How has JAMP helped you strive to achieve your goal of becoming a doctor?

The challenges I’ve faced growing up constantly served as discouraging barriers to my dream of pursuing a medical education. As a socioeconomically disadvantaged student, my grade school life was preoccupied with concern over my family’s well-being and the obligations I had which contributed to the stability of our household. I used my seemingly fantastical dream of becoming a physician as an escape from my stressful life. I remember riding the bus home from school, staring out the window and thinking about what it would be like to have the power to save lives and help the millions of people who desperately need quality health care. For many years, this idea began and ended on the school bus. That is until I learned about JAMP.

JAMP is a program that caters specifically to students like myself and aims to diversify the backgrounds of the physician population. Simply learning about the mission of JAMP gave me the hope that what I dreamed was not only possible but quite necessary in order create physicians who are advocates for local marginalized populations.

JAMP turned my dream into a reality by showing there is a place in medicine for students like myself, students who are forced to grow up with the dichotomy between serious personal challenges and exceptional academic prospect. Beyond providing me with these more philosophical realizations, JAMP has helped immensely by providing financial support, top-notch exam preparation, and amazing internship/preceptorship opportunities. These unique and formative experiences have heightened my desire and determination to become a great physician. I wouldn’t be the person I am today, and I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for JAMP.

What advice would you like to offer current or future JAMP students?

The biggest piece of advice I can offer is take advantage of all the resources that JAMP provides you with. Not only will you be provided with excellent MCAT preparation and summer internships, but you also have a number of exceptionally knowledgeable people from JAMP who are there to guide and support you through your journey. You will have the opportunity to make lasting friendships with people who have similar backgrounds and goals, which makes the community of JAMP students so unique and connected.

Secondly, I advise that you consciously make the time for self-care. We are all studious and over-achieving students, and its easy to lose sight of the things that truly relax us and allow us to be our best, most productive selves. Schedule in time to do things that take your mind off school. It may not seem like it, but self-care is the most essential way to ensure your success.

Lastly, never lose sight of where you came from and the challenges you’ve had to overcome. It is easy to get lost in the world of medicine as you advance through your academic career but realize that your past contributes immensely to the person you are today. Remember the lessons you have learned, reflect on the obstacles that were placed before you, appreciate the work you put in to obliterate the barriers to your success and use this in your practice of medicine. You have the unique opportunity to serve and understand the backgrounds of the majority of patient populations. Never forget where you came from.

What aspect of JAMP has been most beneficial to you?

The most practically beneficial aspect of JAMP was the amazing, all-encompassing MCAT preparation I received. I was always the type of person who was very anxious about standardized testing, but after using all the resources JAMP offered, I felt comfortable and confident enough to take on the MCAT!

The most personally beneficial aspect of JAMP for me was the summer medical internships. Through this, I had the opportunity to network with medical school faculty and shadow multiple physicians. I also had two whole months to experience what life is like as a medical student, which I believe will give me a huge advantage in medical school.