Professional Science Master's in Biomedical Sciences

Preparing for Professions in Health Care and Biomedical Sciences

This multidisciplinary program utilizes one-on-one advising to customize curriculum and identify an individualized capstone internship in order to complement and expand on each student’s academic and life experiences and to prepare them for their future careers.

• Degree Requirements
• Admission Criteria and Application Information

Tuition

The professional science master’s in biomedical sciences is a one-year program that requires 45 credits to complete. To estimate your annual tuition cost, please visit the Registrar's website.

• 2025 Virtual Information Sessions, PSM in Biomedical Sciences

  We hold periodic information sessions for the PSM in Biomedical Sciences—check here for dates and check back for regular updates if no upcoming dates are listed. All sessions are listed in Mountain Time.

  No Upcoming Sessions are currently available. Please contact Dr. Nancy Lorenzon at Nancy.Lorenzon@du.edu.

Capstone Experiences

Capstone experiences are nine to twelve month internships projects, culminating in a scholarly presentation. The PSM program director works with each student to identify a capstone mentor whose professional expertise aligns with their professional aspirations. Capstone projects can be administrative, clinical, programmatic or research focused.

The goals of the capstone experience are for the student to 1) gain advanced knowledge within the field of biomedicine, 2) learn specialized skills, 3) integrate information across various disciplines related to healthcare and 4) summarize their experience and findings in a scholarly presentation.

Interested in serving as a capstone experience mentor? Mentors are an invaluable part of the educational process—click here to submit the inquiry form.

• 2024-2025 Capstone Projects

  The Whole Woman: Behavioral Health and Multi-Specialty Care Across the Lifespan 
  Abigail Attah Amoah
  Mentor: Sarah Nagle-Yang, MD, Sarah Nagle-Yang, MD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Medical Director, Women's Behavioral Health, CU Medicine Psychiatry - Women's Behavioral Health and Wellness

  Acetaminophen, Pregnancy, and Its Effect on the Placenta
  Brittney-Shania Etuka
  Mentor: Clyde Wright, MD, Professor, Pediatrics-Neonatology, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital & Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

  Pulmonology and Environmental Chemistry: Healthy Homes Program (HHP)
  Arman Hassan
  Mentors: Lisa Maier, MD, MSPH, FCCP, ATSF, Professor; Director, Division of Env & Occ Health Science Core Clinical Lab; Chief, Division of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences; Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health; James Crooks, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health; Peggy Mroz, MSPH, Lead Epidemiologist, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Jewish Health

  The Tender Blade, Cutting Through Compassion: The Surgeon’s Paradox
  Dea Jaf
  Mentor: Shevie M. Kassai, MD, FACS, Chair of the Medical Center of Aurora; Department of Surgery, Director of the Medical Center of Aurora Trauma Program

  A Novel Compound for Therapeutic Sequestration of Acrolein, a Toxic Polyamine Catabolite, in Alzheimer's disease and Down Syndrome Fibroblast models
  Luke Kelly
  Mentor: Daniel Paredes, PhD, Research Associate Professor, Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver

  The importance of transgenics in biomedical sciences using the zebrafish model
  Malcolm Kleban
  Mentor: Erich Kushner, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver

  Interventions and Patient Outcomes: Novel Biceps Repair and Surgical Management of Hip Instability
  Alec Lamson
  Mentor: James Genuario, MD, Associate Professor, Orthopedics, CU Medicine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver

  CAR T-Cell treatment in Canine High Grade Glioma and Characterization of Organoids
  Kyley Larson
  Mentor: Adam Green, MD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Heme/Onc and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

  Pre- and Post-Operative Effects of Total Knee Arthroplasty on Biomechanical Kinematics in Osteoarthritis Patients
  Brendan Mallory
  Mentor: Casey Myers, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Mechanical Engineering, University of Denver

  Exploring the Role of Resilience in Post-Operative Recovery for Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement 
  Chinedum Nwokeukwu
  Mentor: James Genuario, MD, Associate Professor, Orthopedics, CU Medicine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver.

  The Naloxone Project: Expanding Harm Reduction and Access for Colorado’s Youth & Young Adult
  Nano Rodriguez
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, Emergency Physician, Swedish Medical Center, President, Stader Opioid Consulting LLC, Executive Director, The Naloxone Project

  CBP Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer Patients
  Liam Schwab
  Mentor: Mathew Rumery, MD, Colorado Pathology Consultants, Pathology Department, Lutheran Medical Center, Wheat Ridge, CO

  The Nudge Study: A Secondary Analysis
  Rowan ShorePlavec
  Mentor: Pei Jai Michael Ho, MD, Cardiology Department, Kaiser Permanente Franklin Medical Offices; Professor Adjoint, Medicine-Cardiology, UC School of Medicine.

  Molecular Mechanisms of Bone Remodeling in Dentistry: Implications for Dental Care 
  Raegan Wilson
  Mentor: Rabia Farrkh, DDS, Parker Dentistry

  Improving Patient Education in Women’s Health
  Lauren Yates
  Mentor: Mandi Beman, MD, AdventHealth Medical Group Complex Gynecology and Surgery at Porter

• 2023-2024 Capstone Projects

  Maternal Mortality Review Committee Determination of Deaths by Suicide as Pregnancy-Related: State-Level Data and Related Recommendations
  Holly Beith
  Mentor: Sarah Nagle-Yang MD, Deputy Executive Director, Colorado Center for Women's Behavioral Health, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine

  Understanding Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Complications and the Effects on Individual’s Quality of Life
  Daisy Loya
  Mentor: Katey Dorweiler Bolt PA, and Timothy Kuklo MD, Denver International Spine Center

  Quantitative Analysis Exploring the Influence of APOE Alleles on Brain Volumes and Cholesterol Levels
  Martha Lupian-Lucero
  Mentor: Chad Prusmack MD FAANS IFMPC, functional medicine neurosurgeon and chair, Resilience Code; Neurosurgeon, Rocky Mountain Spine Clinic

  Examining the Relationship between Vaping, Mental Health, and Social Networks Among Young Adults
  Erika Remington
  Mentor: Russell Bowler MD PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Analyzing Anxiety: Enhancing Clinic Retention through Tailored Approaches and Social Support Interventions 
  Reade Smith
  Mentor: Raj Rai MD, Medical Director; Addiction Medicine; Magnolia Medical Group

  Analysis of Impediments to Treatment and Diagnosis of Tardive Dyskinesia
  Gianni Solis
  Mentor: Rajeev Kumar, MD Rocky Mountain Movement Disorders Center
  Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Healthcare Outcomes: Multiple Population Assessment 
  Mentor for second project: Mentor: Adam Green MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Attending Physician in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Colorado.

  An Analysis of the Current Climate of The Opioid Epidemic in Colorado
  Mikaela Thurman
  Mentor: Amanda Hersh DO, Forensic Pathologist, Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office

  Metal Hypersensitivity Reactions in Orthopedic Implants
  Connor Vernon
  Mentor: Timothy Kuklo MD, Denver International Spine Center.

  Neuropsychological Effects of TBI and Long COVID
  Alexia Vidrio-Aguirre
  Mentor: Daniel Linseman PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Senior Research Scientist, Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver

  Effects of Skin Pigmentation on the Accuracy of Smartwatch Sensors
  Kyia Walker
  Mentor: Russell Bowler MD PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Understanding and Evaluating Markers and Risk Factors of Dysbiosis and Effect on Neurological Inflammation 
  Shelby Williams
  Mentor: Sally Crawford MS, Director of Technology and Data Management, Resilience Code, and Chad Prusmack MD FAANS IFMPC, functional medicine neurosurgeon and chair, Resilience Code

• 2022-2023 Capstone Projects

  Challenges and Concerns in Clinical Trial Research and the Policies Created as a Result 
  Anai Akuei
  Mentor: Alexandra Orahovats, M.S., ACRP-CP, Research Project Manager, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins

  Pulmonary Health Effects of Vaping and an Assessment of Increased Prevalence Risk of Pre-Diabetes in Young Adults 
  Eli Camargo
  Mentor: Russ Bowler, MD PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Impacts of Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation in Post-Operative Lower Leg Injuries: A Framework
  Chase Crocker
  Mentor: Todd Ward, DPT, CSCS, Panorama Orthopedics and Spine

  Effects of Acetabular Labral Advancement on the Traction Force
  Meghan Crownhart
  Mentor: James Genuario, MD, Stephanie Mayers, MD, Orthopedic Surgeons & Sports Medicine Specialists, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins

  Dr. Google: The Effectiveness of the use of online search engines and self-diagnosis for the orthopedic injuries
  Shelby Crumley
  Mentor: Gary Sakyrd, PA-C, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins

  Comparison of Methods in Post-Operative Knee Arthroscopy Rehabilitation
  Melissa Funes
  Mentor: James Genuario, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins

  Osteopathic Practices Could Help Lower the Production Demand, Reducing Opioid Exposure
  Jenna Hagman
  Mentor: Raj Rai, MD, Medical Director; Addiction Medicine; Magnolia Medical Group

  Complications associated with alcohol use in patients with COVID-19 associated respiratory failure
  Stephanie Melgar-Donis
  Mentor: Ellen Burnham, MD; Professor, Medicine-Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care; Colorado Pulmonary - Alcohol Research Collaborative (CoPARC); University of Colorado School of Medicine

  Clinical Implications of Oral Sedation for Cataract Surgery 
  Jeremiah Moran-Fairchild
  Mentor: William Richheimer, MD, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon and Cornea Specialist, Mile High Eye Institute

  Malignant Hyperthermia and Patient Health Outcomes
  Luis Orozco Diaz
  Mentor: Nick Spassil, M.S.A., CAA, Anesthesiology Assistant Lead, US Anesthesia Partners Colorado; Assistant Professor, Nova Southeastern University, Denver

  The Effects of Acetabular Labral Advancement on the Traction Force
  Grace Reuter
  Mentor: James Genuario, MD, Stephanie Mayers, MD, Orthopedic Surgeons & Sports Medicine Specialists, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins

  Health Effects of Vaping in Young Adults
  Emily Russak
  Mentor: Russ Bowler, MD PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Understanding the Clinical Implications of HPV Vaccination Programs in LMICs Through Investigating the Association Between Adolescent Pregnancies, Maternal HPV, and its Causal Relationship with Cervical Cancer
  Samantha Walisundara
  Mentor: Joe Parker, Executive Director, Health Outreach for Latin America

• 2021-2022 Capstone Projects

  The Relationship Between Bipolar Disorder and Suicidality
  Cami Bui
  Mentor: Kimberly Pfaff, PsyD and Casey Wolf, MD, Mental Health Center of Denver.

  An Evaluation of Recovery Support Specialists in the Emergency Department of Swedish Medical Center
  Isabel Courtney
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, Board Certified Emergency and Addiction Medicine Physician, President of Stader Opioid Consultants, Chair Colorado Naloxone Project

  Pain Management in Veterinary Medicine
  Jill Lewis 
  Mentor: Rob Landry, DVM, DAIPM, CVA, CCRP, CNPM, Colorado Center for Animal Pain Management Veterinary Care Center

  Clinically Relevant Screening of Aspergillosis Due to Bronchiectasis
  Edwin Lin
  Mentor: Charles Daley, MD, Chief of Division of Mycobacterial & Respiratory Infections and Professor, Department of Medicine; and David Griffith, MD, Professor, Division of Mycobacterial & Respiratory Infections, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health.

  Traumatic Brain Injury: Using research to develop recommendations for improved recovery
  Hollis Lyman
  Mentor: Daniel Linseman, PhD, Professor, Biological Sciences, Jenalee Doom, PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychology, and Kim Gorgens, PhD, Professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver, and Lucia Valdez, MSW, CBIS, Program Manager - Clinical Services, Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado

  Exercise Prescription in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension
  Samantha Morton
  Mentor: M. Patricia George, MD, Associate Professor, Director of Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Respiratory Medicine as a Part of Athlete and Team Care
  Shawn Rattan
  Mentor: J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS, Director National Jewish Health Exercise and Performance Breathing Center, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Use of Therapeutic Nutrition for Pulmonary Hypertension Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
  Rudra Ray
  Mentor: M. Patricia George, MD, Associate Professor, Director of Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health

  EVALI Pathogenesis: The mechanisms of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) pathogenesis
  Tanner Rivera
  Mentor: Irina Petrache, MD, Chief of Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Associate Vice President of Faculty Development, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Wollowick Chair in COPD Research, National Jewish Health

  Development of Therapeutic Respiratory Toolkit for a College Basketball Team
  Bryant Rucker
  Mentor: J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS, Director National Jewish Health Exercise and Performance Breathing Center, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Analysis of Race and Ethnicity Variability in Pediatric Brain Tumor Transcriptomics
  Aryanna Ryan
  Mentor: Adam Green, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Attending Physician in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Colorado

  Evaluating the First Year Efficacy of the Colorado Naloxone Project, a Novel Statewide Project to Implement Take-Home Naloxone Programs in Colorado Emergency Departments
  Mason Tuttle
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, Board Certified Emergency and Addiction Medicine Physician, President of Stader Opioid Consultants, Chair Colorado Naloxone Project

  Investigating Epilepsy Medication Clearance Throughout Pregnancy
  Trevor Wolf
  Mentor: Archana Shrestha, MD, UCHealth Pregnancy Clinic, UCHealth Neurosciences Center

• 2020-2021 Capstone Projects

  Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction in the African Americans and Qualitative Analysis of Patient Exit Surveys
  Omar Barakat
  Mentor: J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS, Director National Jewish Health Exercise and Performance Breathing Center, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  The Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on the Decision to have Elective Cosmetic Procedures
  Anna Brady
  Mentor: Christine Rodgers, MD, Denver Plastic Surgery

  Access to Opioid Treatment Programs Across Neighborhoods with Different Racial and Ethnic Compositions
  America Elias Martinez
  Mentor: Christopher Hoyte, MD  FAACT FACMT, Medical Director, Rocky Mountain Poison Center and Medical Director Toxicology Clinic, University of Colorado Hospital, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado SOM

  Native Hawaiian ancestry and gender in susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacteria
  Anah Gilmore
  Mentor: Jennifer R. Honda, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine Center for Genes, Environment, and Health National Jewish Health

  Moyamoya: An Atypical Presentation Case Report and Current Treatments
  Avery Gholston
  Mentor: Jeffrey Wagner, MD, BlueSky Neurology

  Bioidentical Testosterone Pellet Therapy in Women An Alternative Way to Treat Perimenopausal and Menopausal Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life
  Kara Groetken
  Mentor: Vandna Jerath, MD, FACOG, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Optima Women’s Healthcare

  Respiratory Diseases in Sports Medicine and Quality Improvement Project for EILO Exercise Program at NJH
  Amelia Hardeman
  Mentor: J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS, Director National Jewish Health Exercise and Performance Breathing Center, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health

  Patient Level Pediatric Neuro-oncology Health Disparities Analysis
  Alexandra Hilliard
  Mentor: Adam Green, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Attending Physician in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Colorado

  A Novel Cervical Device: Use of non-Newtonian Fluids in Cervical Disc Replacement
  Mark Izbrand
  Mentor: Timothy Kuklo, MD, Denver International Spine Center

  Circulating Nucleated Red Blood Cells: Pathologic or Commonplace?
  Amy Meredith, MA CCC-SLP
  Mentors: Lynnelle Smith, MD; Julie Rosser, DO, Department of Pathology, University of Colorado

  Preliminary Evaluation of Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive Values for the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) in Infants with Sex Chromosome Trisomy
  Jacky Nevarez
  Mentor: Nicole Tartaglia, MD, Children's Hospital, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine

  Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): Effect on Cardiac Function
  Phikhanh Nguyen
  Mentor: Ira Dauber, MD, The South Denver Heart Center

  Understanding Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 and Fatigue
  Samuel Noonan
  Mentors: Brian Modena, MD MSci, Associate Professor, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and Barry Make, MD, Director COPD Program, Professor of Medicine, Director Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Respiratory Care, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health

  The Efficacy of Recovery Support Specialists at Preventing Substance Related Readmissions
  Ryan Novak
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, Associate Medical Director & Emergency Physician, Swedish Medical Center, CarePoint Health Care

  Return-to-play and performance of NCAA Division 1 Women's Soccer Players After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
  Belle Penn
  Mentor: Thomas Noonan, MD, UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver

  Prevalence of Take-Home Naloxone Programs in Colorado Emergency Departments
  Samuel Schonfeld
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, Associate Medical Director & Emergency Physician, Swedish Medical Center, CarePoint Health Care

  Exercising with Type I Diabetes - Integrating Mobile and Wearable Technology with Diabetes Management
  Erin Townsend
  Mentor: Taylor Triolo, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

• 2019-2020 Capstone Projects

  Breathe to Succeed: Education program and Spirometry Screening for Collegiate Swim Teams
  Ava Berrier
  Mentor: J. Tod Olin, MD, MSCS, Director, Pediatric Exercise Tolerance Center, National Jewish Health

  A Retrospective Chart Population-Based Analysis of CNS Tumor Diagnoses, Treatment, and Survival in Congenital and Infant Age Groups
  Muriel Hart
  Mentor: Adam Green, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Attending Physician in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Colorado

  Effects on Opioid Prescription and Administration via Pain Pathway Intervention
  Chase Klungle
  Mentor: Mentor: Darlene Tad-y, MD, SFHM, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, Colorado Hospital Association

  The Effect of ROTEM – based Transfusion Algorithm on Blood Product Utilization after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA)
  Jennifer Luu
  Mentor: William Navarre MD, MPH, US Anesthesia Partners Colorado, Cardiothoracic anesthesiologist

  Timing of Trauma in the Lifespan and the Effect on Non-Epileptic Seizures
  Ashley Lyons
  Mentor: Laura Strom, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

  Review of Expanding Uses for Amnion Chorion Membranes in Dentoalveolar Procedures
  Simon Monley
  Mentor: Pete Mariner, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Snoasis Medical, LLC

  An Approach to Integrating Naloxone Distribution and Harm Reduction Education in Emergency Departments
  Stephanie Madzey
  Mentor: Don Stader, MD, FACEP, Associate Medical Director & Emergency Physician, Swedish Medical Center, CarePoint Health Care

  A new clinical approach to osteoarthritis of the knee: An overview of Ampion Clinical Trials
  Michaela O’Donoghue
  Mentors: Marshall Hoke, Regulatory Affairs Manager, and Holli Cherevka, Chief Operating Officer, Ampio Pharmaceuticals

  Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia: further Understanding the Best Treatment Options for This Subgroup
  Nathan Plattner
  Mentor: David Weiss, MD, Psychiatry, Mental Health Center of Denver

  Measuring Success in Addiction Medicine (Harm Reduction Model)
  Laura Reed
  Mentor: Raj Rai, MD, Medical Director and Physician, Magnolia Medical Group