The Biomedical Sciences Program is a foundational program at each of 色中色鈥檚 (PCOM) three campus locations, and it needs to continually evolve in order to stay relevant and attract talented students. Brian DeHaven, PhD, the College鈥檚 first chief program director for the Biomedical Sciences Program, shared this view in a recent conversation with PCOM President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO 鈥�81.
Dr. DeHaven joined Dr. Feldstein on an episode of PCOM Perspectives to discuss his
ambitious agenda, his vision for the program and what sets PCOM apart from its peers;
changes to education as a result of the pandemic and the effort to meet students where
they are; and the future of graduate medical education.
Some of Dr. DeHaven鈥檚 goals for the program include standardizing the master鈥檚 in biomedical sciences curriculum over all three campus locations, expanding the second-year programming to include coursework for those considering non-physician careers in such areas as research and industry, and potentially opening up the program to a national audience with virtual learning.
Amid all this advancement, however, Dr. DeHaven wants to maintain what has made the program such a great success鈥攎ost notably the foundation year that lets students explore whether medical school is for them. Or, as Dr. DeHaven shared how students describe it to him, 鈥淚t鈥檚 like being in a medical school without actually being a medical student.鈥� This structure offers students the opportunity to decide if they鈥檇 like to pursue some other career in the ever-growing medical field.
鈥淥ne of my biggest problems with academia is that we don鈥檛 handle students changing their mind well,鈥� said DeHaven. 鈥淲e treat it like something that needs to be dealt with or punished, even. But the way PCOM鈥檚 program is set up, students can figure out what they want to do and not feel like they鈥檝e fallen behind.鈥�
鈥淭he lightbulb goes off for different students at different times. We can鈥檛 control that, but we can be there with a helping hand,鈥� he added.
Dr. DeHaven wants to expand the accelerated one-year master鈥檚 program currently offered at PCOM South Georgia to PCOM and PCOM Georgia. 鈥淚 think it is a really attractive option for some of the students that are in this program,鈥� he said.
He鈥檚 heard many students call the full course in gross anatomy with a cadaver powerful and motivating. 鈥淭hey say the cadaver is their first patient,鈥� says Dr. DeHaven. 鈥淭o give that experience is very powerful and very motivating.鈥�
For the students who progress on to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, the experience they gain in the Biomed program is a valuable source of knowledge they are then able to share with their peers who did not go through the program. 鈥淭hey [DO students] get to access that knowledge from our students,鈥� said DeHaven.
To hear the full conversation or listen to past episodes of PCOM Perspectives, visit , or the Office of the President.
Established in 1899, 色中色 (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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