JAMP’s Summer Internship Curriculum Innovations Advance Pre-Medical Preparation

This summer, the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) successfully launched three new curriculum modules across 13 Texas medical schools: Academic and Professional Writing for Future Medical School Applicants, Scholarly Pathways to Advancing Research Knowledge (SPARK), and Foundations of Financial Wellness. These enhancements, implemented through the 2025 JAMP Summer Internship Program, reflect JAMP’s commitment to preparing scholars for medical school and beyond.

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Focused Scholar Support

By embedding these modules into the existing summer internship structure, JAMP provided all participants with a unified, equity-centered experience tailored to their academic and professional goals. Developed by the JAMP Council and JAMP Administration working together as a community effort in response to scholar feedback, the modules address critical skills in writing, research, and financial literacy—key foundations for medical student success.

TXHES Director Matthew Meeks alongside JAMP Scholars

Inside the Modules: Writing, Research, and Financial Wellness

Academic and Professional Writing for Future Medical School Applicants: Scholars gained hands-on experience writing personal statements, refining secondary application essays, and strengthening professional communication.

"I’ve always struggled with putting my thoughts on paper. The writing course helped me structure my ideas and gave me confidence that I can write strong essays for my medical school applications." – JAMP Scholar, Summer I

SPARK Research Engagement: The SPARK curriculum introduced scholars to research design, data analysis, literature review, and communicating findings—all grounded in Texas health disparity topics.

“SPARK made research feel less intimidating. I never thought I’d enjoy analyzing health disparities, but now I see how I can be part of the solution.” – JAMP Scholar, Summer II

Foundations of Financial Wellness: In collaboration with The Business of Financial Wellness, JAMP delivered targeted sessions on budgeting, debt management, and financial planning for aspiring physicians.

"The financial wellness course helped me realize how much I didn’t know about debt and budgeting. I’m more confident now about making smart financial choices in med school." – JAMP Scholar, Summer II

Statewide Collaboration and Measurable Impact

To measure impact, JAMP introduced a formal evaluation framework among the 300 scholars involved. (This initiative was made possible through the collaboration of JAMP Council Members, Medical School Coordinators, and JAMP Faculty Directors.) Key findings include:

Academic & Professional Writing:

• 85% of scholars reported gaining new writing skills.
• 66% planned to apply pre-writing strategies in the future.
• Nearly 80% began the course seeking help with essay writing, and scholars reported greater confidence in structuring essays as well as addressing writing prompts for medical school applications.

SPARK Research:

• Scholars showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) across all six research skill domains, with effect sizes ranging between 0.73 to 0.88, indicating strong gains.
• Confidence in formulating research questions and interpreting peer-reviewed literature rose significantly by the end of the program.
• Confidence in advocating for underserved communities through research also increased significantly.

Financial Wellness:

• Understanding of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program jumped from 9% to nearly 45%.
• Comprehension of credit-building strategies increased from 25% to nearly 50%.
• Over 85% found the content relevant, and 67% believed it should be required for all JAMP participants.

Together, these results highlight how the enhanced curriculum supports scholars not only in their medical education but also in their personal and professional development.

"This summer didn’t just teach me how to write or research — it helped me see myself as a future physician who is capable, informed, and ready to serve. JAMP is preparing us for more than medical school. It’s preparing us to lead." – JAMP Scholar, Summer II

JAMP Director Dr. Nina Gonzalez alongside JAMP Scholars

Continuing the Momentum

JAMP will continue refining and expanding these modules based on outcomes and institutional feedback. The goal remains clear: to prepare scholars to become physicians who are well-equipped to serve Texas communities. 

“JAMP is redefining how we prepare future physicians by addressing both the academic and human sides of becoming a doctor," affirmed Dr. Nina Gonzalez, Director of JAMP. "We’re not just focused on test scores—we’re building confident, capable leaders equipped to serve Texas communities with purpose and resilience. This curriculum reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of scholar support, both professionally and personally.”

JAMP extends its gratitude to the Texas Legislature, JAMP Council, statewide partners, and curriculum developers who made these innovations possible.

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Inside Health Education

• Topics: JAMP
• Authors: JAMP Admin
• Date:  August 6, 2025