Panther Profiles are Q&A interviews that highlight Panthers of all stripes -- students, faculty, staff, alum, board members and anyone else in the campus community.
Desirea Harder-Neely is working toward her Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, a post-baccalaureate degree intended to improve students’ chances of acceptance into medical school. A native of Texas, she holds two bachelor’s degrees, in biomedical sciences and philosophy, from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is slated to complete her MSBS in August 2024. The ACPHS program is now available online as well as in person.
Why did you decide to pursue a post-baccalaureate program at ACPHS?
I applied to medical school last year but got waitlisted. I wanted to continue my education and boost my medical school application. And I thought Albany was the best place to do it.
For one, I was drawn to this program because it was an adventure: it was away from Texas.
But also, this program has linkages to two medical schools which I thought would be beneficial. With the linkages, you get guaranteed interviews so long as you meet requirements for your GPA and MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). ACPHS has two linkage programs – to Albany Medical College and to New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine.
I wanted something with a lot of support that was going to help me make a good application and get in to medical school. ACPHS has really done that. This program is huge on support, and I feel like my application really stands out this year.
Tell us about that support. Why do you feel your application stands out?
Our program director, Dr. (Elizabeth) Brookins, is fantastic. She has reviewed everything I've submitted, even the thank-you note I wrote after the interview.
I was originally attempting to rework the personal statement I wrote for my med-school application last year. It was very broad. Dr. Brookins told me to make it more personable. She helped me bring in experiences from my work and Albany Med, as well as my volunteering experiences, and it made it a lot more worthwhile to read. Dr. Brookins always says to give the best application of you.
I also got interview support here from the Center for Student Success. There’s an MCAT prep course too.
You also work at a hospital. Tell us about that.
I work at Albany Medical Center as a PCA (patient care assistant), and I'm transitioning into a role as a patient navigator in outpatient oncology. It was easy to line up the job. There are a lot of connections since ACPHS is right across the street from Albany Med, and there’s help to get a job if you need it.
In terms of scheduling, it's a bit of work. You need to maintain balance with work and academics, which is something I struggled with, but Dr. Brookins will help you with that.
A lot of my cohort also work in the hospital as PCAs. We’re nurses’ aides, so we help patients get cleaned up, get comfortable for the day. Being a PCA is a great way to get actual bedside patient experience.
Tell us about your fellow post-bac students. Are you a close group?
We're all incredibly close. We study together, we go out and hang out. We're all in a group chat, so if anyone has any questions, we're very supportive of each other.
Faculty are also willing to help us. ACPHS has a small student-to-faculty ratio, which is fantastic. They love to talk to us. Everyone is really supportive here.
Some post-bac programs are incredibly competitive. There are “gunners” in pre-med and medical schools, students who compete against each other in a very aggressive way. But this program is not like that. Everyone wants everyone else to succeed.
How have you found the transition from Texas to a close-knit campus in Albany?
Texas is a very drivable state, with lots of highways and big spaces, compared to New York. New York is more compact, especially around the campus since we are in the medical district. But I have found that there's a lot of stuff around me. There's a CVS just down the street. There's plenty of food options on and off campus. It's really easy to get around.
I live off campus, but really close to campus at UH College Suites. It's really convenient and I appreciate that. I am looking at different housing for when I hopefully go to medical school just so I can have a little more space for me and my dog. I have a gorgeous dog who's a “purebred mutt.” She's seven years old. She’s definitely not accustomed to the smaller living spaces of New York. But she loves the snow. She's taken to that.
Where are you in your application process to medical school?
I did take advantage of the linkages and I applied to both programs, and I'm hoping to get into AMC. I've already done that AMC interview, and I'm waiting to hear from them. I feel confident. I work there. I have great mentors there, and I also have great mentors at ACPHS who have helped guide me through a great application and set me up for success.