On Monday Sept. 23, 2024, the medical program hosted the Health of Science. Western University with their Summer Health Professions Educations (SHPEP) and the Masters of Science in Medical sciences (MSMS) programs are for students of first-generation medical students and who struggle with challenges in their lives as well.
The program offers 80 financial grant spots for students to join and work with clinical workers. In the programs, students get to learn how to work with a medical team. The SHPEP programs offers teaching of optometry, physical therapy, dental, and medical.
Former Pre-med club president from May 2022 to April 2024, Ritik Perez, had stated “Many schools like UCLA and CSUB are a part of this programs for pursuing the pre-med pathway. This is my third year and last year here at Bakersfield College and I do intend on becoming a physician. Everything we talked about started from a dream and a goal, that one day we would have the medical professional’s program and seeing this become a reality is so rewarding as student but also as a visionary and leader.”
Program manager of the Health of Science program, Bianca Garibay, stated that “the program itself grants students of different backgrounds to join and start the beginning of their medical journey. Students are given the opportunity to get a hand on experience of what to expect in the field in this program.”
Western University staff shown that many students who complete this program are now gaining their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in their respective fields. They assure that those did graduate did come from different backgrounds and were able to overcome the hardships that life had to offer.
“I was interested in the MSMS program because technically I am the first generation pursing the medical field I am in, but I have no idea what I am doing. For the MSMS programs, it shows that with my GPA I can apply for a spot. Before I felt like I wasn’t good enough to earn a spot but knowing that they work with students help me feel confident in my future goal of becoming a part of the medical field” said student Yehtzel Perez.