The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will launch a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Premedical Sciences for students who did not follow a traditional premedical track or who want an additional step to demonstrate readiness for professional school. Coordinated by the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) with partners across multiple units, the program, which begins in fall 2026, strengthens academic preparation and creates new pathways into medical and health professions.
Students will take courses in physiology, genetics, biomedical ethics, immunology and statistics, with electives such as neuroscience. A highlight is access to gross anatomy labs—hands-on training typically reserved for medical students—providing rare early exposure to medical-level anatomy.
Building Hawaiʻi’s healthcare workforce
“This program reflects the strength of the UH System as a whole,” said Samuel “Sam” Shomaker, JABSOM dean. “It brings together expertise from across our campuses to create an integrated program rooted in biomedical sciences, life sciences and public health. Just as importantly, this is about building Hawaiʻi’s workforce. By opening access to advanced scientific training and mentoring, we are broadening the pool of qualified applicants and strengthening the healthcare system that depends on them.”
…we aim to prepare students not only for professional schools but also for lifelong learning in biomedical science.
—Olivier LeSaux
Alex Stokes, program director and originator of the certificate, said the program fills a critical need. “Across Hawaiʻi, and especially on the neighbor islands, communities live every day with the reality of too few doctors. Not every student prepares for medical school during their undergraduate years. This certificate provides the extra step some need—whether to strengthen their foundation, gain exposure to courses like gross anatomy, or test themselves against the workload to confirm medicine is the right path.”
Faculty also see the program as a chance to connect science with service.
“The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is proud to play a leading role,” said Olivier LeSaux, professor and chair of the department at JABSOM. “By combining rigorous coursework with exposure to diverse disciplines, we aim to prepare students not only for professional schools but also for lifelong learning in biomedical science. This certificate represents an important new pathway for students who want to pursue careers that improve health in Hawaiʻi and beyond.”
The effort is coordinated by JABSOM and involves its Departments of Cell and Molecular Biology, Anatomy, Biochemistry & Physiology and Quantitative Health Sciences, with contributions from the School of Life Sciences and the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health at UH Mānoa.
More details and application information is available online.
