Each year since its inception, the MSL program has attracted students interested in healthcare and medicine; the program has enrolled doctors and nurses and other healthcare professionals, and also students at the start of their medical careers – over 20 MSL graduates have gone on to medical school after finishing the MSL.

Tom Fusillo graduated from the MSL in 2019; he is currently pursuing a dual Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master of Health Care Administration at Des Moines University. He recently sat down with Nicole Schneider, MSL Senior Program Coordinator, to discuss how the MSL degree prepared him for success in medical school. Check out the interview below!

NS: What were your favorite classes in the MSL program and why?

TF: There were so many classes I enjoyed.  One of the best features of the MSL program is that there’s a ton of room to customize your coursework. Since I knew I wanted to become a physician, I took most of the healthcare-related courses. A few of my favorites were Federal and State Healthcare Law & Regulation, Regulatory Strategy & Communication; Regulation: Drugs, Devices, and Biologics; and Quantitative Reasoning in the Law. What’s awesome about the MSL is that even the required courses were fantastic. Courses like IP Fundamentals, Business Formation & Structure, and Contract Law & Design all opened my eyes to new fields.  Those required courses will definitely help me going forward, whether I am starting my own medical practice or just dealing with my personal finances.

NS: What classes have had the biggest impact on your career?

TS: There have been a lot of classes that have helped me during my medical education so far. One was the Federal Healthcare Law & Regulation course, taught by Professor Sanders. I have always been interested in vaccine awareness and advocacy, and this course gave me a completely new perspective on the issue of compulsory vaccination, because it centered on legal and regulatory issues.  I never realized where vaccination law came from, and that the source of it can be traced back to the Constitution. The perspective I gained motivated me to publish a research abstract and poster presentation titled “The Ethical and Legal Cases for Compulsory Vaccination” at the 2020 DMU Research Symposium.

NS: What knowledge did you gain from the MSL program that you use regularly in your day-to-day?

TS: The MSL has given me a huge leg up in medical school, as I came in with knowledge of things like medical billing, insurance law, drug development, and other regulatory areas. This has become even more useful and pertinent during the COVID era. One specific class that I apply every week is Regulation: Drugs, Devices, and Biologics.  Not only was the class relevant to my current coursework, but it helped me on the research side as well. I am part of a research group at school; my understanding of the clinical trial system, how grants are given, and state and federal healthcare laws has helped my group be more efficient when we plan our experiments.

NS: In the long-term, what goals do you hope to achieve?

TS: One of the main reasons I chose to attend the MSL program in the first place was that I knew I wanted to eventually enter the government sector as a physician. Agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services are fascinating to me; they are where law and medicine intersect. I knew I wanted to be a physician, but also having a legal education under my belt will continue to give me a leg up on the competition.

Overall, the MSL was a phenomenal experience – just two years later, it has already paid off. I loved living in Chicago, enjoyed all the courses, and appreciated all the networking experiences the program offered. Plus, I made some great and lifelong friends along the way. Side note: a few months ago, I had a layover in Chicago and my connecting flight got canceled. Not to worry, my MSL classmate Kyle Pikula immediately offered me a place to stay.  These connections really are special and will last a lifetime!