Biomedical Sciences M.S.

The Biomedical Sciences MS: Gateways to Medicine and Research is designed for students interested in professional health careers or biomedical research who desire additional training, mentoring, and advising to strengthen their academic and professional credentials for admission to health professional or graduate schools, or for entry in the biomedical workforce. This umbrella program has 2 tracks based on desired outcomes. The Medical Track, 1-year (3 semesters) Plan B MS, provides relevant, specialized content and experiences for students interested in health professions. The Research Track is a 2-year Plan A MS with research thesis that provides targeted training and research experiences on biomedical sciences. The mission of the Gateways MS Program is to recruit and train diverse students that upon graduation will enrich the region with their newly gained expertise. The Gateways MS Program will be a natural fit for regional students who wish to further their education in a small city close to nature and home. We will focus on recruiting students that are: 1) Indigenous, 2) rural low income, or 3) other BIPOC/underrepresented in medicine (URM) and STEM. Training a diverse healthcare and research workforce will alleviate a historic lack of opportunities for underserved populations. In accordance with historical responsibilities, mission-fit students will be eligible for scholarships to offset tuition costs. To support our students, we will build a culturally inclusive environment that promotes awareness and respect for all students. We will recruit students from diverse pre-med, STEM, and behavioral science disciplines. Students with other majors are encouraged to apply with a description of how their experiences will enrich the program. Graduation requirement will be completion of 30 credits in 1 or 2 years. Credits are earned in discussion-based classes, problem-based learning (PBL), bench research (Research Track only) along with relevant professional experiences and community projects. The active learning, innovative curricula are tailored for each track around the science of human physiology and disease. This content will appeal to students interested in: (1) health professions (new applicants and near misses), (2) exploration of academic careers in biomedical research, (3) biotechnology / pharmaceutical industry, (4) teaching health sciences, or (5) broader science applications in business, regulatory affairs, entrepreneurship, writing, or policy. The curriculum will be delivered by experienced faculty who teach the foundational content of the Duluth Regional Medical School (DMED) under a distinctive “high contact - high content” model. The Medical Track consists of a 3-semester, structured curriculum with clinical and community experiences and dedicated MCAT prep time. The Research Track offers multiple electives and bench skills with experienced mentors in exciting research areas, including neuroscience, genetics and genomics, cancer biology, immunology, physiology, and parasitology.