Announcing the Selection of the Next JAMP Director, Dr. Joel H. Robles

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To Our Partners in the Pre-Health Community:
 
I am happy to announce that Dr. Joel Robles has been selected as the next Director of the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) within the Texas Health Education Service. Joel succeeds Mr. Paul Hermesmeyer, who is retiring in January after 20 years at JAMP. Joel’s selection to the role follows a rigorous search process under the direction of a search committee representing the JAMP Council, government relations, and other internal and external stakeholders. I’d like to thank the search committee for their excellent work and the time they devoted towards this process.
 
As the next Director of JAMP, Joel will lead and collaborate with the JAMP community in crafting a strategy for expanding innovative outreach and recruitment initiatives, building retention strategies, and setting organizational strategic planning to ensure program success and compliance through a robust program assessment model. 
 
Joel has worked as both the program coordinator and associate director of JAMP. In these roles, he educated applicants on the admissions processes for medical school and JAMP, implemented data-driven program participant success prediction models, fostered outreach to JAMP alumni, and was instrumental in the adoption of internal structures for tracking JAMP administrative processes. Additionally, Joel has been heavily involved in research and development as part of JAMP’s improvement program assessment models to identify opportunities to increase program persistence and has consulted in developing business strategy for the Texas Health Education Service.
 
Before joining JAMP in 2016, Joel served in various roles in higher education over a decade, including directing student success initiatives, program management, academic advisement, and student affairs. Joel holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Project Management. He recently completed the Advanced Data Analytics & Visualization certificate program from McCombs School of Business at UT Austin. 
 
This is an exciting time for JAMP in meeting its important mission for the state of Texas — our community has significant opportunities to address barriers faced by economically disadvantaged students in their pathway towards becoming physicians. We are all excited to have Joel’s leadership and vision for the program as we work together to better serve the JAMP community, support JAMP Faculty Directors and participating institutions, encourage program persistence for current students, and drive interest in the program among prospective students. 

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Joel Robles as the new JAMP Director!
 

Dr. Matthew Meeks
TXHES Executive Director

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Inside Health Education

• Topics: JAMP
• Authors: JAMP Admin
• Date:  January 6, 2022