JAMP: A Pipeline to Medical School for Economically Disadvantaged Students

Alan Podawiltz, D.O., M.S., Leila E. Torres, M.A., Joel A. Daboub, MBA, Russell Gamber, D.O., MPH

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort WorthWhat is JAMP?

The Joint Admission Medical Program was created by the 77th Texas State Legislature to provide services to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged students to apply to, enroll in, and graduate from medical school in Texas.

JAMP is a collaboration between the Texas medical schools and over sixty Texas public and private undergraduate institutions. JAMP serves as a pathway to medicine for economically disadvantaged students and supports them in overcoming barriers they may face in pursuing a successful medical education.

As a pipeline program JAMP provides mentoring and support from both the JAMP Faculty Director who may also be their pre-medical faculty advisor. Students are accepted at the beginning of their undergraduate education. Through this collaboration, JAMP has fostered proactive relationships between Texas medical schools and undergraduate science advisors in providing support to JAMP students.

In addition to mentoring, students participate in two six-week summer internship programs at two Texas medical schools during which they take upper level science courses, participate in an MCAT preparatory course, attend ethics and study skills workshops, and shadow physicians. At the conclusion of their undergraduate careers, JAMP students who have met the requirements of the program are guaranteed a seat in a Texas medical school.

Currently, there are 172 active JAMP students in Texas. Of the first accepted JAMP class in 2003, 34 students who interviewed at all eight Texas medical schools will begin their medical education in the Fall of 2006.

Several JAMP students are first generation college students and underrepresented minorities. JAMP has brought awareness to the challenges economically disadvantaged students face in seeking enrollment to medical school.

Ethnic Breakdown of Accepted JAMP Students

Caucasian30%

Asian Pacific

Islander19%

Other4%

African American

12%

Hispanic35%

Benefits of JAMP Scholarship each semester

beginning spring semester of sophomore year in college

Stipend to attend summer internship

Summer Internships at two medical schools following sophomore and junior years

Mentoring from JAMP Faculty Director and medical school JAMP Coordinator

Admission to a Texas medical school

Scholarship for medical school

Criteria for Acceptance Must enter participating

university or college by the first fall semester following high school graduation

Complete 27 semester hours during college freshman year (3 AP hours may count toward this requirement)

3.25 overall GPA, 3.0 science GPA Demonstrate non-cognitive

factors (motivation, maturity, integrity, commitment to medicine)

3 Letters of recommendation (one from JAMP Faculty Director)

SAT/ACT not below the Texas mean (2005: SAT 995, ACT 20.2)

Pell Grant eligibility or other evidence of economic disadvantaged status

Apply by September 1 of sophomore year

Criteria for Continuation

Attend home institution full-time Overall and science GPA of 3.25 Completion of degree in four

years Take MCAT no later than spring of

junior year Successfully complete medical

school summer internships

Meet with JAMP Faculty Director at least once per month

Exhibit intelligence, integrity, and personal and emotional characteristics necessary to become an effective physician

Criteria for Entrance into Medical School through JAMP Complete all prerequisite courses with at

least a “C” grade

Receive satisfactory evaluations during summer internships

Maintain minimum overall and science GPA of 3.25 and attain MCAT score of 23 (no subset below 7)

Submit completed medical school application by August 1 of senior year

Letters of evaluation: JAMP Faculty Director and Health Professions Committee or two individual letters

Participate in interviews at all eight Texas medical schools

JAMP CouncilKathleen Fallon, M.D., Chair, Associate Dean Student Affairs and Admissions Texas A&M University System Health Science CenterBernell Dalley, Ph.D., Chair-Elect, Assistant Dean of Admissions Texas Tech Health Sciences CenterAlan Podawiltz, D.O., M.S., Assistant Professor, Chair of Psychiatry University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic MedicineWallace Gleason, M.D., Assistant Dean for Admissions University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonClifford Houston, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Educational Outreach University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonDavid Jones, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Admissions University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioJames Richardson, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology & Molecular Biology University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterWilliam Thomson, Ph.D., Professor, Family & Community Medicine Baylor College of Medicine

Summer I Summer II

Physiology Biochemistry

MCAT Prep (through Kaplan Test Prep)

Embryology

Ethics/Current Issues

Ethics/Current Issues

Clinical Preceptorships

Application/Interview SkillsClinical Preceptorships

Summer Internship Components

Texas Medical Schools

Texas Public Universities

Texas Private Universities/Colleges

Participants’ Home Town