on primary care and clinical research. I can definitely envision a future here.”
Student engagement
Diversity
Get involved with Safe Zone training, Geisinger College’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.
Academic advising
Our dedicated academic advisers are here to help you achieve your academic goals and develop your professional identity. They’ll work with you to discuss your strengths and weaknesses, set goals, enhance your study skills, find resources, plan your academic path and boost your professional engagement.
Cocurricular support
Attend professional identify formation workshops, create an e-portfolio of your 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 you training and make you a strong candidate for medical or professional school and other healthcare-related fields.
Service
You’ll quickly become immersed in the local community by participating in our community immersion events. Work with local clinics, hospitals and food pantries, and participate in healthcare screenings and wellness initiatives. These experiences often enhance your professional skills and prepare you for a successful career.
Career services
Geisinger College of Health Sciences assists you in developing and supporting your career goals by offering a variety of workshops, networking opportunities, professional school and career fairs and individualized career coaching.
Research
Collaborate with our esteemed faculty members or partner with other educators. These research opportunities allow you to focus on your areas of interest, contribute to meaningful projects and gain valuable experience.
Alumni spotlight
Nelson Sofoluke, MD ’17, MBS ’13
When he was growing up in Baltimore, Nelson Sofoluke, MD, loved computers. Delving into the mechanics behind what made a program run appealed to his curiosity and he was delighted by seeing immediate responses when he tweaked a program. In fact, he was fairly certain he was going to have a career in computers — right up until his junior year at the University of Maryland, when he had a neuroscience course. That course sparked his deep fascination with the brain and the ways surgeons can revive lost function by fixing the brain or nervous system.
“When I began to think about medicine, I felt that I would be choosing to do all of the things I loved most — solving problems, thinking critically, being a detective,” he said. Since Dr. Sofoluke’s call to become a surgeon came late in his college career, he began to look for master’s degree programs where he could get the basic science prerequisites necessary to apply to medical school. “The Master of Biomedical Sciences program was my introduction to Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine,” he said. “I chose it because I liked the community — it was small, and I felt at home there. The school was so integrated with the community that I instantly felt a part of it. One of my favorite events at the school was the Alley Oop for Autism basketball tournament. All of my friends in the community came and played in it — it was open to everyone.”
Another of Dr. Sofoluke’s favorite memories of his time at Geisinger Commonwealth was sharing small group discussion as a medical student with Gino Mori, MD, a retired Scranton surgeon who decided to audit the first two years of medical school just for the intellectual stimulation. “In effect, he graduated with us,” he said, adding that he admired Dr. Mori’s dedication to lifelong learning.
Now working on a spine fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Sofoluke admits that, despite his confidence, he finds working in the OR the fulfillment of his dreams. “Neurosurgery has very high rewards because the risk is so great. When someone has a deficit and the surgery fixes it and function returns, the reward you feel is amazing. But I also think of how wrong things can go, so when patients trust you to touch them despite that risk, it’s humbling. Sometimes it’s nerve-wracking, but it’s always humbling.”
Alumni spotlight
Rider Daas, MBS ’20
Rider Daas, MBS ’20, knew he wanted to be a dentist when he first shadowed his stepfather in the clinic as a teen. “I really liked how dentistry allows you to work with your hands and, in a way, create art. It’s very detailoriented work and that appealed to me,” he said.
Today, he is a dental student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and he credits his Geisinger Master of Biomedical Sciences degree with getting him there.
“As an undergraduate at Washington and Jefferson University, I had to learn how to learn,” he said. “When I graduated, I knew I had to show that I had what it takes to handle the workload of dental school.”
A college friend was entering Geisinger Commonwealth as a medical student and told Mr. Daas about the MBS program. “I chose Geisinger because of the accelerated one-year program. I knew it would help me show that I’d mastered the ability to manage the demands of studying, taking tests and juggling a full schedule.”
Mr. Dass’ instincts were correct. He said that, as a dental student, he finds the challenge similar to his experience in the MBS program — and he knows how to deal with the rigor.
“That’s the biggest thing I took from Geisinger,” he said. “Mastering the workload. I see some of my classmates struggling now with the pace, so it’s something I’m very grateful for.”
Alumni spotlight
Bennet Stahl, MBS ’23
Bennett Stahl was working in medical device sales after getting his biochemistry degree when he realized his true passion was in the OR. With this new goal in mind, he had a hard time finding a medical school that fit — until he exchanged emails with Michelle Schmude, EdD, MBA, vice provost for enrollment management at Geisinger College of Health Sciences. She let him know his previous GPA needed improvement and suggested he try the Master of Biomedical Sciences program.
“It’s the human element that drew me to Geisinger,” Mr. Stahl says. “There are lots of MBS programs out there, but they didn’t seem to care much about me. The absolute zeal everyone at the school has — everyone is pushing for you. If you do well here, you’re going to get into medical school.”
Thanks to the personal attention and his experience at Geisinger, Mr. Stahl was accepted to the Geisinger School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2028.
Admissions requirements
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.
Application process
Students interested in applying to Geisinger College of Health Science’s MBS program should:
1. Complete an online application: apply.graduate.som.geisinger.edu
2. Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed. Transcripts can be sent to graduateadmissions@geisinger.edu
3. Submit letters of recommendation. All applicants are required to submit one committee letter or three individual letters of recommendation. Letters can be sent to graduateadmissions@geisinger.edu
4. Standardized test scores are optional.
Academic and professional performance
Academic and professional performance of all MBS degree candidates is reviewed at the close of each term. All degree candidates are required to maintain a minimum average GPA of 2.5 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 2.5 at the end of each term, MBS degree candidacy will be rescinded.
An MBS degree will be conferred by Geisinger College of Health Sciences to students who have successfully completed the required 33 credit hours of coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Contact us
Geisinger College of Health Sciences 525 Pine St. Scranton, PA 18509
Call: 570-504-9068
Text: 570-507-8295
Start your application: apply.graduate.som.geisinger.edu
GEISINGER SCHOOL OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
Geisinger College of Health Sciences
525 Pine St. Scranton, PA 18509
570-504-9068 graduateadmissions@geisinger.edu geisinger.edu/gchs/education
