The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
03/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2026 10:12
UTMB extends Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine program
UTMB extends Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine program
March 19, 2026 •11:07 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public and Population Health has launched a new track of the Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine program, expanding access to one of the nation's most specialized areas of health science education and preparing a broader workforce to support the rapidly growing aviation and commercial space industries.
The 12-month, in-person graduate program is not a substitute for accredited postgraduate medical training in aerospace medicine and will not train students to practice aerospace medicine operationally. It will, however, serve as an entry point for multidisciplinary specialists in the field. It will expose health professionals and researchers to the unique medical, environmental, and operational challenges faced by people who live, work, or travel in aerospace environments - from pilots and astronauts to commercial spaceflight participants.
Historically offered only to physicians in aerospace medicine residency training, the program has been expanded to include nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, physical therapists, psychologists, and other doctoral-level specialists.
"Professionals from a variety of backgrounds, both domestic and international, have reached out to me looking for a training opportunity in aerospace medicine," said Dr. Amy J. Kreykes, program director, Aerospace Medicine Residency. "For most fields, no such training exists. We are thrilled to open a new track of our MS designed for these multidisciplinary colleagues. I look forward to having them in the classroom."
Students in the program study the physiological and environmental stresses associated with flight and space travel, including such topics as hypoxia, radiation exposure, spatial disorientation, and human performance in extreme environments. Coursework also covers epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health, as well as specialized aerospace medicine subjects, including accident investigation, flight environment hazards, aerospace toxicology, and medical operations for flight surgeons.
Participants complete a mentored capstone research project and gain practical insights into aerospace health challenges that influence safety, risk management, and mission success.
The program builds on the long-standing record of leadership in aerospace medicine education and research at UTMB. For more than three decades, UTMB has worked closely with NASA's Johnson Space Center and other partners to train physicians and scientists who support aviation safety and human spaceflight missions.
Graduates will be prepared to contribute to the evolving fields of aviation, commercial spaceflight, occupational health, and extreme-environment medicine as human exploration expands beyond Earth.
The Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine program is offered through the UTMB School of Public and Population Health and requires students to relocate to the Galveston-Houston area for the duration of the program.
Learn more information about the program and application requirements. The deadline to apply for fall 2026 is June 1.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston published this content on March 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 19, 2026 at 16:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]