More than 860 students, postdoctoral researchers, medical residents, and fellows have begun classes at Cedars-Sinai’s newly formed Health Sciences University (HSU). This marks the inaugural enrollment for several programs, including the Chuck Lorre Allied Health School, a Health Artificial Intelligence PhD program in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and a Master of Science in Regenerative Medicine.
“Regardless of their chosen discipline, students in the Health Sciences University will be immersed in the healthcare environment and our clinical care continuums,” said Jeffrey Golden, MD, executive vice dean of Research and Education, director of the Burns and Allen Research Institute, and the Linda and Jim Lippman Distinguished Chair in Academic Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “Students will train side by side with experts to advance basic, translational and clinical sciences, then witness how their efforts help shape the care Cedars-Sinai delivers.”
The curriculum features hands-on training with leading experts as well as access to advanced technologies and clinical trials. The Cedars-Sinai Chuck Lorre Allied Health School was established in 2022 following a $30 million donation from The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. The vocational school provides training for allied health roles such as clinical laboratory scientists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapy professionals, and radiation therapy technicians.
“When the opportunity presented itself to provide training and certificates for underserved individuals in our community, which in some instances would double their salaries, I was all in,” Lorre said. “Partnering with Cedars-Sinai to create the school of allied health will allow us to see long-term impacts in our communities.”
Students enrolled in allied health programs will complete rotations at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center—located in Los Angeles since its founding in 1902—as well as at affiliate institutions Huntington Health and Torrance Memorial Health. These programs can lead to associate or bachelor’s degrees or certificates; graduates are eligible for licensure or certification exams. According to Cedars-Sinai’s 2022 annual report, over 50,000 patients were admitted that year; the hospital is also recognized for its pediatric ward and status as a training hospital (https://www.cedars-sinai.org/).
“The transformational gift made by The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation meets a tremendous need for allied health specialists, both at Cedars-Sinai and in the broader Los Angeles community,” Golden said.
Alexia Furbert is among those starting out at the new school. “When I learned about the program, I was finishing my last semester at West Los Angeles College to complete my associate degree,” Furbert said. “Feeling uncertain about my career goals, I questioned whether transferring to a four-year university was the right decision for me. This program offered an opportunity to explore potential career paths and contribute to chronically understaffed areas of healthcare.”
The PhD program in Health Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers focused training on AI algorithms with an emphasis on analyzing clinical data.
“We are elated to welcome our incoming students, who will experience a hands‑on, active approach to teaching that reinforces AI concepts through clinical rotations and scholarly collaboration with physicians and medical staff,” said Graciela Gonzalez-Hernandez, PhD. “Graduates will be positioned to directly improve healthcare and patient outcomes through the rigorous development and deployment of AI algorithms and software.”
A new Master of Science degree focuses on regenerative medicine—specifically stem cell research relevant both for disease modeling and treatment—with three career tracks: cell biomanufacturing; academic research into stem cell biology; or application within different clinical specialties.
“We designed the master’s program to teach students about regenerative medicine and how stem cells hold an interesting promise for medicine,” said Wafa Tawackoli, PhD. “We are focused on giving these students an advantage as they move forward in their chosen career paths through a carefully designed curriculum. Everything we do is tailored to the future.”
Other offerings include graduate degrees such as a PhD in Biomedical Sciences—combining scientific coursework with mentoring from clinicians—a Master of Science in Health Systems Management; Magnetic Resonance Medicine; plus nondegree certifications, internships, formal trainings,and other professional development opportunities.
“We are eager to welcome our new and returning students,” Golden said,“and for them to begin their journey of understanding human diseases,howto diagnose them,and how to determinethe best treatmentsfor individual patients.”
Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University continues advancing research while preparing future leaders across medicine,biomedical sciences,and allied health fields.
