Columbia University Postbac Premed Program

Every day, GS empowers nontraditional students—those who have overcome obstacles, served their countries, pursued careers, cared for families, and so much more—to pursue a world-class Columbia University education.

Today on Columbia Giving Day, your support will fuel our legacy of innovation and access by:
🔹Creating opportunities for students who’ve taken non-linear paths.
🔹Advancing pioneering programs, like the nation’s first Postbac Premed Program to global dual degree partnerships.
🔹Redefining what higher education can be for students with diverse life and career experiences.

When you give to GS, you’re not just supporting our students—you’re investing in resilience, transforming lives, and helping shape the future of higher education.

Columbia Giving Day Support Columbia School of General Studies on Giving Day

“It often takes a village, and the village at Columbia has been an invaluable source of positivity and support.”

Chris Stark ‘25PBPM shares why being part of such a big community of nontraditional students is so meaningful.

A Winding Path to Medicine | School of General Studies Profile A Winding Path to Medicine From studying Asian studies, to spending more than two decades in software product management, Chris Stark’s path to medicine was full of twists and turns… but landed him in the exact right place. May 11, 2025 Chris Stark’s path to medicine was anything but c...

“Show up as the adult you are, so you can be treated like one. If you invest yourself in this [Columbia] experience, it will be an incredibly rewarding one. Don't hold back and make it an amazing time.”

Like many GS students, tech professional Stephen Fox ‘25PBPM came to Columbia with a wealth of life and work experience, experience he drew on to succeed in the Postbac Premed Program. Through the Postbac Program’s linkage opportunities, he linked with Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, where he’ll begin his studies this fall!

Showing Up is Step One: Making the Most of Every Opportunity | School of General Studies Profile Showing Up is Step One: Making the Most of Every Opportunity After a successful career in tech, Stephen Fox ‘25PBPM came to Columbia to pivot to medicine…and linked to the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University! May 12, 2025 Related Postbac Premed Program Class Day Featured Spe...

With decades of experience working in healthcare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and the United States, Busime Mimy Mudekereza ‘25PBPM came to Columbia GS to fulfill a lifelong dream: becoming a physician.

Shared Busime, “One of the most pivotal moments in my journey came during one of my final conversations with my mother. She reminded me of the dream I once had, and told me that the only true failure would be not trying. I promised her that I would give it my all. I applied to Columbia’s Postbac Premed Program and was accepted. Sadly, my mother passed away shortly thereafter. I chose to honor her memory by committing fully to this path—not just for me, but for everyone who has ever felt deterred by life’s circumstances.”

As a graduate of the Postbac Premed Program, Busime plans to take the MCAT this summer and will also continue leading Amani Global Work (AGW), an organization she co-founded with her husband that provides community-based healthcare support in eastern DR Congo.

The Only True Failure is Not Trying: Finding the Courage to Pursue Medicine | School of General Studies Profile The Only True Failure is Not Trying: Finding the Courage to Pursue Medicine An experienced healthcare professional and health equity advocate, Busime Mimy Mudekereza ‘25PBPM came to Columbia GS to pursue her long held, long-prevented dream of becoming a physician. May 12, 2025 Long before ...

“Success does not always mean taking every opportunity; sometimes it is about taking the right ones.”

Deztynee Rivera—a Bronx native, neuroscience researcher, educational equity advocate, and 2025 Columbia Postbac Premed graduate—shares her GS journey, including how she balanced working full time with a rigorous course load.

Taking Science out of the Classroom and into the Community | School of General Studies Profile Taking Science out of the Classroom and into the Community From studying neuroscience, to advocating for education equity, Deztynee Rivera ‘25PBPM has pursued intellectual rigor and community impact all the way to the Postbac Premed Program. May 12, 2025 A Bronx, New York native, Deztynee ...

We are thrilled to share our Postbac Class Day featured speakers!

🦉 Dr. Jennifer McNeely ’94CC, ’99PBPM, a leader in addiction medicine, dedicated clinician-researcher, and Associate Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, will be the keynote speaker. After graduating from Columbia College with a degree in economics and completing the Program, Dr. McNeely went on to attend medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and her residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School).

🖥️ Stephen Fox ’25PBPM whose journey from tech to medicine reflects the spirit of GS and exemplifies the power of purpose, will be the student speaker. After earning his degree in computer science at Neumont College of Computer Science, Stephen started working in applied artificial intelligence. A research fellowship brought him to NYC, where he joined the health-tech startup Eight. While prototyping near-medical devices, he realized medicine was his true calling.

https://bit.ly/42Iz7pB

Postbac Premed Program Class Day Featured Speakers Announced | School of General Studies School News Postbac Premed Program Class Day Featured Speakers Announced Dr. Jennifer McNeely ’94CC, ’99PBPM will be the keynote speaker and Stephen Fox ’25PBPM will be the student speaker. April 16, 2025 Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) is proud to announce that Dr. Jennifer...

Hamid Usman ‘24PBPM came to the Columbia Postbac Premed Program with a wealth of medical experience, from serving as a volunteer EMT, to working on the front lines of COVID-19 vaccination efforts in New York City. “These experiences allowed me to exercise my skills and gain invaluable insights,” said Hamid, “cultivating my dream of making a meaningful difference in the lives and health of my patients.”

Hamid completed the program this spring and is now preparing to apply to medical school.

Making a Difference, One Patient at a Time | School of General Studies Profile Making a Difference, One Patient at a Time 2024 Grad Profile: From working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 vaccine effort, to exploring innovative medical technology in Columbia classrooms, Hamid Usman ‘24PBPM pursues both intellectual and community-oriented excellence in medicine. April...

First week of classes ✅ Have you connected with the vibrant faces of our Spring 2024 incoming class? 🦉 Excitingly, we have welcomed 155 undergraduate and 41 Columbia University Postbac Premed students to our community this term. Take a look at this diverse cohort of parents, veterans, and first-gen college students. Welcome, new GSers! 💙

“When I see the talent, the commitment, and the passion of our new Postbac Premed students, the next generation of healthcare professionals, I feel optimistic, and I am filled with hope and pride.” -Dean James Colgrove ‘01MSPH, ‘04GSAS

Congratulations and welcome to the nearly two dozen Postbac Premed students beginning their Columbia journeys this spring!

GS Welcomes the Spring 2024 Incoming Class | School of General Studies School News GS Welcomes the Spring 2024 Incoming Class Columbia GS welcomed 182 new students at Spring 2024 Convocation and the New Student Orientation Program. January 12, 2024 On Monday, January 8, the School of General Studies’s Spring 2024 Convocation was held at Alfred J. Lerner Hall. Student...

Incoming Postbac student Rachael Hutson has always juggled a wide variety of interests, from STEM, to literature, to business. As an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, Rachael pursued her passion for economics, envisioning a career in investment. “However,” shared Rachael, “throughout my first year post-graduation, I spent a significant amount of time supporting a family member undergoing cancer treatment. As I interacted with surgeons, oncologists, and nurses, I realized that these individuals embodied the traits that I value most. My appreciation for these physicians who helped my family navigate a period of paralyzing uncertainty revealed that my fascination with investing paled in comparison to my passion for medicine and helping others.”

As Rachael begins her Postbac experience this spring, she shared “I applied to GS because of the unparalleled history and strong reputation of Columbia's Postbac Premed program. Because I am completely changing careers and have limited prior experience in the medical field, I wanted to enroll in a program with best-in-class resources to help prepare me for all aspects of the daunting medical school application process. I know that the path ahead will be challenging, but I am confident that Columbia is the right place to begin my medical education and professional journey.”

Profiles of the Spring 2024 Incoming Class | School of General Studies Profile Profiles of the Spring 2024 Incoming Class Meet some of the exceptional members of our incoming Undergraduate and Postbac Premed classes. January 08, 2024 Postbac Premed Leah Chevan Rachael Hutson Undergraduate Ahmad Bright Delano Burrowes Sai Sai Han Hark Undergraduate Ahmad Bright Hometown...

Meet Leah Chevan: a U.S. navy veteran, personal trainer, and incoming Postbac Premed Program student!

“In early 2023, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I got very lucky, not only because we caught it early, but also because I had an amazing team of doctors,” shared Leah of her journey to the Postbac Premed program which was also fueled by a lifelong interest in medicine. “I had already started looking into different masters and postbac programs, but my patient experience was such that I resolved to find a path for others to have the same experience.”

Profiles of the Spring 2024 Incoming Class | School of General Studies Profile Profiles of the Spring 2024 Incoming Class Meet some of the exceptional members of our incoming Undergraduate and Postbac Premed classes. January 08, 2024 Postbac Premed Leah Chevan Rachael Hutson Undergraduate Ahmad Bright Delano Burrowes Sai Sai Han Hark Undergraduate Ahmad Bright Hometown...

Meet the Fall 2023 incoming class! We welcomed 414 new undergraduate and 81 new Postbac students into the GS community this month, including parents, veterans, and first-generation college students!