Student Spotlight: Filip Engström (HEM ’25)
Filip Engström is a student in the Healthcare Emergency Management master’s program at Graduate Medical Sciences. Originally from Sweden, Filip is a double Terrier who also earned bachelor’s degrees in human physiology and psychology from Boston University. Filip is currently researching management of mass casualty incidents for his master’s thesis and will soon matriculate into medical school. Learn more about Filip below! Tell me about your journey to Boston. What was your background prior to coming to Boston University? I was born in Sweden and moved around a lot as a child. I went to a boarding school in the United States... More
Physician Assistant Program Rises in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings are out and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine’s Master of Science Physician Assistant (PA) Program rose 34 places to tie for 26th among all PA programs in the country. The program began enrolling students in April 2014 with its first class graduating in 2016. Since then 240 students have graduated. The seven-semester program was created to help address a critical shortage of physicians in the U.S. BU was first ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2023. “The movement up the ranking from 50 to 26 is an... More
PhD Spotlight: Devin Kenney, PhD
Devin Kenney, PhD, is a January 2025 graduate of the PhD Program in Microbiology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. During his time in Graduate Medical Sciences, Devin’s dissertation research focused on human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the factors that contribute to mild versus severe COVID-19 disease. Devin successfully defended his dissertation and now works as a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Associate Professor Mohsan Saeed, PhD. Learn more about Devin below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? My dissertation project was focused on understanding human... More
Save the Date: Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week 2025
Graduate Medical Sciences is thrilled to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our graduate and professional student community during this year's Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week! From April 7 to 11, join us for a week of social, academic and professional development events, food and swag pickups, and more to mark the occasion. Check out a full list of GPSAW 2025 events at GMS below: Monday, April 7 Office Hours with Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Dr. Shoumita Dasgupta Noon to 1 p.m. in L-306 (C3 Suite) Get to know Dr. Dasgupta with a safe space to bring up issues related to navigating your... More
Student Spotlight: Cynthia Ordoñez Salguero (MHCBM ’25)
Cynthia Ordoñez Salguero is a second-year student in the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine program at Graduate Medical Sciences. She is currently completing an internship as an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician in the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic at Boston Medical Center. Cynthia is also an artist whose paintings explore the balance between grief and joy. Cynthia’s artwork will be on display in the GMS Suite (L-317) through April 30, and you can read her full artistic bio by clicking here. We spoke to Cynthia about her journey to Boston University, her art, and her goals in the... More
Student Spotlight: Elizabeth Poplavska ’25
Elizabeth Poplavska is a second-year Master of Science in Forensic Anthropology student at Graduate Medical Sciences. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Brooklyn College and moved to Boston to build her knowledge about the science and biological aspects of the subject. Her current research assesses CT scans of antemortem tooth loss, dental caries, and crown restorations for skeletal biomarkers of stress in opioid users and non-opioid users. Elizabeth plans to graduate in August 2025. Learn more about her time at BU below! Tell me a bit about your journey to Boston. What was your educational and/or background prior... More
Graduate Medical Sciences Celebrates 40 Years of MAMS at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
First conceived in the early 1980s over a faculty lunch table, BU’s MS in Medical Sciences has grown to be one of the country’s most successful Special Master’s Programs. In the early 1980s, a group of faculty from the Boston University School of Medicine Department of Microbiology gathered around a lunch table to discuss a groundbreaking new program – one that would soon become the school’s Master of Arts in Medical Sciences, or “MAMS.” The idea, according to Glen Zamansky, PhD, was the brainchild of the late Selwyn Broitman, PhD, a professor of microbiology, pathology and laboratory medicine and later, an assistant... More
Students Relax and Get Creative at C3 Craft & Chat Night
Students enjoyed an evening of creativity and relaxation at the Community Catalyst Center's Craft & Chat on February 26. The event invited students to drop in and work on art activities of their choosing such as succulent pot and mason jar painting, coaster decorating, paper crafts, and more. Boston University Student Wellbeing also provided decks of conversation cards to inspire conversation and connection. You can view an ongoing calendar of C3 and GMS events here, and check out some more photos from the event below!
Art Days Celebrates Its 35th Year on Medical Campus
Art Days returned for its 35th year, held from Feb. 18 to 19 in Hiebert Lounge. The annual event celebrates the creativity of students, faculty, staff from all schools on the Medical Campus. This year, several members of the Graduate Medical Sciences community submitted artwork showcasing their art across media such as painting, drawing, poetry, woodworking and more. Art Days was started by Dean Emeritus Aram Chobanian to foster the support and growth of the creative arts at BUMC. The exhibition is mounted by the Creative Arts Society and facilitated by Associate Professor of Biochemistry Keith Tornheim, PhD. The BUMC community was... More
GMS Inaugural Research Symposium Call for Applications!
Graduate Medical Sciences will host its inaugural Research Symposium on Thursday, April 10. Awards are available for applicants in the Research Talk and Poster Presentation categories. The Research Talk Award will be granted to two postdocs, two early-career PhD or MD/PhD, and two PhD or MD/PhD applicants. The Poster Presentation Award will be granted to two postdocs, two early-career PhD or MD/PhD, two PhD or MD/PhD and two masters applicants. All applicants must apply and register for the event by March 5, 2025. Click here to learn more about the award categories and to apply to the Symposium.