Nakia Sims, left, and Dy'Netria Collins, right, were accepted into the university’s Joint Admission Medical Program, a state-funded pathway that promises admission to a Texas public medical school for students who complete the program and meet MCAT requirements.

Two biology majors from Texas A&M University-Victoria have been accepted into the university’s Joint Admission Medical Program, a state-funded pathway that promises admission to a Texas public medical school for students who complete the program and meet MCAT requirements.

Dy’Netria Collins of Houston and Nakia Sims of Austin are among only 100 incoming JAMP candidates statewide this year, making their selection the most A&M-Victoria has ever had in one year alone, said Michael Wiblishauser, associate professor and director of the program. In the nine years that he has overseen the program; he has only seen two other students who have been admitted into the program in that time until now.

Michael Wiblishauser

“I believe Dy’Netria and Nakia have what it takes to get through the program,” Wiblishauser said. “There is potential in them, and I see that potential.”

Selected students who are admitted into the program enter a two-year intensive curriculum focused on preparing for the MCAT and completing medical school prerequisites, Wiblishauser said.

For students, acceptance into JAMP is both an opportunity and a responsibility. The statewide program guarantees placement at a Texas public medical school for students who successfully complete the two-year regimen and achieve the program’s required MCAT benchmarks. The program is not merely an academic prep course, but a structured support system intended to level the playing field for students who face socioeconomic barriers to medical education, he said.

Students who are looking into applying for the program can reach out directly to Wiblishauser at wiblishauserm@tamuv.edu at the end of their freshman year or the beginning of their sophomore year.

Before applying, students should already be on a clear pre-medical track and either have completed or be actively planning to complete key medical school prerequisite courses, including Biology for Science Majors I and II with labs, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physics.

When Dy’Netria Collins opened the email that would change the course of her life, she was doing routine classwork after calling her mother to wish her a happy birthday.

Dy'Netria Collins

“I was so elated,” Collins said. “I had just gotten off the phone with her, and I checked my email and it was sitting there. I took screenshots and sent it to every group chat I was in.”

Growing up in a large family, Collins was always aware of the financial strain that could come with pursuing an advanced degree. She also had no relatives or close family friends working as physicians, which left her without a clear roadmap into the profession, she said.

Collins’ decision to attend A&M-Victoria stems from a desire for connection and support, she said. Coming from a big-city environment, she chose the smaller campus in Victoria so she wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. At A&M-Victoria, she has been able to build close relationships with professors and classmates, regularly seeing familiar faces and finding it easier to seek help, share experiences and stay grounded in her academic journey.

Collins’ interest in medicine emerged early. As a child, she was amused that her initials spell “D.O.C.,” and the idea of “Doctor Collins” started as just a playful notion. But it took on a much deeper meaning in the eighth grade when her father was diagnosed with cancer.

“Going to his appointments and seeing his surgeries and seeing the way that his doctors cared for him and the way they guided us as well through the process made me realize that’s the most meaningful way I could spend my life,” Collins said.

Initially drawn to oncology because of her father’s experience, she has become increasingly interested in OB-GYN and women’s health. Coursework and research have made her more aware of inequalities women face and the relative lack of attention given to women’s health issues, she said.

“I know the road ahead is a hard one, but you work hard for the things that mean a lot to you,” Collins said. “When I was young, my dream felt very out of reach, but now seeing that it’s possible, it’s validating, it’s empowering and I am excited for my future.”

When Nakia Sims received her acceptance email in early March, her first instinct was to share the news with the person who has been at the center of her support system.

Nakia Sims

“I called my mom first, and she started crying,” Sims said. “It was a very emotional moment.”

Sims didn’t arrive at A&M-Victoria with a perfectly mapped out plan. In fact, choosing a university in the first place was a struggle. Her decision shifted when her aunt stepped in to tell her about A&M-Victoria, she said. Each time she researched the university, she discovered new reasons it might be the right fit

For Sims, medicine isn’t a recent interest, it’s a calling that began in childhood, shaped by personal loss and unanswered questions, but that also planted in her a deep sense of purpose.

“When I was seven, I had people in my family who had cerebral palsy or passed away unexpectedly,” Sims said. “And at that age, you didn’t really understand what was going on, but you wanted to help.”

For Sims, the motivation has never been about the title of “doctor” alone, but about the responsibility and compassion that should come with it, she said. Today, she is still narrowing down what kind of doctor she wants to be. She is drawn to highly hands-on specialties, considering both anesthesiology and surgery, two demanding fields that appeal to her because of their direct and immediate impact on patient outcomes, she said.

She first encountered the JAMP program during her freshman orientation. At the time, she was seeking ways to gain more exposure to the sciences and to better understand how to build a strong foundation for medical school, she said.

“The JAMP program opened the door for me to get into the scientific mindset,” Sims said.

As she looks beyond her undergraduate years, Sims has set her sights on McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston as her dream destination. She has already had some contact with the school and was impressed by what it offers students.

With two years left at A&M-Victoria, Sims is thinking not only about what the JAMP program can do for her, but also how she can use her position to help others. She hopes to become an informal ambassador for the program on campus, especially for students who may not yet know it exists or realize they are eligible.

At the same time, she is focused on her own growth. She sees the next two years as a period to continually seek out experiences that will broaden her skills, sharpen her readiness for medical school and prepare her for the responsibilities of caring for patients.

“I am trying to become more professional in a sense, like changing my mindset about how I do certain things and seeking out opportunities at all times,” Sims said. “I am always open to gaining more experience.”