Beginning in Fall 2019, St. Thomas University (STU) will introduce South Florida’s first and only Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) degree program. STU’s MSMS will be presented in partnership with Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) through Tiber Health Innovation and will be taught by PHSU’s medical school faculty and STU’s science faculty.
“Our one-year MSMS program will give students a significant advantage in their continuing medical education or medical career pursuits,” says Dr. Luis C. Fernandez-Torres, science professor and Dean of Undergraduate Programs at STU. “The broad-based MSMS curriculum – which will include courses in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Ethics, and Physiology – will also integrate virtual laboratory experiences that will prepare graduates for the next step in their healthcare journeys. The curriculum is pulled from PHSU’s LCME accredited medical program and is taught at the medical school pace. This allows students the chance to prepare for the rigors of medical school while also enhancing their chances for admission,” he said.
As an added benefit, the top 20% of the STU MSMS Program graduates, based on their grade point average in the MSMS Program and most recent MCAT score, and who adhere to PHSU admissions requirements for medical school application, will be granted interviews at PHSU School of Medicine should they apply to PHSU.
STU’s MSMS program will be offered at the school’s Miami Gardens campus and will be limited to graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree. The program will help students to achieve the following:
- Enhance the possibility of being accepted into a medical, veterinary or dental school program by demonstrating added competence in the required sciences.
- Supplement their undergraduate records with enhanced science preparation in order to pursue careers in academia, research, or in the biotechnical or pharmaceutical industries.
Application information and deadlines will be forthcoming. For more information about the MSMS, contact fernandez@stu.edu or 305.628.6760. For media inquiries, contact jforchion@stu.edu or 305.474.6044.
