Students are attracted to our program from all across the country to pursue academic preparation and professional development in the Post-Baccalaureate Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity Certificate. Some of our students have written about their experiences at Baylor. Read the profiles below to learn about our students.
What type of research opportunities does the program offer?
One of the reasons that I chose this program was because of my interest in doing bioethics research at the Baylor Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, where I currently work with Dr. Faith Fletcher on projects related to reproductive justice and maternal health. During the program, I also started working with one of our professors, Dr. Nidal Moukaddam, on her research related to substance use disorders.
How does the program help you in the medical school application process?
The biochemistry course at the beginning of the program really helped me prepare for the MCAT. I also loved getting the opportunity to shadow physicians in the Texas Medical Center, especially Dr. Eppes and the fabulous maternal-fetal medicine team at Ben Taub Hospital!
How do the faculty and staff serve as resources for you?
When some of my research was accepted for a presentation at the 7th Annual UTMB Reproductive Ethics Conference, our program director helped me to secure funding so I could attend and present my work. I am also so grateful for all of the wonderful people at the Academic Success and Career Development Center––during my time at Baylor, they have given me so much help and encouragement on everything from job searching to medical school application advice.
What will you take away from this program?
As I graduate from this program, I am especially grateful for my experiences in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy and the Humanities Expression Arts Lab, the hub for arts and humanities education at Baylor. Through the HEAL Lab, I have been able to participate in narrative medicine classes and other arts and humanities events in the Texas Medical Center. This summer I’ll be working with Dr. Ricardo Nuila to lead a writing class for medical trainees interested in using narrative medicine for physician advocacy. As I begin my medical training, I appreciate the unique experiences that I’ve had at Baylor and how they have prepared me to be a better physician, researcher, and health equity advocate.
What type of research opportunities does the program offer?
As the program is located at BCM’s campus in the Texas Medical Center, there are opportunities to pursue research in any field. During my time in the program, I worked on a project at Houston Methodist, developing new techniques in transcranial direct current stimulation for stroke treatment. The program has done a wonderful job of connecting its students with opportunities. No matter your interest, there is always work being done in the TMC!
How does the program help you in the medical school application process?
Through the academic resources offered in the program, I was able to greatly improve my GPA and MCAT score. The rigorous graduate-level coursework allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the important topics for medical school, such as biochemistry, biostatistics, and genetics. In addition to academics, I was able to obtain physician shadowing experiences through the program. This helped prepare me for my medical school journey through interaction with patients and healthcare teams.
How do the faculty and staff serve as resources for you?
The faculty at BCM have been wonderful mentors during this program. They have always been willing to answer questions and connect with students, often holding extra review sessions before exams and even social events for the class. The Academic Success Center has helped me prepare for medical school application through one-on-one sessions to improve my writing skills. When I’ve had questions about a course, medical school applications, and anything in between, there has always been someone I felt comfortable reaching out to for advice.
What will you take away from this program?
I’ve been able to grow both academically and personally through the BSHEQ program. The diverse group of students has allowed me to make connections that I will continue to hold throughout my career. I’ve learned how to work more effectively with a team on projects and practiced collaborative study skills. Thanks to the mentorship, connections, and coursework of the program, I feel fully prepared to continue my education in medical school.
What type of opportunities does the program offer?
Prior to matriculation into the BSHEq program, I had completed several years of research during my MPH program. Instead of doing research, I wanted to use my time to develop personally and professionally as a leader. I collaborated with my peers to build the Learning Community Leadership Committee (LC^2), where we all worked together to plan and organize educationally enhancing events for our cohort such as Quiz Bowls and BCM Buddies. With the support of the program faculty, the work our committee accomplished together made my experience especially memorable and positive during my time as a post-baccalaureate student.
How does the program help you in the medical school application process?
The program as a whole helped me grow and develop as a pre-med student. I found the biomedical coursework incredibly helpful for re-taking my MCAT, as well as the interactive and engaging application and interview workshops the Academic Success Center and Career Development Center put together for us. I also loved all the of inspirational guest speakers that spoke with us about prevailing on this path in the face of adversity. My cohort was also such an incredible resource and support network throughout this entire process. The program made the entire application process much more approachable and enjoyable as opposed to when I had first applied to medical school on my own.
How do the faculty and staff serve as resources for you?
As someone with a humanities and public health background, science was never something that “came easy to me.” The faculty, professors, and tutors, however, made concepts in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics so much more approachable and enjoyable. I also loved how accessible and unconditionally supportive the faculty and staff were throughout the entire process.
What will you take away from this program?
My greatest takeaway from this program was overcoming my imposter syndrome with my medical school aspirations. At 30, my pre-med journey has been longer than most and it has been filled with many ups and downs and moments of doubt if there would really be a seat for someone like me in a medical college. However, with the support from my professors to succeed with rigorous coursework, and my incredibly supportive (and exceptionally bright) cohort, I felt that this program was designed for someone like me to succeed and grow. I will absolutely miss being part of this program, especially my cohort, but am very grateful I was able to spend a year growing alongside everyone and I cannot wait to see where we all end up.
What type of research opportunities does the program offer?
I am currently conducting research at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center in a lab that studies transgenic mice to determine how single genes can affect intracellular metabolism and whole-body glucose homeostasis. The project I am working on is studying the effect of a mutated folate receptor in the liver on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity.
How does the program help you in the medical school application process?
During our first term in the program, we took a class called Success Strategies for Healthcare Professionals. This class provided resources and a framework to reflect on our study habits and past experiences and create actionable goals for our time in the program. This pushed me to become a self-regulated learner and was pivotal in my success while taking rigorous coursework. MCAT prep materials significantly improved my MCAT score, and shadowing and research opportunities were available to help me become a more competitive applicant. Also, many medical school admissions officers were invited to speak with us about their school and what they look for in medical applicants.
How do the faculty and staff serve as resources for you?
The faculty and staff in the program have been very supportive and served as resources in many ways. Professors were experts in their fields who were responsive to questions and enthusiastically encouraged students to engage in course material. Staff provided us with resources to supplement our learning through community engagement projects and research symposiums. The Academic Success Center was also a great resource and they helped me immensely while I was revising and editing my medical school essays.
What will you take away from this program?
This program gave me the opportunity to adjust my academic approach and implement better study habits while tackling difficult coursework. I have also gained a larger understanding of the inequities that exist in the medical field and how these issues are being addressed by community organizations and through policy at the state and federal level. I am thankful for this program because it guided me in my personal growth as a learner and allowed me to meet and learn from likeminded individuals in my cohort.