For aspiring physicians, the path to medical school can seem uncertain without access to mentors, clinical experiences and guidance. At the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, two summer pipeline programs are helping students gain the confidence, knowledge and support they need to pursue careers in medicine.
The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) and Shadowing Opportunity and Application
Resource (SOAR) Program provide undergraduate students with opportunities to explore
medicine firsthand while building relationships with faculty, physicians and peers
who share their passion for serving others.
"Both programs have similar missions," said Ashley Schwartz, director of Outreach & Student Pathways. "They target students who have not had the opportunity for guidance, mentorship and resources to go to medical school. The purpose is to provide that for them and also allow them to connect with students, faculty and staff at a medical school so they can have support as they continue their journey."
JAMP is a Texas state-sponsored pathway program that provides students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with a structured route to medical school. Participants attend colleges and universities across Texas before spending four weeks at the Fertitta College of Medicine, where they strengthen their academic foundation, learn about medical education and gain exposure to clinical medicine.
SOAR is a four-week College of Medicine program that provides undergraduate students
interested in medicine with clinical shadowing opportunities and guidance through
the medical school application process. Participants shadow physicians in a variety
of clinical settings, including the UH Health Family Care Center and The Harris Center
for Mental Health and IDD, while learning what a career in medicine truly entails.
Schwartz said one of the greatest surprises has been watching students form lasting connections with one another.
"What has shown to be the most meaningful outcome that was not totally expected is the connections they make with each other," Schwartz said. "For a lot of them, this is the first time meeting students who have the same aspirations and goals but also similar backgrounds."
For students in JAMP, many of whom travel from universities across Texas, those friendships often become an important source of encouragement and accountability throughout their educational journeys. Schwartz said SOAR participants experience something similar, often meeting students from their own universities for the first time despite having similar interests in medicine.
"This is a nice way for them to meet fellow students with similar goals at their university that they can maintain these connections with," Schwartz said.
For Fernanda Rios, a JAMP participant, the experience provided something she had long searched for: a roadmap to becoming a physician.
"As a first-generation Latina growing up on the border between Juarez and El Paso, I was taught about 'dreaming big' and 'breaking barriers,'" Rios said. "However, I was never exactly told how I was supposed to achieve such dreams and overcome such barriers, especially within the field of medicine."
When she learned about JAMP, she saw it as the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"The hardworking individuals who surrounded me, the love for my roots and the desire to make an impact in the mental and physical well-being of my community are what inspired me to participate in the JAMP program," Rios said. "Because of this program I have learned that I can do hard things, I belong at the table and that the impact of my hard work goes beyond my own dreams, but serves as a foundation for all those who will come after me."
The experience also reshaped her understanding of what it means to become a physician.
"JAMP has solidified my 'why' in medicine and made me even more excited about what is to come in the future," Rios said. "This program has exposed me to the rigor and sacrifices of medical school. It has presented the reality of choosing a career in healthcare as well as the human nature of the art of medicine."
She said the program reinforced that meaningful change begins one patient at a time.
"Today I know that my path in medicine is not about changing the entire world, but making an impact in my world by being part of the 'everyday' conversations with patients," Rios said. "The idea of healing through science and humanity was solidified thanks to the impulse and resources provided by JAMP."
For Philip Ugochukwu, a SOAR participant from Prairie View A&M University, the program offered an opportunity to confirm that medicine was the right career path while providing a clearer understanding of what it takes to become a physician.
"I was inspired to join the SOAR program because I wanted an opportunity to verify my conviction in becoming a doctor," Ugochukwu said. "The SOAR program was perfect because it was a reminder of all the things I love about medicine: collaboration, patient interaction and changing lives."
Beyond shadowing physicians, Ugochukwu said the program equipped him with practical knowledge about preparing for medical school.
"The program gave me an opportunity to see what it would be like to become a doctor while also equipping us with the knowledge of what it takes to get there," he said. "I believe it was the perfect amount of inspiration and realistic expectations. Because of this, I feel more prepared to take my MCAT to truly kick off my medical school journey."
Ugochukwu said he would encourage any student considering the program to apply.
"I believe they absolutely should," he said. "I have heard amazing things from students who are in JAMP, but I can say with certainty that the SOAR program is perfect for aspiring physicians because you will really get a taste of what it takes to become a doctor."
By providing mentorship, clinical exposure, financial support and a community of peers, JAMP and SOAR continue to expand access to medical education while preparing the next generation of physicians. For many students, the programs offer more than a glimpse into medicine. They provide the confidence to pursue a dream that once felt out of reach and the support to make it a reality.