The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) is dedicated to improving student outcomes and facilitating access to medical school for aspiring physicians across Texas. Here are the latest updates and what they mean for the program and the scholars we serve.
Welcoming new members to the JAMP Council brings fresh perspectives that will benefit our scholars. Dr. Mike Kennedy joins from the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), with Dr. Nekesha Oliphant as the TCOM Alternate member. Their expertise will help guide JAMP's mission of providing opportunities to future medical professionals.
Congratulations to Dr. Cynthia Perry from Texas Tech Health Science Center El Paso and Dr. Jesus Vallejo from Baylor College of Medicine, who were appointed as JAMP Council Chair and Chair-Elect, respectively, on July 30, 2024.
In response to the needs of our scholars, the JAMP Council has extended the MCAT testing period through September 5, 2024. This extension, available to those who submit an alternate MCAT Timeline appeal by August 7, 2024, provides additional time for preparation, ensuring scholars can perform their best.
To accommodate those affected by Hurricane Beryl, the TMDSAS Secondary Application deadline for JAMP Scholars currently applying to medical school has been extended from August 1 to August 15. This extension allows impacted scholars to complete their applications without added pressure due to impacts caused by the storm.
The EY23 cohort has shown remarkable improvement in their MCAT performance in year-to-year comparisons. EY23 has 11 more scholars (+9%) meeting the required MCAT score on the first attempt, while there were also 8 fewer who did not meet the score threshold. This success underscores the selection of highly motivated scholars and the impact of enhanced communications to maximize the benefit from program initiatives. Final data will be available following the October Council Meeting.
By focusing communications on what scholars need to succeed and providing robust support through resources like MCAT Prep Services, we have laid the groundwork for a bright future for these aspiring medical professionals. This approach has empowered our scholars to achieve better outcomes, reinforcing JAMP's commitment to their academic excellence.
From August 12-16, JAMP Administration will host Regional JFD Meetings at various locations:
These meetings will unite JAMP administration and faculty directors from our 68 undergraduate
partner institutions. By sharing innovative strategies, JAMP aims to enhance recruitment,
outreach, persistence, and retention efforts, ultimately supporting our scholars and
addressing the physician shortage in Texas.
In the upcoming JAMP Council Meeting in October, we will submit the final candidates from JAMP's EY 2023 cohort to move into the match process, which will result in their acceptance to medical school. The December Council Meeting will focus on selecting applicants for EY25 interviews, marking another milestone in the program's mission to identify and support aspiring medical professionals from across Texas.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the JAMP mission. Together, we strive to foster well-prepared and supported future generation of physicians, ensuring that our scholars have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
About the author: The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) is a special program created by the Texas Legislature to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged Texas resident students pursuing a medical education.
Through its partnership with OnlineMedEd, JAMP is not only strengthening its existing support system to help students gain admission to medical school but is also ensuring their success during the first two years of medical education.
JAMP's Summer 2024 update highlights the transformative impact of enhanced support and resources, empowering scholars to achieve unprecedented success.
TXHES leverages institutional feedback to forge national partnerships, enhancing resources and opportunities for pre-health students, ensuring they receive cutting-edge education and support in pursuing health professions.
