WesternU College of Health Sciences host aspiring health professionals from Bakersfield College
About 25 students from Bakersfield College and other institutions visited Western University of Health Sciences on April 17, 2026, to learn more about pathways into the health professions.
The visiting students toured the WesternU California campus and learned about the Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) program from College of Health Sciences Dean Gail Evans Grayson, EdD, MA, MSMS Program Chair Jenniffer Licero Campbell, PhD, and current MSMS students.
The visit builds upon a strong foundation established between the two institutions. Bakersfield College (BC) recently announced its Aspiring Medical Professionals (AMP) Pathway, which will bring BC graduates into the MSMS program. Read more about the AMP Pathway: WesternU develops pathway program for Bakersfield College graduates to enter MSMS program | WesternU News
“It is truly an honor to work with BC students and learn more about their professional goals,” said Department Chair Jenniffer Licero Campbell. “Having them visit WesternU allows the department of medical sciences to actively engage in its mission and vision through outreach but, more importantly, it gives us a tangible opportunity to mentor and provide students with the strategies and guidance that can help them make their professional dreams a reality.”
WesternU is also part of the Pre-Medical Pathway program, which connects Bakersfield College graduates to California State University, Bakersfield, where students will complete a bachelor’s degree, and then go on to WesternU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Read more about the Pre-Medical Pathway program: WesternU partners with Kern Medical, CSUB and Bakersfield College to nurture and train physicians in Kern County | WesternU News
“The main goal is to introduce (these students) to WesternU and let them know about the opportunities for them to pursue any of the colleges (and programs) here, especially MSMS,” Bakersfield College Medical Professionals Program Manager Bianca Garibay said. “We want them to see if it’s a good fit for them as they continue to navigate their education.”
MSMS students Olugbolahan “Bol” Fajolu and Corina Lara-Giron shared their personal experiences in the program, which included struggles, triumphs and growth. Students asked for advice when applying to WesternU programs. Lara-Giron told them to take the necessary exams, like the MCAT, early, and to make sure they complete prerequisites.
“Be yourself. Be authentic. Be genuine in your personal statement,” Lara-Giron said. “You’re not expected to be a perfect student, and clinicians are human too. We have to be real and honest. When you have hardships and experiences, you get to share that with patients.”
Dean Grayson told the class on Day 1 of the program was that if you are someone who likes to work on your own, then this isn’t the program for you, Fajolu said.
“You have to be able to collaborate with others in order to get where you want to get to,” he said. “In our careers we will be working alongside providers in order to help the patient in front of us.”
Students also asked about their biggest takeaway from the MSMS program. Lara-Giron said her biggest takeaway is confidence.
“For a long time, I didn’t feel like I was good enough. I compared myself to others constantly. But I have seen growth from the very start of the program to now, how different I am in a great way,” Lara-Giron said. “It’s the confidence for me. If I can survive in this program, I feel like I can survive anything and I mean that in the greatest way possible. I’ve been challenged academically in the best way and I know I can conquer it.”
Fajolu said the MSMS program helped him improve as a public speaker.
“Being able to hold a conversation with a patient is something I was terrified to do and didn’t believe I could. One thing I learned in this program is that you have to take that step forward. You have to be comfortable in being uncomfortable. That was an area for me I knew was going to be a challenge,” Fajolu said. “Taking the time to be comfortable with public speaking is an important part of health care, not only in talking with patients but advocating for their needs as well.”
“As Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Western University of Health Sciences, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to create pathways that expand access, foster belonging, and prepare the next generation of health care leaders,” said CHS Dean Gail Evans Grayson, EdD, MA. “Our partnership with Bakersfield College reflects our shared commitment to meeting students where they are and guiding them toward where they aspire to be. Through programs like the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, we are not only strengthening academic readiness but also cultivating confidence, collaboration, and purpose grounded in humanism. These experiences affirm that when we invest in students and build intentional partnerships, we are shaping a more equitable and compassionate health care workforce for the communities we serve.”
