Framingham State announces partnership program with the UMass Chan School of Medicine

By Izabela Gage Editorial Staff Framingham State has partnered with the T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass, located in Worcester, to offer a pathway program designed to prepare undergraduate, low-income, and first-generation students for entry into medical school. Dean of STEM Lauren Nolfo-Clements said the Baccalaureate MD Pathway Program was developed by UMass Chan several years ago and initially included only one partner institution, Worcester State University. She credited professors Aline Davis and Shelli Waetzig for bringing the opportunity to Framingham State, as they “were the ones who have been maintaining this relationship with UMass Chan.” According to the website, students apply to become medical scholars in their sophomore year. The program offers students a broad range of academic and clinical immersion opportunities, including book clubs, interactions with physicians and medical students, and observations at clinical sites at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Nolfo-Clements said the program includes two full summers of experiencing what medical school is like, beginning after a student’s sophomore year and continuing after their junior year. She said participants live on the UMass Chan campus during the summer sessions, and they are compensated, so they don’t have to stress about working a second job, “as many students do.” She added, “Over the course of the two years of the program, they get to take multiple practice MCATs, which are usually really expensive.” She said students meet with mentors who review their test performance and provide guidance. “It's a holistic program that really prepares students for what it's going to be like to be in medical school, and also gives them the tools to succeed.” Waetzig said, “The prestige and proximity to Framingham State make the T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass incredibly desirable for our students to attend. … We were looking to increase opportunities for students to matriculate to UMass Chan. Dr. Aline Davis and I approached representatives at UMass about the possibility of creating a pathway for our students, and they were very receptive to including us in their already established BaccMD program.” Nolfo-Clements said what makes this program so unique is how UMass Chan “really wants to diversify the doctors who are moving through their programming and saying, ‘This matters to us so much. We want to see that doctors actually represent the people that they're serving so much that we will support them for two summers while they're in college to show them the ropes.” She added, “Oftentimes, if you’re a first-generation college student, probably by definition, you’re not related to anyone who’s ever been into medical school or who’s ever gotten into healthcare. So to actually hear firsthand from current students and the faculty, and to really have that exposure and to be on campus and just be able to live there - that’s a major advantage.” Nolfo-Clements said, “Across the nation, most students take a gap year between when they get out of college and when they go to medical school. That's typical.” But this program offers “a pathway where students could potentially get in directly after they graduate from college.” Waetzig said, “Students have to meet all of the benchmarks to remain in the program in order to be provisionally accepted. I think that students should plan to apply to multiple schools. … While the program creates a pathway to medical school at UMass, the provisional acceptance is not something I would have students rely solely upon for getting into medical school.” To ensure eligibility, Nolfo-Clements said the University reviewed its existing pre-med and pre-health curriculum. “We wanted to make sure that all the students in that curriculum would automatically have the classes that they need by the end of their sophomore year to be able to apply.” According to Waetzig, eligibility for the first cycle required students to be from an economically disadvantaged background or be first-generation four-year college students, in addition to meeting academic standards and expressing interest in the medical profession. She said one student has applied in the first cycle, and the University is evaluating ways to expand eligibility in the future. University President Nancy Niemi said, “The program is in direct alignment with FSU's institutional goals for greater access and success for first-generation students and financially challenged students. By creating a pathway and securing it for motivated students, the program offers guidance through all of those challenges, as well as support and encouragement.” “Our job as a regional public university is to provide education to students so that they, in turn, can serve the community. This program would help produce physicians who, in time, serve our region,” she added. Rosco Palmer, a sophomore pre-medicine major, said, “A lot of students come into college interested in medicine, but don’t always have access to strong advising, hands-on experience, or structured MCAT prep. Having individualized pre-med advising and guaranteed summer experiences at medical schools gives students direction and clarity early on. It makes the path feel more realistic and achievable rather than overwhelming.” He added, “For many students, especially those balancing work or other commitments, removing financial barriers makes a huge difference in whether they can fully commit to pursuing medicine.” Palmer said he thinks FSU is “being intentional about equity, not just talking about it. First-generation and low-income students often don’t have the same built-in networks or financial flexibility to take unpaid internships or expensive prep courses. “By providing paid summer experiences and MCAT resources at no extra cost, the University is actively leveling the playing field. It sends a message that students’ financial backgrounds shouldn’t limit their professional goals, especially in a field like medicine, where representation and access matter,” he added. Junior Justinne Quinanola, a pre-medicine major, said, “I think it’s great that this program is being provided to give students who may not have originally had the opportunity, the chance to explore the medical field. I also think the program would support students who may not have prior experience in healthcare settings in the sense that they’re getting a real toe in the water to really see if it’s a career they want to pursue.” David Forgione, a first-generation sophomore who is majoring in information technology and business, said the school offering these resources “allows for students to share similar opportunities. When these opportunities become available, it opens the doors for more success for students who would have otherwise gone unrecognized.” He said it means a lot to him as a first-generation student to see the school taking initiative, as “it shows they think about all their students and value each and every one of us and our time.” Brady Pettit, a junior chemistry major, said, “Framingham’s ability to give first-generation and low-income students an opportunity to go into the medical field is amazing. It not only gives them an opportunity to go into a strong field, but also an opportunity to show their educational prowess.” He added, “It is very important to see structured support systems not only for advanced degrees, but all degrees, and from what I have seen here, Framingham has an amazing support system for all majors, which is one of my favorite things about this college.” Junior Alcapone Pujols, a first-generation marketing major, said, “It’s heartwarming to know that FSU wants to see their students succeed past college and to become professionals in their respective fields. I only hope that it continues to progress into other programs as well.” He said as a first-generation student, he thinks “this is good for the community as a whole. When you know the school you're attending genuinely wants to help you out, it only motivates you more to go to school, participate in events, and be involved in general. It’s only one step toward more opportunities.”