Students who earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher and an MCAT score of at least 505 qualify for early interview consideration in the School of Medicine’ s admissions cycle. Enrollees also receive support through a subsidized MCAT preparation course.
While the certificate does not guarantee admission, it provides a pathway to medical school or advanced study. Coursework may be applied toward the non-thesis Master of Science in Biomedical Research with a Medical Sciences Emphasis.
The first cohort begins January 2026. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with deadlines of June 30 for fall and December 1 for spring.
Marshall Medical Student Becomes Youngest Certified Prevention Specialist in the Nation
Brooklyn Johnson, a 21-year-old Huntington native and firstyear medical student at Marshall University, has achieved national recognition as the youngest certified prevention specialist in the United States, officially credentialed by the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals. She has been a student trainee with the Prevention Empowerment Partnership( PEP), a program of the Center of Excellence for Recovery within the Marshall University Research Corporation, for several years. Through her work with
PEP and its Workforce Development Trainee Program, Johnson gained the training and experience needed to meet the rigorous requirements for prevention certification in West Virginia.
Image: Brooklyn Johnson.
“ Prevention has been dear to my heart since eighth grade,” Johnson said.“ I wanted to break the trend of generational substance use disorders and create the resources I wish I would have had when I was younger. Becoming a certified prevention specialist isn’ t just about my passion for prevention— it’ s about carrying that knowledge and lifestyle with me through medical school and my future career as a pediatrician.”
West Virginia Medical Journal • December 2025 • 11