Ivan Nunez GS’24 finds the path to med school through Bethel’s M.S. in Medical Sciences program

Ivan Nunez GS’24 journey to med school has spanned continents, disciplines, and moments of clarity that ultimately shaped his calling. It began in Ambato, Ecuador where his early curiosity about science and the human body first took root. Today, as a third-year medical student, Nunez reflects on a path marked by discovery, with a pivotal stop in Bethel’s M.S. in Medical Sciences (MSMS) program—an experience he credits with altering the trajectory of his life.

From the beginning, Nunez sensed there was more than Ambato had to offer. “I love my country, I love my background, but I always knew I could do more,” he says.

Choosing medical school

After graduating in the U.S. with a degree in biomedical sciences, he set his sights on a career in healthcare, though the exact path wasn’t immediately clear. Unsure whether to pursue medical or nursing school, he chose what felt like the safer option and applied to nursing programs. But it didn’t take long for that uncertainty to resolve and he withdrew his applications.

“I just didn’t want to take that step of applying for medical school,” he says. “Then I realized I wanted to apply. I wanted to become a physician.” 

To gain experience for medical school applications, Nunez worked as a scribe in the U.S. in several medical practices. During this time, Nunez took the MCAT—twice—and applied to medical school. 

Nothing landed—no interviews, no next steps. 

Nunez turned to MedSchoolCoach, a company that supports people during the medical school application process. It was here that Nunez was assigned a physician advisor—Blair Nelson, Bethel’s director of didactic education for the Physician Assistant program.

Finding mentorship and direction

“Dr. Nelson was my advisor but also an angel in my life,” says Nunez. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. He really knew how to support me, how to lift me up, how to see the potential that I had in myself that I didn’t see back then. He offered ideas and options that I would have never thought of on my own.”

As an immigrant from Ecuador, Ivan faced some common barriers to matriculating into U.S. medical schools—a limited number of schools that accept international applicants and difficulty in achieving a competitive MCAT score, largely due to cultural and socioeconomic biases inherent in the exam. Nelson, however, realized that Nunez wasn’t giving up. “I was immediately impressed with Ivan’s compassion, enthusiasm, and resilience,” he says. 

It wasn’t long before he recognized Nunez would be a perfect fit for the MSMS program at Bethel, one of only eight partner schools with the campus of allopathic medical school in St. Louis, Ponce Health Sciences School of Medicine (PHSU-SOM). This partnership creates opportunities for students who might otherwise be unable to attend medical school.

Nelson suggested Nunez try out Bethel’s program and move to Minnesota.

“I trusted Dr. Nelson, and I wanted to meet him,” says Nunez “I knew he was going to be a great support system for me if I moved, and it was the best decision of my life.”

A new path: Bethel’s M.S. in Medical Sciences program

The MSMS program at Bethel parallels the first-year medical school curriculum at PHSU-SOM, St. Louis. “This is profoundly challenging in itself, as the first year of medical school has been analogized as ‘attempting to take a drink of water from a fire hydrant,’” says Nelson.

The program is meticulously designed to immerse a small cohort of students in the rigors of medical school. From the flipped classroom learning experience led by PHSU-SOM professors streamed live from St. Louis, to real clinical scenarios that form the basis for small group discussions moderated by a Bethel professor, and encompassing practice questions and exams, every component of the program is crafted to provide an authentic and challenging medical education experience.

The program also provides data-driven analytics through PHSU’s patented predictive analytics platform called the ‘Tiber Predictive Value’ or ‘TPV score.’ This platform estimates students’ chances of passing the USMLE Step 1 Exam in medical school. PHSU-SOM developed their own predictive score of success in medical school beyond just the MCAT exam.

For Nunez and his classmates in the MSMS program at Bethel, this meant they received an extensive exam report and comments from their professor after each exam, and were able to track their performance throughout the program.

In addition to leveraging the TPV score, Tamara Nelson, the MSMS program director, explains other benefits of the program. “We work with our students beyond just their academic aptitude, guiding them on best extracurricular experiences, MCAT prep, personal statement and application essay guidance, and interview prep,” she says. “We want them to succeed in obtaining that next goal, beyond growing in their study skills and test-taking aptitude.” 

During the 11-month program—which Nunez says “is no joke”—he completed 10 courses and one final comprehensive exam in person at the Anderson Center. He says classes like Medical Ethics and Health Disparities where he was challenged to develop a values-based approach to issues in healthcare were impactful. 

“I’d be lying if I said we had extra time,” says Nunez. “We spent what time we had in the Anderson Center studying after class. There were 12 students in our cohort. We were tight, and that helped a lot. We would eat together. We would hang out at each others’ places. We would celebrate each others’ birthdays. We would be there for each other during tough times, and there were a lot of tough times for everybody.”

For Blair Nelson, the program’s community is special. “It is amazing to witness the close-knit support network formed amongst the MSMS students each year,” says Nelson.

From Bethel to medical school acceptance

Nunez applied once again for medical school before completing the MSMS program. MSMS graduates are guaranteed an admissions interview with Bethel's Physician Assistant program, and those who finish in the top 20% of their class are guaranteed an interview with PHSU’s School of Medicine program. Nunez was on track to finish in the top 20%, and he was thrilled when PHSU-SOM offered an interview. His final acceptance into the PHSU School of Medicine program came just five days before his commencement ceremony at Bethel.

Tamara Nelson shares that two-thirds of MSMS graduates, like Nunez, take the next step in their graduate healthcare education journey. The other third use their degree to enter the biomedical industry, research, or education. “From managerial positions at Boston Scientific to teaching in a collegiate venue, to working in research, there are boundless possibilities with this master's degree,” she says. 

Nunez waited to share the news with his parents in person. “My parents were flying out for my graduation, and I was biting my tongue to not say anything before then.” He handed them a wrapped and framed gift of the acceptance letter.

Facing medical school with confidence

Now a third-year medical student at PHSU-SOM in St. Louis, Nunez reflects on how his preparation shaped his experience. He points to the strong foundation he built through the MSMS program as a key advantage entering medical school.

“The foundation that I got from the MSMS program helped me better focus on the added responsibilities of med school—seeing real patients, working on cadavers, charting— rather than foundational principles and theory that I already had in memory,” he says. 

That preparation didn’t just benefit him personally. Nunez found that classmates came to him with questions, recognizing the strength of his academic foundation. 

He also continues to embrace challenges outside the classroom, serving as president of several student clubs and organizations. Looking ahead, he’s drawn to a future that matches the intensity he’s grown to enjoy.

“I've always liked the ER, the adrenaline,the fast pace, and it's my top choice,” he says.

Still, Nunez is quick to acknowledge one of the biggest internal challenges medical students face:

“I think that the hardest part for most medical students is not comparing yourself to others and realizing that what you’ve done is enough. You have your own timing. Everybody has their own learning style, and that should be enough, because everybody’s path is different.”

It’s a perspective shaped not only by rigorous training, but by the relationships that supported him along the way. When reflecting on his time at Bethel and the impact of mentors like Blair Nelson, Nunez pauses—“Let me think of my words”—before sharing a long list of the ways Bethel’s community played a meaningful role in his journey toward becoming a doctor.

Get to know Bethel’s MSMS program.

With a medical sciences degree, you’ll enhance your credentials for entry into medical school or a variety of other healthcare fields. You’ll also develop the foundations to pursue an exceptional healthcare career that changes our world for the better.

Learn more