Master of Science in Medical Science
Post-MSMS Fellowship/Moderator Program
The SCU Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program offers a Post-MSMS Fellowship/Moderator program allowing two SCU MSMS students to apply for the 11-month fellowship, including moderator activities. The MSMS Fellowship is a part-time position allowing Fellows to receive further education, research experience, and professional academia experience as MSMS Moderators.
About the position:
With a growing population, one of the greatest challenges is ensuring that healthcare we receive is at the best possible quality for all across all dimensions of society – across all genders, ages, races, and ethnicities and socioeconomic levels.
The MSMS Fellowship/Moderator program is based on an interdisciplinary, integrative healthcare model looking at whole-person care, including healthcare practice from the communities where we live, impact of disease based on the lifestyles we practice such as the food we eat, the transportation we depend on to access healthcare facilities, and the community health services we receive. Success in the interdisciplinary healthcare team will require the translation of high quality and high impact science and practical clinical experience into sound health policy. The goal of the MSMS Fellows/Moderator Program is to provide MSMS students with increased opportunities, experience and skills necessary to help lead this effort, and in so doing, shape a healthy and productive future for all.
The MSMS Fellowship has an emphasis on teaching courses and conducting research and provides funding for both coursework and extracurricular projects.
Moderator responsibilities include ensuring efficiency in the learning experience for current MSMS students. The MSMS program is fully online. Moderators will attend online classes with MSMS and relay any feedback they may have to the faculty and staff so that necessary changes or adjustments can be made to improve the online learning environment. Moderators ensure that MSMS students have a successful experience as they progress throughout the program, tailoring the experience to meet the needs of students, provide effective communication, and enhance the learning environment for both students and faculty.
Fellows also provide tutoring to MSMS students in all content covered throughout the duration of the program, and help guide students in creating timelines for applying to health professions programs.
Timeline:
The MSMS Fellowship/Moderator program follows an 11-month MSMS hybrid term schedule. The Fellowship begins in the Fall Term and concludes at the end of the Summer Term.
Location:
The Post-MSMS Fellowship/Moderator positions are remote. Fellows may report to the SCU campus, as needed. There may be travel to events and conferences, as needed.
Selection process:
The SCU MSMS Fellows are selected based on their potential to make a positive, long-lasting contribution to their academic discipline.
Fellows/Moderators are selected each year through a competitive application process based on their commitment to health education and issues, leadership potential, and interest. Fellows/Moderators should have experience in education, including teaching experience working with diverse student populations. The fellowship requires excellent written and oral communication skills, excellent presentation skills, and the ability to communicate at all levels with tact and diplomacy to achieve goals.
The fellowship has a broad interdisciplinary focus; therefore follows/moderators will have the ability to work across all areas of a complex organization and must demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students on health science education and research.
Only SCU MSMS students who will be completing their MSMS program are eligible to apply. Interested MSMS students should apply for the fellowship during the last term of their MSMS program, or soon after graduation.
The program seeks to achieve racial, ethnic, gender, and discipline diversity. Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories who have career plans that anticipate continued work in the U.S. after the fellowship period.
2025 MSMS Fellows:
Simi Balyan, MBA, MS
SCU MSMS Program Moderator
MSMS Student Senator
Vice President | MSMS Pre Health Club
My time at SCU has been a journey of growth, challenge, and transformation, both personally and academically. This program didn’t just give me the tools to succeed; it instilled in me the confidence to believe in my potential and the courage to pursue my dreams. Through this program, I’ve experienced the power of community in an unexpected way. I made incredible friends as well as established great relationships with our moderators and professors. Even though we met virtually and were spread across different cities, these individuals made a huge impact on my learning experience. I wouldn’t have made it through this program as successfully as I did without this team supporting me. This is exactly why I applied to become a moderator for the next class.
This opportunity allowed me to bridge the gap between where I was as a student and where I could help as a mentor. By leveraging my undergraduate background, MBA training, and professional work experience, I was able to bring a unique perspective to my classes and contribute meaningfully to discussions. A graduate program at this level is not just about classes and academics but application of material and looking forward to the future whether it is a professional degree or a different career.
I plan to carry the lessons I’ve learned at SCU in school and as a moderator into my future pursuits. The skills I’ve developed—balancing multiple responsibilities, advocating for others, and continuously striving for excellence—will serve me well in medical school and beyond. My long-term goal is to become a physician who not only provides care but who is also constantly learning. The ability to form genuine connections, which I honed through this online program, will also play a crucial role in my approach to patient care. I will strive to be a physician who listens to and empathizes with patients, like I try to do with the incoming classes, understanding that the most significant impact often begins with a personal connection.
SCU has been more than just an educational institution for me; it has been a place of transformation. It shaped me into a person who not only believes in their potential but who is equipped to make meaningful contributions to the world. As I move forward, I will carry with me the lessons learned, the relationships made, and the determination to continue growing both personally and professionally, always striving to make the world a better place.
Jonathan Acosta Morales, MS
SCU MSMS Program Moderator
Director of Student Success | MSMS Pre Health Club
There were a lot of unexpected challenges that I faced in my first semester as an MSMS student. I thought I would be able to pick up where I left off in terms of studying and halfway through the semester, I realized that I had to start from scratch and retrain my mind to approach learning in a different way. After I revisited the drawing board with my moderators and instructors, my grades weren’t the only thing that boosted … my confidence did too. That’s why I decided to become an MSMS Fellow/Moderator. In this role, I could give back to my student body and ensure students had the tools and support they need to succeed.
I joined the MSMS program with the intentions of boosting my cumulative and BCPM GPA, while complementing my experience in infectious disease, emergency medicine, and clinical trials—and it certainly delivered! The MSMS program provided the support I needed to gain acceptance into a Doctor of Public Health, Clinical Epidemiology program at SUNY Downstate Health Science University. After completing this degree, I plan to pursue a career in oncology to empower underprivileged communities and explore innovative therapeutic approaches.
2024 MSMS Fellows:
Tyler Wong
Reflecting on my time as an MSMS student, some of the most important lessons I learned was the value of resourcefulness and what it takes to become a proactive, successful learner both inside and outside the classroom. The SCU MSMS Fellowship allowed me to further build on this experience while sharing my insights with the next generation of students. This unique opportunity enabled me to collaborate as a peer with the very professors who had once taught me, offering a fresh perspective on the program.
In this role, I became an advocate for student voices, contributing to meaningful improvements within the curriculum. The fellowship significantly enhanced my abilities in teaching and communication, equipping me with invaluable skills for interacting with both students and faculty in diverse settings. Mentoring students on their journeys to success has been particularly rewarding, allowing me to foster the kind of supportive relationships I aspire to maintain throughout my future career as a medical student and physician.
This past year has not only deepened my understanding of medical education but also reinforced my commitment to lifelong learning and mentorship in the medical field. As I move forward, I am confident that the insights gained from this fellowship will inform my approach to patient care, medical research, and future leadership roles in healthcare.
Sidra Ambreen
My name is Sidra Ambreen; I am a graduate of the Southern California University of Health Science class of 2023. I was honored to have completed my MSMS Fellowship at SCUHS as well. Prior to my master’s, I completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Texas. I am currently in Houston, TX preparing to take on the medical school application process and doing research to help gain experience before medical school.
This fellowship was life-changing for me, as it helped me, bond with faculty and students. I truly had the time to help students find the strength they needed to excel in this program and support them through their journey at SCU. If there was an opportunity to continue my fellowship, I’d be more than happy to come back!
2023 MSMS Fellows:
Andy Shollar
Andy Shollar, SCU Class of 2022 MSMS graduate, is a 2023 MSMS Fellow. Prior to earning her MSMS degree from SCU, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida. “My career goal has always been to pursue medicine as a physician. I am currently applying to medical schools this application cycle and hope to begin my journey towards becoming a physician this upcoming Fall. However, throughout undergrad, and in my current role as an MSMS Fellow, I have always found myself leading others from an educational standpoint. I want to integrate my passion for education and medicine by eventually going into academic medicine so that I can pass on my knowledge and experiences to others that wish to follow the same path as me.”
“Both the SCU MSMS Fellowship and the RAND research experiences have, and continue, to set me up to be a strong leader in my community,” said Andy. “Working with faculty and students over several multidisciplinary institutions has shown me when I need to step up and help guide others in the right direction, versus taking a step back to evaluate and ask questions. Skills like these are invaluable in the field of medicine because physicians are typically the leaders of healthcare teams. My exposure to this kind of environment through my leadership role is an opportunity that puts me in a position to be prepared for when I have patients and colleagues to both guide and listen to, on multiple fronts.”
Tiesha-Tyson
Tiesha Tyson, SCU Class of 2021 MSMS graduate, is a 2023 MSMS Fellow. Prior to earning her MSMS degree from SCU in 2021, Tiesha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. “My goal is to become a doctor, preferably a General Surgeon or Forensic Pathologist,” she said.
“The Fellowship is opening so many doors and opportunities such as working with the faculty who taught us, working with and learning from the RAND Center, and having a role in creating an effective MSMS program at SCU,” said Tiesha. “RAND is a great opportunity to further my research skills while collaborating with wonderful people from various backgrounds. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and be involved with research led by heavy hitters in the field.”
Read more about the MSMS Fellows and their experiences:
Contact:
For questions or additional information, contact Raheleh Khorsan, Ph.D., Program Director, MSMS, at rahelehkhorsan@scuhs.edu.