Post-baccalaureate Programs
The Vanderbilt Education Research and Training in Cancer and Leadership (VERTICAL) Program, funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), is a two-year postbaccalaureate program that provides mentored cancer research, professional development, and community engagement for college graduates in science and medicine who intend to pursue a MD, PhD, or MD/PhD degrees. Our specific objectives are to provide 1) mentored research experiences; 2) a robust and individualized curriculum to support participants in acquiring the knowledge and skills to pursue higher education leading to future careers in cancer research or medicine; and 3) opportunities for community engagement to support a community of practice.
The Masters program in Biomedical Sciences provides coursework, experiential learning, and personalized advising for individuals wishing to increase their competitiveness to medical school or other health professions programs. Coursework is focused on developing competencies in the sciences, communication, and critical thinking and includes preparation for the MCAT, instruction in scientific communication, and reflection-based discussions on Narrative-based healthcare. Students are encouraged to conduct independent research and will have access to experienced mentoring and guidance through the application process to medical or graduate school.
