Medical school, MCAT preparations, interview tips, philanthropy, and team building are integral components of the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. The program also emphasizes self-discovery for undergraduate students.
Funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, JAMP is a collaborative effort involving 14 medical schools in Texas. It offers financial aid, scholarships, summer stipends, internships, clinical experiences, comprehensive MCAT preparation, and dedicated mentoring to economically disadvantaged but highly qualified Texas students aspiring to become physicians.
Rachel Jantea, MD, a current council member for JAMP at McGovern Medical School and a former JAMP student from nearly 20 years ago, reflected on her experience: “I walked away feeling like I had a team or a family of support that encouraged me and made it possible for me,” she said. “I want them to know they deserve to be here.” Upon joining the faculty at McGovern Medical School, she immediately sought out those coordinating the JAMP program. “JAMP is the reason I am here today,” Jantea stated. “I know that every single one of those students’ lives is impacted the same way.”
Yolanda Bell, MEd, director of academic advising and JAMP coordinator at McGovern Medical School, has spent seven years refining the JAMP summer internship curriculum. She focuses on inspiring students by understanding their expectations from the program. Given that students enter JAMP after taking the MCAT for the first time, Bell aims to keep them motivated rather than discouraged. “I wanted to take it out of just a lecture and veer towards a human experience,” Bell explained about her approach to structuring the curriculum. “It really connects the dots of why they are taking this path.”
During their time in the program, students engage in philanthropy projects such as visiting Nora’s Home—a facility providing affordable accommodation for organ transplant patients and their families within the Texas Medical Center. This year’s participants prepared a pasta dinner for residents there. Additional activities like attending an Astros game and participating in yoga classes contribute to creating a well-rounded experience.
“We want to show them how to maintain their mental health through medical school and through life,” said Erin Davis, JAMP support assistant at McGovern Medical School. “We strive to build a foundation of self-awareness and self-confidence but also community building.”
Julie Trinh, a senior at Rice University enrolled in the JAMP program, described her experience as enlightening: “In the short weeks I’ve been here, I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do,” she remarked. “My mentors have shown me how McGovern Medical School wants a well-rounded community of medical students, and it has helped me become a better person.”
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