UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCEMENT
NUHS LAUNCHES PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL AND CAREERS IN HEALTH CARE an extensive medical library .”
In addition to our unique health care-focused environment , National University ’ s MSMS program is also the most cost-effective per credit hour available in comparison to competitor programs .
This spring , National University of Health Sciences ( NUHS ) launched a oneyear master ’ s program for students who wish to pursue highly-in-demand careers in health care .
The on-campus Master of Science in Medical Science ( MSMS ) program , in partnership with Tiber Health , will help prepare students for medical school and other medical professional programs like pharmacy , optometry , and physician ’ s assistant , or for a career in public health or clinical research . This additional academic training is designed to expand access to quality health care education programs by helping students increase their scores on the USMLE and MCAT Exams .
Access to the medical school training is becoming increasingly important as the U . S . health care industry faces a growing doctor shortage , particularly in rural areas . Although 20 percent of Americans live in rural communities , just 11 percent of physicians practice in them , according to the Association of the American Medical Colleges ( AAMC ).
The profession also fails to reflect the increasingly diverse U . S . population . According to the AAMC , Black and Hispanic Americans make up nearly one-third of the U . S . population but just 10 percent of doctors and 12 percent of medical school students . Today , more than 83 percent of the MSMS student body across all Tiber partner universities come from underrepresented backgrounds .
Students in National University ’ s MSMS program will attend classes on-campus in a medical school environment among other students who are earning their master ’ s and doctoral degrees in various health care fields .
“ At National University of Health Sciences , our primary focus on wellbeing and community is quite unique ,” said Kathryn Rioch EdD , MS , RDN , LDN , Program Director of the MSMS program . “ Students will have access to resources only a health sciences university can provide . They ’ ll be able to perform hands-on cadaver dissection in our state-the-art anatomy lab and utilize
Classes will be delivered via virtual interactive sessions with faculty broadcasting live . In a flipped classroom arrangement , students will be tasked with watching online lectures and completing assigned readings before the actual inperson class . During the class itself , the focus shifts to engaging in immersive discussions , interactive case studies and collaborative group activities .
Through the program ’ s industryleading educational model , students can take charge of their own academic success through regular , data-driven self-evaluation . This real-time data , gathered throughout each student ’ s time in the program , goes beyond traditional entrance exam scores to give professional schools insight into students with a high likelihood of success . To date , 77 percent of graduates from Tiber-powered MSMS programs continue on to their preferred health care path .
Dr . Rioch looks forward to welcoming the first class of MSMS students at NUHS in the fall and seeing them succeed .
“ I am passionate about educating the next generation of health care providers ,” she said . “ I truly enjoy supporting the achievement of each student ’ s goals and providing academic mentorship along their journey here at NUHS .”
SUMMER 2024 / ALUMNEWS 17