Program Introduction/Background
Established in 2022, The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) School of Medicine is East Texas’s only institution for medical education. Created to train physicians with a geographic tie to East Texas, the region will be better equipped to combat its existing health disparities. To begin shaping the future of medicine in East Texas, the school unveiled its Early Assurance Pathway (EAP) in the spring of 2023, making it the first pathway effort for the SOM. This multi-year program includes mentoring, developmental workshops, clinical experiences, simulation labs, research, volunteer opportunities, MCAT prep, speakers, and panel discussions. These asset bundles1 are intentionally curated to attract, cultivate, and retain local talent.

Relevance to ASPBP
The UT Tyler School of Medicine Early Assurance  Pathway creates an environment for student’s representative of East Texas to learn about a career in medicine while gaining skills to become a competitive medical school applicant. Students in the East Texas region have had limited exposure to careers in medicine due to socioeconomic, educational, and psychosocial barriers1 . The EAP is the initial effort of the SOM to eliminate such barriers by creating immersive experiences and providing valuable resources for students to be successful in their pursuit of attending medical school.

Target Population
The EAP program is open to students attending our eight collaborating colleges and universities which include: UT Tyler main academic campus, Texas College, Jarvis Christian University, LeTourneau University, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Stephen F. Austin State University, Wiley University, and East Texas Baptist University. Participants must have successfully completed 60 undergraduate semester hours and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics (BCPM).

Our first cohort consisted of forty students where 42% self-identified as non-white/non-Caucasian and 45% indicated their permanent address is recognized by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) as a Primary Care Shortage Area (PCSA) or Medically Underserved Area (MUA). Of the cohort, 32% also self-reported they, or someone in their family, received free or reduced lunch while in K-12.

Lessons Learned
The EAP program launched mid-academic year which did not allow for a full year of initial programming for the first cohort; however, there were five (5) EAP students who applied to our SOM, where three (3) were accepted, and two (2) matriculated. Based on participant responses to a mid-point survey, we will include more research and programming opportunities that bring the whole cohort together for face-to-face interactions. We also learned a favorite part of the program was the MCAT preparation course but will alter this component to start during the summer before the academic year commences, allowing for more in-depth study time.

Most of the programming takes place in-person, but we have also begun implementing virtual options to accommodate the array of schedules and campus locations. The future will also include a digital classroom for students to utilize when and if they are unable to join a live activity.