HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University and its Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine selected seven high school seniors from across West Virginia as the newest class of students for the B.S./M.D. program.

The program was established in 2015 as a pathway for high-performing West Virginia students to finish both their Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees in seven years. The new class joins 32 B.S./M.D. students currently in medical school and 29 students in the undergraduate portion of the curriculum.

The following students have been accepted into the program and will begin their undergraduate coursework at Marshall this fall.

• Avery Fife – Ripley High School (Jackson County)
• Nicolas Frazier– St. Joseph Central Catholic High School (Cabell County)
• Aneesh Gupta – Poolesville High School (Berkeley County)
• Jacob Hastings – Cabell Midland High School (Cabell County)
• Thomas Nixon – Elkins High School (Randolph County)
• Emma Seagle – George Washington High School (Kanawha County)
• Lucas Stanley – Cabell Midland High School (Cabell County)

Students in the newest class are from throughout West Virginia. They are athletes, student leaders and volunteers in their community while also excelling in their academic studies.

“This class is composed of leaders in their schools and communities,” said Jennifer T. Plymale, associate dean of admissions for the School of Medicine. They are class presidents, Eagle Scouts, athletes and musicians. They volunteer in their communities for organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and local hospitals and many serve as mentors and tutors for underprivileged students.”

Students begin the application process the summer prior to their senior year of high school. West Virginia high school students who achieve a minimum composite score of ACT 30/SAT 1390 and a math score of ACT 27/SAT 630, as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply. Other criteria include three letters of recommendation and interviews. Students who successfully complete the undergraduate program requirements will matriculate directly into medical school. They are not required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Additionally, the students receive a tuition waiver for the medical school portion of the program.

“Being accepted into the B.S./M.D. program at Marshall is a distinct honor that is truly life changing," said Nicolas Frazier, a senior at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School in Huntington. "I have grown up with dreams of becoming a doctor, and this program has provided me the opportunity to make those dreams a reality.” 

The first class of B.S./M.D. students graduated with their Doctor of Medicine degrees in 2022. Plymale said the program is just one of the ways Marshall University is working to keep talented, bright students in West Virginia. For more information about the program, visit https://jcesom.marshall.edu/students/bsmd-program. Another pathway for students attending Marshall University interested in pursuing a degree in medicine is the M.D. Early Assurance Program. For information, visit https://jcesom.marshall.edu/admissions/md-early-assurance-program.

Date Posted: Monday, March 13, 2023