UHCL students on path to medical school through state program

April 11, 2016 | Kelsie Cleboski

For the first time, University of Houston-Clear Lake students have been accepted to Texas’ prestigious Joint Admission Medical Program.

UHCL biology sophomores Sandy Samaan and Glory Hughes received notification of their acceptance in February. UHCL became a JAMP participating institution after expanding to a four-year university in 2014, and fall 2015 marked the first time UHCL students were eligible to apply.

“The fact that we had two students accepted into the JAMP program the first year speaks well of our students and the excellent education they receive here at UHCL,” said UHCL Associate Professor of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Science Richard Puzdrowski, UHCL JAMP faculty director, noting that the program is highly competitive.

JAMP’s mission is to support academically qualified, economically disadvantaged undergraduate students who want to become physicians. Students selected by the state program have access to mentor relationships, internships, scholarship opportunities and even guaranteed admission to one of Texas’ nine public medical schools once certain academic criteria are met.

Hughes and Samaan both said their acceptance to JAMP is a major step toward achieving their professional goals.

Samaan is drawn to the challenge of medicine and the satisfaction of helping others. She’s currently interested in pediatrics or family medicine, and her main goal is to practice medicine in a field where she can treat a variety of patients.

“You want to see them get better, and you want to be part of that recovery,” she said.

Hughes said she also plans to specialize in pediatrics, a direction that comes after a lifetime of both succeeding academically and caring for younger siblings and children at her family’s church.

“Kids are just everywhere in my life,” she said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘What’s the best way I can help kids and use what I have?’ I’ve always wanted to be a pediatrician.”

Hughes said the news of her acceptance, and the knowledge that she would be able to go to medical school, filled her with emotion.

“It confirmed that I am going to be a doctor. It was a big relief,” she said.

In choosing to pursue their undergraduate degrees at UHCL, Hughes and Samaan said they appreciate the sense of community they’ve found at the university.

“When I came here, everyone was really friendly and helpful,” Hughes said. “I can actually go to my professors and they know my name – I’m not just a face in a crowd.”

Samaan said that in addition to small class sizes, a growing university also offers fulfilling leadership opportunities. She holds officer positions in a number of student organizations, including the Pre-Health and Science Association, and she is a member in the Natural Science Scholars Organization. She also serves as an orientation leader introducing new students to campus.

“Part of my decision to come here was I wanted to be part of UHCL’s growth,” she said. “There are so many chances to start organizations, to step up to leadership roles. You have the opportunity to shine.”

Both Samaan and Hughes volunteer at local hospitals and are immersing themselves in anatomy, chemistry and biology coursework as they prepare for JAMP summer internships, the next step on their journeys to medical school.

“I love the classes I’m taking now. Everything’s confirming my decision,” Hughes said. “I love this path that I’ve chosen”

Puzdrowski, who is also the chair of the UHCL Health Professions Advisory Committee in UHCL’s School of Computer Science and Engineering, said JAMP looks for students who, like Samaan and Hughes, are community- and service-oriented.

With students from UHCL now accepted into JAMP, Puzdrowski said he’s looking to expand the program’s visibility in the community and build even more resources for pre-health students.

“Being part of JAMP is a valuable asset for promoting UHCL,” he said. “I’d like us to have a strong JAMP program here with a lot of students. Senior JAMP students mentoring junior JAMP students, building a strong pipeline into the program.”

As the program at UHCL grows, Puzdrowski plans to organize more on-campus events and strengthen the community of students pursuing medical professions.

For more information on JAMP, contact Puzdrowski at 281-283-3750 or email puzdrowski@uhcl.edu.