Virtual Open Houses

December Virtual Open Houses

We have 2 exciting opportunities planned for prospective students to learn more about PHSU in December. Join us on December 7, 2023 for a Virtual Open House to learn more about the MSMS Online and MSMS Remote programs. Hosted by Admissions Counselor Antonio Guevara, this session will cover the following topics:• Program Curriculum• Unique class […]

PHSU Mini Med School Launch

Fox 2 News in St. Louis recently featured Ponce Health Sciences University ‘s new Mini Medical School Program on their evening news program.

Click here to watch the coverage from Fox 2.

The Mini Medical School Program was launched at PHSU in early September 2023. Together with the CPASS Foundation they invited twenty 4th grade students from Jennings School District and University City School District to come to the St. Louis campus for 10 sessions. During each sessions Mini Medical Students will learn about the wonders of health sciences and healthcare careers through lectures, experiments and other hands-on experiences.

Student program leaders include 2nd year medical students Noni Meadough, Miles Charles and John Rolfes. Faculty mentors are Dr. Mildred Olivier and Dr. Fabian Santiago. This Saturday enrichment program helps students develop critical thinking skills while making connections with mentors and role models. Mini Medical School is offered at no cost to students and PHSU hopes to expand to include more students from the metro East next year.

November Virtual Open House and Webinar Events at PHSU – Join Us!

We have 4 exciting events planned for current and prospective students in November. We hope you’ll join us for one or several as we near the application deadline and early decision deadline for our MD and MSMS programs in December.

Join us for a Virtual Open House to learn more about the MSMS Online and MSMS Remote programs.

Hosted by Admissions Counselor Antonio Guevara, each Virtual Open House session in November will cover the following topics:
• Program Curriculum
• Unique class format
• Application Requirements

RSVP for Saturday, November 11 at 11 a.m. CST here.

RSVP for Tuesday, November 28 at 6 p.m. CST here.

For those students and prospective students who are on the Med School track, we have two specialized webinars to help as your navigate the application process, hosted by our Dean of Admissions Palka Kumar.

To learn more about the AMCAS Application, join us on Tuesday, November 14 at 6 p.m. CST. RSVP here.

To learn more about crafting a personal statement for med school applications, join us on Tuesday November 21 at 6 p.m. CST. RSVP here.

We can’t wait to meet you and share all that PHSU has to offer!

Diversity in Medicine Initiative – Ponce Health Sciences University


The initiative seeks to increase access to medical/healthcare careers for underrepresented groups, which will ultimately improve patient outcomes

 St. Louis, Missouri, Oct 18, 2023 – Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) and Tiber Health Innovation (THI) announce the publication of a report in Academic Medicine, the flagship journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), titled “Increasing Diversity in the Physician Workforce: Pathway Programs and Predictive Analytics.”

The report presents a model, which is the first and only of its kind, that helps medical schools to increase diversity within their MD programs by creating a Masters-level pathway program coupled with predictive analytics. The model allows MD admissions committees to rely less on the MCAT (which peer-reviewed studies have found to be a weak to moderate predictor of success in medical school, especially for underrepresented groups) and more on performance data when evaluating MD applicants from the pathway program.

“The challenge of achieving ethnic and economic diversity among medical education students has been long-standing, and this research highlights how our approach can level the playing field,” says Dr. David Lenihan, CEO of Tiber Health Corporation and former PHSU President.  “We now have tangible proof that a pathway program used with THI’s predictive analytics platform can be an effective way for MD admissions committees to evaluate the capabilities of applicants from underrepresented and lower socioeconomic backgrounds without relying on the MCAT.”

The report presents findings from a 10-year research project being conducted by PHSU and THI. The three phases of the project are (1) creating and implementing a pathway program; (2) building and validating a predictive analytics platform; and (3) working with the MD admissions committee to gain trust and adoption, including ongoing evaluation and monitoring. The project started in 2015 and is in phase 3.

At PHSU, this pathway program is the Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) degree, which has the same curriculum as year one of PHSU’s MD program. Coupled with THI’s predictive analytics platform, the PHSU MD Admissions Committee has a more data-driven process for evaluating medical school applicants from the MSMS pathway compared to non-MSMS students.

The report analyzed data from 2016-2021 for PHSU’s MD students in Puerto Rico (100% Hispanic with the majority coming from households earning less than $100K per year).  Two groups were compared:  students who were directly admitted to PHSU MD versus students who went through MSMS before PHSU MD.  The non-MSMS students had significantly higher MCAT scores compared to the MSMS students; however, there was no difference in USMLE Step 1 scores when comparing MSMS and non-MSMS groups.

“This finding is important because it confirms our hypothesis that underrepresented students from lower economic backgrounds with below 500 MCAT scores can be successful in medical school and pass the USMLE Step 1 exam,” says Dr. Mayrath.  “MD admissions committees that rely on the MCAT can upgrade their evaluation process by implementing this data-driven, performance-based approach.  It’s a more accurate measure of the capabilities of MD applicants from lower economic backgrounds who might not fit the traditional profile but possess the proficiencies and ambition to become the future physicians needed for an ever-changing U.S. population.”

PHSU/THI’s goal is to expand this approach across the U.S. by partnering with universities that want to offer the MSMS program to their own students.  This expansion launched in 2019 with the creation of the MSMS University Network, which now includes over 400 students and alumni as well as university partners across the country offering their own MSMS degrees.  PHSU/THI are seeking more universities to join the MSMS University Network and help address the lack of diversity in the physician workforce.  To learn more about the MSMS University Network, visit https://www.tiberhealth.com/services/tiber-network/

About Tiber Health

Tiber Health is a global network of progressive medical universities united in a transformative enterprise to reshape medical education worldwide. With a team of dedicated educators, practitioners, and entrepreneurs, Tiber Health leverages predictive learning analytics to widen access to healthcare education, foster diversity in the physician workforce, and address the global shortage of trained physicians. Tiber’s approach has revolutionized medical education and reduced costs while elevating quality, graduation rates, and U.S. Board scores.

Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) is a fully accredited institution with campuses in Puerto Rico and Missouri.  PHSU has 15 health education programs, including a LCME accredited Medical School. 

Media Contact:   Kayleigh Hottel

Email:  khottel@tiberhealth.com

October Virtual Open House

Join us Thursday, October 19 at 4 p.m. CST for our October Virtual Open House! Attendees will be able to learn about our MSMS, MD and PsyD degree program offerings, speak with current students about their experiences and attend an application workshop.

We can’t wait to meet you and share all that PHSU has to offer!

Don’t forget to RSVP here.

4 Reasons to Choose PHSU St. Louis – In The News

The St. Louis Post Dispatch recently featured PHSU St. Louis in an article.

“If your career aspirations include wearing a highly coveted white coat, Ponce Health Sciences University St. Louis could be the school for you….Choosing the right educational partner on that journey is critical. There is a plethora of reasons to choose PHSU St. Louis. Here are the top 4 factors to consider.”

Read the full article by clicking here.

Fall In-Person Open House

Join us Thursday, October 12 from 11am-1pm for our fall open house! Attendees will be able to tour campus, learn about our MSMS, MD and PsyD degree program offerings, speak with current students about their experiences and attend an application workshop.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here.

We are conveniently located at 2351 Market Street downtown, just 1 block from the new soccer stadium. Metered parking is available on Market and guest parking is located in the lot on the southwest corner of Jefferson and Market across from the Wells Fargo building. Follow the teal PHSU signs.

We can’t wait to meet you and share all that PHSU has to offer!

Don’t forget to RSVP here.

PHSU Welcomes New University President

Doctor David Lenihan, Chief Executive Officer of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), is thrilled to announce the appointment of Gino Natalicchio, Ph.D., as President of PHSU. In his new role, Dr. Natalicchio will be responsible for overseeing all PHSU’s operations.  

Dr. Natalicchio has more than 25 years of experience in senior management and has led the development and implementation of online and campus strategies in higher education institutions in Puerto Rico, the continental U.S., and internationally. He is also experienced in leading business and strategic initiatives, driving significant growth and success for similar institutions.

With the appointment of Dr. Natalicchio as President, Dr. Lenihan, who held the roles of President and CEO, will be focusing on his position as CEO with Tiber Health Corporation, PHSU’s parent company. Dr. Lenihan will also continue leading initiatives to expand the business’s presence globally, driving further advancements and opportunities for PHSU. Additionally, Dr. Elizabeth Rivera-Mateo will continue serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs, a position she assumed following previous organizational changes.

“Dr. Natalicchio’s diverse experience and expertise position him ideally to lead PHSU into the future,” said Dr. Lenihan, who expressed excitement for the dynamic leadership Natalicchio will bring to the university. “I look forward to continued success and growth in the years to come,” he added.

Ponce Health Sciences University is an institution focused on the disciplines of Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, and Dental Medicine. Since 1977, it has developed highly trained professionals in the field of health care. It currently has campuses in Ponce, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Louis, Missouri.

2023 PHSU Health Fair

Saturday, July 29 2023

9am – 2pm

Onsite Testing Available:

  • Mammogram Screenings – Schedule your appointment by calling (314) 747-7222 or (800) 600-3606
  • Cholesterol Testing
  • Blood Sugars
  • PSA Testing

This event takes place on campus at PHSU St. Louis:

2351 Market St.
Saint Louis, MO 63103

For additional information or participation, contact:

Annette Valiant, RN, BSN
Community Health Organizer
(314) 422-3320
valiant_annette@att.net

PHSU Virtual Information Session July 2023

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the diverse faculty and students at PHSU St. Louis. Register now for our Virtual Information Session and let us help you take the first step towards a brighter future!

10am

  • Program Overviews
    • MSMS
    • MSMS Online
    • PsyD