Johanna Benesty presents concepts for global access to treatment by all people in
a pandemic.
How does supply and demand affect success for curtailing a global outbreak of a deadly
virus?
Benesty proposes a “design-to-cost” method of research and development of new vaccines
and medicines to treat the populations of the world. It is more logical to approach
R&D from the perspective of the weakest health systems in upper and lower income systems.
That is, begin research with the final cost in mind and then fit the research, development
and distribution issues to that final cost of the drug. In this way, all the peoples
on earth could have access to quality health care, especially in the case of a global
pandemic when it is critical to the survival of humankind to move onward together.
About the author: Debra Beck, Ph.D. is the former director of the Health Professions Programs at the University of North Texas where she served as the inaugural JAMP Faculty Director. After her retirement, she served as a consultant to TXHES where she established the Courage Sessions series to address the fast-changing landscape of admissions to professional school during the pandemic.
JAMP Scholar Mohamed Irhabi’s rise to 2025–2026 Texas State University System Student Regent shows how mentorship and service through JAMP inspire future physician-leaders in Texas.
JAMP Faculty Directors from across Texas gather in regional meetings hosted by medical schools statewide to strengthen collaboration, review program outcomes, and plan for the future of the Joint Admission Medical Program.
TMDSAS reports a historic high in applications for Entry Year 2026, marking a new record in submissions to Texas medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
