Transcript Monitoring neuropeptide, substance P cleavage for

A Masters in Biomedical Sciences Program as a Gateway to MD and PhD Programs
Ingoglia, NA, and Brezenoff, H.E.
UMDNJ - GSBS, Newark, NJ,
Abstract
Introduction: For some students, deciding whether to enter a
clinical educational program or to commit to a lengthy Ph.D. program
in biomedical sciences is often difficult and made with limited
knowledge. Other students may be committed to a career in medicine
but have undergraduate academic records that are inadequate for
acceptance into professional school. To meet the educational needs of
both groups of students, we have designed a masters program in
biomedical sciences that has a flexible curriculum but is sufficiently
structured to prepare students to make a more informed decision
about their career path. This program also has proven useful for
students interested in entering the pharmaceutical or biotech industry
or a variety of careers ancillary to the biomedical sciences. The
program may lead to a thesis-based Master of Science degree or a
non-thesis Master of Biomedical Sciences degree (involving additional
coursework).
The Program has two tracks: one, geared toward those seeking
entrance into a medical/dental school, allows students to take a limited
number of medical or dental courses along with graduate courses. The
other, directed primarily toward those considering careers in research
or education, is composed entirely of graduate courses. A combination
of the two tracks also is possible for students who are undecided on a
career path. Components common to both tracks include a seminar
series in biomedical sciences that exposes the students to the research
programs of faculty at our campus, and a subsequent 2-credit
laboratory course in which they work with one of our faculty in an area
of interest.
Outcome Seventy-three of the 231 students who enrolled in the
program since 1997 have completed the program, 135 are in progress
and 23 have left the program for academic or other reasons. Outcome
data show that 54 have been admitted to clinical educational programs
(medical, osteopathic, dental, veterinary, and physician assistant), 16
have found employment in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry, two
have become teachers at the secondary school level and 11 have
entered a Ph.D. program. Students who have chosen to continue their
educational training in both M.D. (34) and Ph.D. (10) programs at the
Newark campus of UMDNJ currently are in good academic standing.
Target Students
•Those students who see themselves working in the
pharmaceutical or biotech industries
•Those students interested in Science Education.
•Those students who wish to have a chance to
improve their academic records so that they may
apply to professional schools (medical,
osteopathic, dental, veterinary and others).
Key Features
Outcome for Masters students matriculating into NJMS
Outcome Summary 1997-2003
• Enthusiastic, Good Teaching Faculty
(1/3 of tuition income goes to faculty
discretionary accounts)
• Reasonable Tuition (approx
$14,000/program)
• Close mentoring and advising of students
• Convenience of evening classes
Grades of MS Program Graduates in Medical
School Courses
Enrollment MS Program
90
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
80
70
60
50
40
The Educational Program
30
20
General Requirements:
10
0
• The Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) track
requires 30 credits of course work - no thesis)
31
26
1
Honors
1997/8
• The Master of Science (MS) track (requires completion
of 25 credits of course work and five credits of thesis
research)
47
1999
2000
2001
2002
High Pass
2003
Scores USMLE 2002 and 2003
Outcome MS Program 1997-2003
2003
235
250
(n=8)
Enrolled
2002
(n=4)
230
Program requirements
• a laboratory rotation,
• Seminar series
and one of four options:
200
In Progress
225
150
220
Sample Elective Courses
100
215
210
50
205
all US med schools
0
40
A Masters of Biomedical Sciences program is described that
allows students to make a more informed choice between
clinical, research and educational career paths.
30
25
20
10
5
0
MS students
NJMS
Right Eye
15
NJMS
Conclusions
MS Graduate Outcome (1997-2003)
35
• Bioinformatics
• Bio-terrorism and Biodefense
• Current Molecular Techniques
• Stem Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Molecular Oncology
• Topics in Neuroscience
2002
Completed
Dropped
1. Molecular and Cellular Biology (8 credits, two
semesters; PhD),
2. Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences (9 credits, 3
semesters, evenings),
3. Medical Biochemistry (5 credits),
4. Dental Physiology and Dental Biochemistry (9
credits).
Fail
Pass
Pharm/Biotech
PhD
(2, MD/PhD)
Other Med (Osteo)
DMD
Educ./other
Those students entering NJMS do as well or better than
their peers in medical school courses and USMLE part I.
The 11 students who have entered the PhD program are all
performing well.