The new Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program, which launched Fall 2016, is what brought Bhupal Bhetwal, Ph.D., to Marian University’s campus. Bhetwal is an instructor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics and is passionate about creating an environment where his students feel encouraged and have the confidence to succeed.

From the start, Bhetwal was ready to take on the challenge and be part of the development of the new master’s program. Bhetwal explained that many of the students enrolled in the two-year program plan on attending medical school.

Q&A with Dr. Bhetwal

Q: What’s it been like to be part of the new Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program?

A: Every day is exciting. As an instructor, you want to keep your student population in your mind and try to read what they are wanting to do and why they chose this program. I always try to tailor my lectures according to their goals and interests. The students are excited, and we are so thankful.

Q: Have you always been interested in science?

A: None of my family members and none of my peers that I grew up with were in science. I’m the first university graduate in many generations of my family. I feel proud in that way because I had to navigate, explore, and discover everything on the way. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was one of the best marble players in the town where I grew up. This was not well liked by our parents because we would spend many hours a day playing marbles, sometimes skipping school. I had to struggle quite a bit. There were a lot of chores I had to take care of on top of school and doing well.

Right towards the end of high school, I had a very good mentorship from one of the math teachers. That opened up my world. He was a math teacher, but he got me interested in science, English, and all of the areas where I was weak. These were the fields I was not good at. I used to fail, and now I’m leading the class. That meant I had the potential, and I liked it. Why not follow this route?

Q: Outside of work, what do you like to do?

A: I have two wonderful kids. I’m blessed with two sons, and one is five and a half years old and the other is two and a half. I have a beautiful wife, and we hang out with the kids.