Director’s Message: Connections and Collaborations
For me, the new year begins with Labor Day and the start of the fall semester rather than on January 1. The campus comes alive in the fall; new student initiatives begin, and connections are made as faculty, administration, and staff come together to support the student experience and pave the way for students to become engaged with the program, within the Temple community, and in the greater Philadelphia area, helping them further develop their teamwork and leadership skills.
The post-baccalaureate program has grown since its launch in 2016 and with it, our connection to the Temple community has also expanded: our students connect through volunteering in the newly created, Temple CST Post-Bacc Service Organization, focused on community service and engagement. Our Alumni Network continues to grow. It is now a robust organization with multiple positions and committees focused on connecting with current students through workshops and panels to offer advice, encouragement, and inspiration and helping us grow our social media presence. We are excited that our newly formed Alumni Relations Committee is planning to launch an alum Facebook page to help our alums connect and collaborate with each other, building on the alum-to-alum mentoring program we started a couple of years ago.
It is a wonderful time at Temple with so many opportunities—both virtual and in-person. Connections will be made in the classroom and out, among current students and with faculty, staff, and alums, and during the one year that students are in the program and for years after. We are thankful for all of our students, current and past, and encourage everyone to continue to connect, collaborate, and be engaged.
Wishing everyone a successful year,
Grace Hershman
Associate Vice Dean and Program Director
CST Post Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program
Successful Launch of Pre-PT Track
The program is pleased to have two students interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy (PT) join the program in our inaugural pre-PT track. These students started in May taking Gen Chem I along with pre-med, pre-dent, and pre-PA students as part of the Basic Core in Health Sciences (BCHS) cohort, and they will finish in May 2023 after having taken a wide variety of courses as part of a curriculum designed to prepare them for pursuing a career as a physical therapist.
Ellie Goldstein (BCHS ’21)
Alfred Fustakgi & Chris Chang (BCHS ’21)
Student Organization: Looking for a Full Year Ahead Focused on Service
This past spring, students from the program formed a student organization focused on service at Temple, in the community, and in Philadelphia overall. Much of the spring was focused on getting the program up and running; however, students were able to participate in a clothing drive and a sandwich making event. This year they plan to establish long-term partnerships with organizations in the community.
Alumni news... Congratulations to all!
2018
James Martinez (ACHS ’18, Kornberg ‘24) started his third year at Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry and has officially started seeing his own patients. He and his girlfriend look forward to welcoming their first child this fall.
2019
Alexa Carboni (ACHS ’19; Rocky Vista COM CO ’25) completed 6 weeks of Army Officer training at Fort Sill Oklahoma and Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX as a 2nd Lieutenant. She will be promoted to Captain when she graduates from medical school and has been awarded a HPSP full scholarship for medical school on behalf of US Army. Cain Dudek (BCHS ’19; Penn State SOM ’25) spent the summer enjoying his time with his wife and 2-year-old son, Teddy. Nina Gennusa (ACHS ’19; Commonwealth SOM ‘25) presented her research at the recent GCSOM Summer Research Symposium. Lauren Jenkins (ACHS ’19; Emory SOM ‘25) attended her white coat ceremony at Emory School of Medicine as part of the class of 2025. Ada Ng (ACHS ’19; Touro-NV ’25) married her high school sweetheart on June 25, 2022, and honeymooned in Barcelona, Paris, and Crete. Brittney Ramsey (ACHS ’19) got engaged in January 2021; no wedding date has been set yet. Sara Sar (ACHS ’19; PCOM ‘24) reports that she had started rotations at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Oluwadara Tokunboh (ACHS ’19; Einstein ’25) was featured in Einstein’s annual skit night. Emily Walck (ACHS ’19, U Minnesota SOM ‘25) finished up her first year at the University of Minnesota Medical School –Duluth Campus and was able to complete clinical rotations with Native American physicians at the nearby Fond Du Lac Tribal Clinic on the Fond Du Lac Reservation. She was selected to represent the University of Minnesota Medical School at the AAMC RISE seminar in Washington, DC, earlier this summer and spent the summer as an Advanced Pathways to Research Program (A-PReP) Scholar at the UMN Clinical & Translational Science Institute investigating the high mobility group box 1 protein role in epidermolysis bullosa transformation to squamous cell carcinoma with regards to inflammation and mutagenesis.
2020
Jennifer Chin (ACHS ’20; Touro-NY ‘26) is pleased to report that she has started at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Middletown. She also competed in the 2021 USDF finals in Kentucky, a national equestrian competition, and placed 7th. Julie Erhart (BCHS ’20; U Maryland Dentistry ’26) has started her first year of dental school after an epic 3-week trip to New Zealand. Anna Hoplamazian (ACHS ’20; PCOM ’26) reports that she has matriculated at PCOM and got married on May 14, 2022. Christopher Mendoza (ACHS ’20; Nevada-Reno ‘26) has matriculated at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as part of the class of 2026. Tyler Rzucidlo (BCHS ’20; Touro-NY ‘26) attended his white coat ceremony at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York.
2021
Emily Schaeffer (ACHS ’21; PCOM ‘26) is starting at PCOM. Valeria Manent (ACHS ’21) recently started working at an ophthalmology office in Connecticut. Ryan Blake (BCHS ’21) reports that he got married on June 25, 2022, just a week after taking his MCAT. He is working as a patient care assistant.
Alexa Carboni (ACHS ’19; Rocky Vista COM ‘25)
Cain Dudek (BCHS ’19; Penn State ’25) and son
Jennifer Chin (ACHS ’20; Touro-NY ‘26)
White Coat Ceremonies
James Martinez (ACHS ’18; Kornberg ‘24)
Nina Gennusa (ACHS ’19; Commonwealth SOM ‘25)
Gabrielle Johnson (ACHS ’19; VCOM-Auburn ’25)
Cousins Sara Sar (ACHS ’19; PCOM ’24) and Deena Alsaadi (ACHS ’20; PCOM ’25)
Emily Walck (ACHS ’19; U Minnesota SOM ’25)
Lauren Jenkins (ACHS ’19; Emory SOM ‘25)
School Acceptances
Our alums continue to be accepted to schools and programs across the country. Congratulations to all!
Alabama
- Alabama COM
- VCOM – Auburn
- University of Alabama at Birmingham SOM
Arkansas
- Arkansas COM
Arizona
- Arizona COM – Midwestern University
- AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine
California
- American University of Health Sciences – College of Pharmacy
- California Health Sciences University COM
- California Northstate University COM
- Keck School of Medicine of USC
- UCLA/Drew Medical College
- Western University of Health Sciences
- Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
Colorado
- Rocky Vista University COM
- University of Colorado SOM
Delaware
- Arcadia University PA Program – Delaware
District of Columbia
- Howard University College of Medicine
Florida
- Barry University PA Program
- Larkin University School of Pharmacy
- Nova Southeastern University COM
- University of Miami Leonard M. Miller SOM
- University of Tampa – Master of PA Medicine
- USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Georgia
- Medical College of Georgia SOM
- Emory University SOM
Idaho
- Idaho COM
Illinois
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine
- Chicago COM – Midwestern Univ
- Rosalind Franklin University PA Program
- Rush Medical College
- University of Illinois COM
Iowa
- Des Moines University COM
Kansas
- Kansas COM
Louisiana
- VCOM - Louisiana
Maine
- University of New England COM
Maryland
- University of Maryland SOM
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Massachusetts
- Boston University SOM
- MGH Institute of Health Professions - PA Program
- Tufts University SOM
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
- UMass Chan Medical School
Michigan
- Wayne State University SOM
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- Michigan State University COM
- Oakland University William Beaumont SOM
Minnesota
- University of Minnesota SOM
Missouri
- AT Still University – Kirksville COM
- AT Still University's Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Nebraska
- Creighton University SOM
Nevada
- Kirk Kerkorian SOM at UNLV
- Roseman School of Health Sciences – College of Pharmacy
- Touro University Nevada COM
- University of Nevada – Reno SOM
New Jersey
- Hackensack Meridian Medical SOM
- Rowen University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New York
- Albany Medical College
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Canisius College – PA Studies
- New York Institute of Technology COM
- New York College of Podiatric Medicine
- New York Medical College
- NYU College of Dentistry
- SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Touro COM
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
New Mexico
- Burrell COM
North Carolina
- Campbell Univ School of Osteopathic Medicine
North Dakota
- University of North Dakota SOM
Ohio
- Case Western Reserve University SOM
- Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine
- University of Cincinnati Sschool of Medicine
- University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
- Wright State University Boonshoft SOM
Pennsylvania
- Arcadia University PA Program
- College of Pharmacy – Thomas Jefferson University
- Drexel University SOM
- Geisinger Commonwealth SOM
- Lake Erie COM
- Lewis Katz SOM – Temple University
- Lewis Katz SOM, PA Program – Temple University
- Lock Haven University PA Program
- Maurice H Kornberg School of Dentistry – Temple University
- PCOM
- Penn State College Medicine
- Phila College of Pharmacy
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College – Thomas Jefferson University
- Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh SOM
South Carolina
- Univ of South Carolina SOM
- North Greenville University PA Medicine Program
South Dakota
- Sanford SOM – University of South Dakota
Tennessee
- Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk COM
- Meharry Medical College
Texas
- Dell Medical School – UT-Austin
- Long SOM – UT Health San Antonio
- Paul L Foster SOM
- Texas Tech Medical School
- University of Texas Medical Branch SOM
- UT Southwestern Medical School
Utah
- Noorda COM
- Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
Virginia
- VCOM – Virginia
- Liberty University COM
Washington
- Washington State University Elson S. Floyd COM
Year in Review
Back in person…
We were back in force last year, with classes, events, and even a holiday party (at Thirsty Dice) in person! We hosted an information session for pre-dents with David Dams, Director of Admissions at Kornberg School of Dentistry, an open house for prospective students, and two workshops on medical ethics focused on end-of-life care led by John Travaline, MD, Professor, Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple, on campus.
John Travaline visits
Organic chemistry in a new classroom in Paley
But still on Zoom too!
Using Zoom allowed us to bring Alden Landry, MD, MPH and Leon McCrea II, MD, MPH to speak to our students about diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine. It also allowed us to connect with our alums—Eric Gramszlo, ACHS ’18, LKSOM ’23 spoke to our students on destigmatizing language in medicine—and to have alums to speak with applicants at interview days, as part of a panel on postbac programs for prospective students in the Northeast (hosted by the URiM committee), and on panels for current students on a variety of topics.
Deneen Ciancaglini at Thirsty Dice
Fun at Thirsty Dice
Program News
Faculty and staff receive a variety of honors
Congratulations to Marion Chan, PhD for being awarded the 2021 Lewis Katz School of Medicine Graduate Science Professional Program Teaching Award in October 2021 and to Frank Nelson, PhD for being appointed as Director of the College of Science and Technology (CST) First Generation Initiative. Deb Stull, PhD was also promoted to Associate Professor, Practice Track in Biology.
Marion Chan, PhD
Frank Nelson, PhD