Tiber Health Innovation and Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) are excited to announce a new University partnership with Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) to bring the Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMEDS) methodology and curriculum to students throughout Hawai‘i and the Pacific. This innovative collaboration is designed to increase access to healthcare professions, through a dynamic, data-driven educational experience.
“We are honored to partner with Hawaii Pacific University to expand access to high-quality graduate health science education,” said Michael Mayrath, President of Tiber Health Innovation. “Together, we are creating new pathways into healthcare careers, especially for students who have the passion and grit to succeed but need a non-traditional path to medicine or other health science terminal degrees.”
The MSMS program provides students with an MD-level curriculum modeled after the first year of an LCME-accredited Doctor in Medicine program. Designed for individuals seeking to strengthen their academic foundation before applying to medical or other health professional schools, the program enables students to solidify foundational medical knowledge, increase clinical reasoning skills, and demonstrate readiness for a terminal health science degree.
Through this partnership, HPU will be able to offer the MSMEDS program to its students while leveraging Tiber Health’s proprietary predictive analytics software. Students will receive real-time feedback on their academic performance and insights into their preparedness for the USMLE Step 1 exam—providing a unique window into their potential for success in medical school before they even apply.
Dr. Jennifer Walsh, Senior Vice President Strategic Initiatives at Hawaii Pacific University said, “We’re proud to offer this transformative program to students throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. The MSMEDS program aligns with our commitment to prepare our graduates to live, work, and learn as active members of a global society, and we’re excited to welcome the next generation of healthcare leaders to HPU.”
HPU is expected to welcome its first MSMEDS cohort in Fall 2025 using an online synchronous format. To learn more about the HPU MSMEDS program, click here.
The United States is facing a critical physician shortage, a problem that threatens the accessibility and quality of healthcare for millions of Americans. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the country could experience a shortfall of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036.
This shortage is fueled by several factors, including an aging population, an aging physician workforce, and insufficient residency program capacity. While the impact of this shortage is widespread, certain populations and regions are disproportionately affected. Here are three groups most impacted by the lack of doctors.
Rural areas in the U.S. have long struggled with physician shortages, and the problem is worsening. Many rural counties lack sufficient primary care providers and specialists, forcing residents to travel long distances for basic healthcare services.
According to a 2025 STAT News article, rural areas are expected to have 56% fewer physicians than they need by 2037, compared with a 6% shortage in urban areas. This disparity leads to delayed diagnoses, untreated chronic conditions, and increased reliance on emergency care.
While urban centers may have a higher concentration of medical facilities, low-income and underserved communities within cities often face significant healthcare access challenges. For example, a 2020 Cureus article on physician shortages reported that while the city of Philadelphia has no net shortage of primary care physicians, the reality varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. “Low physician-access census tracts were more likely to be in a neighborhood with a higher proportion of African Americans, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and insurance status,” the report notes.
Research conducted by the University of Michigan in 2018 shows that urban physicians are more likely to practice in affluent neighborhoods or private institutions, leaving inner-city hospitals and clinics understaffed. As a result, patients in these communities experience long wait times, inadequate preventive care, and difficulties managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
The aging U.S. population is another major factor contributing to the physician shortage. The number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2060, increasing the demand for healthcare services. At the same time, a significant portion of the current physician workforce is approaching retirement, further exacerbating the shortage.
Geriatricians, who specialize in elderly care, are particularly scarce, leaving many older adults without the specialized care they need to manage complex health conditions. According the National Resident Matching Program, 71% of residency spots in geriatric medicine went unfilled in 2025 (p. 51). This is likely due to the lower salary potential for geriatricians: a 2025 Business Insider article notes that in New York City, for example, a cardiologist earns more than double what a geriatrician earns.
Solving the physician shortage requires a multi-faceted approach. There are steps regulatory bodies and Congress can take, such as increasing funding for residency programs, creating specialized immigration pathways to attract foreign physicians, and encouraging current doctors to practice in underserved areas through loan forgiveness programs and financial incentives. Changes to medical practice may also help alleviate some of the strain by optimizing existing resources, such as telemedicine and team-based care models.
Education, however, is crucial. At Tiber Health, we believe that helping talented students enhance their academic qualifications for medical school can create a pipeline of physicians who are not just ready to meet the rising need for physicians, but to help address historic gaps in service.
Decades of research have shown that physicians from underrepresented backgrounds are more likely to practice in underserved areas – for example, this 2022 study which found that students who are under-represented in medicine (URiM) were more likely to plan careers serving underserved populations. Our one-year Master of Science in Medical Sciences curriculum offers students an innovative pathway toward medical school admission, combining coursework that mirrors the first year of pre-clinical classes at an LCME-accredited medical school with a predictive analytics suite that helps students understand how they’re performing, address strengths and weaknesses, and explore the best health professional paths to match their skills. Learn more about the MSMS curriculum here
Socioeconomic diversity in medicine is crucial for improving healthcare outcomes and addressing disparities. Yet, many students from underrepresented backgrounds face systemic barriers to entering medical school.
University administrators play a critical role in breaking down these barriers and fostering a more inclusive student body. Here are effective strategies for recruiting and supporting medical and professional health students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Many talented students from underrepresented backgrounds lack awareness of medical career pathways or may not see themselves represented in the field.
To address this, consider developing outreach programs to begin inspiring and identifying students before they’re old enough to apply to college. Outreach programs can include:
Associating your university’s brand with inclusive medical education through sincere outreach isn’t just a way to inspire young students to apply to your school someday – it also raises your profile with the schools and communities with whom you form partnerships.
The cost of applying to medical school, let alone attending medical school, is a significant barrier for many aspiring medical students. Universities can help by:
While the cost of medical education is a concern for virtually all medical students, it can completely block progress for students from low-socioeconomic status backgrounds. Providing even modest support can help underrepresented students persist.
Show student prospects that support continues after they matriculate. Strategies can include:
Tapping your alumni networks for support, mentorship, and employer connections can also help inspire students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Another way to support students from underrepresented backgrounds is by offering a proven pre-health pipeline program. Tiber Health’s Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) curriculum is an innovative, data-driven approach to the pre-med special master’s degree that offers students:
Our research demonstrates that students who complete the MSMS program go on to perform as well as students who are directly admitted to medical school – despite the fact that the MSMS students initially had lower GPAs and MCAT scores than their directly admitted peers. Overall, 77% of MSMS graduates receive admission into their desired professional program. To explore this pathway toward underrepresented medical student recruitment, contact Tiber Health today.
