Educating Today's Youth to Create Tomorrow's Physicians

Beaumont Future Medical Scholars (BFMS) is the pipeline program for the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. The program was created to expose students who have a strong interest in medicine and science to explore the many avenues of medical education and careers in medicine. 

The BFMS Program is a collaboration between Cranbrook Horizons-Upward Bound and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. It currently hosts twenty students from different high schools in Detroit, Berkley, Ferndale, and Pontiac.

How the Program Works

"This partnership with Cranbrook Horizon-Upward Bound exemplifies the social mission of our medical school." - Robert Folberg M.D., Founding Dean

The program is a four-year commitment, with a summer in-residence experience and a winter Saturday experience, with rigourous academic attention in English, mathematics, science, and ACT preparation. The program also builds college readiness through assistance with study skills and test taking strategies.

According to Robert Folberg, M.D., Founding Dean, "This partnership with Cranbrook Horizon-Upward Bound exemplifies the social mission of our medical school. The goal of this program is to expose area students to the field of medicine - specifically students who would not otherwise have the opportunity."

What the Program Includes

Participants of the program are introduced to the world of medicine and medical school through different avenues:

• The Physician Speaker Series brings practicing physicians from Beaumont Health System to talk with students about their journey to medical school and beyond

• Students tour Oakland University and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

• Students participate in a hands-on anatomy lesson in the anatomy lab of the medical school along with a semester long "Introduction to Anatomy" class

• Students visit William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak to hear firsthand about different careers in medicine

In order for a student to be a part of the BFMS program, they must be a part of Horizons-Upward Bound. Recruitment for the upcoming summer residential phase begins in mid-January.