UMMC P.R.O.M.I.S.E. Program opens doors for future physicians from across Mississippi

For many students, the journey to medical school can be long, difficult and at times exhausting or even discouraging. Many hopeful students fall short of meeting the requirements, while others find the path more manageable through consistent guidance and support along the way. 

Thirty-two students from 11 different colleges and universities are now receiving that guidance with hopes of one day entering the health care profession at the University of Mississippi Medical Center through the School of Medicine P.R.O.M.I.S.E. Program. 

P.R.O.M.I.S.E. stands for Promoting Recruitment Opportunities in Medicine with Individual Study Experiences. This year, the program welcomed its largest cohort since its inception. 

The program, which originated in 2020, is an early assurance program designed for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. Dr. Demondes Haynes, associate dean for School of Medicine Admissions, said some of the biggest barriers include students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds or households with lower income levels. Additional challenges include students from underperforming school districts, as designated by the Mississippi Department of Education, as well as first-generation college students. 

“I am a first-generation student, so I really empathize and relate to those students because I understand that difficulty,” Haynes said. “Some people wonder whether this program is giving students an advantage. No, we are just trying to bring them up to a level playing ground where people who are not included in one of these disadvantages already have.” 

The goal of the program is to introduce students to careers in medicine, expose them to active professionals in the field and guide them through the processes and preparation required to apply to and attend medical school. This includes preparation for the Medical College Admission Test, for which students receive free study materials valued at up to $400. 

“The P.R.O.M.I.S.E. Program is vital because it extends beyond just preparing students for medical school,” said Dr. Dan Coleman, medical outreach director. “We provide mentorship, resources and opportunities that turn the dream of becoming a doctor into reality. The program not only inspires students to believe in their potential but also offers the tools, access and support necessary for success.” 

Students who complete the two-year program and meet the metrics established by the admissions executive committee for the School of Medicine will be eligible for admission. Twins Nyla and Nyja Wilson are hoping to be among those admitted from the cohort. The two University of Mississippi students are entering the program after completing the Insight Program. 

The Insight Program is a long-term initiative by the School of Medicine designed to support students from the very beginning of their college careers through their potential entry into health care professions. Its core mission is to “play the long game” by building strong academic, personal and professional foundations for students who may go on to become physicians or other health care professionals. 

For Nyla and Nyja, becoming compassionate health care professionals is something that has been instilled in them by their parents. The twins said they witnessed the compassionate side of health care through their mother, Skyla Wilson, a supervising neurophysiologist, who provided care to patients before the patients would undergo brain surgery. 

“At my dad’s birthday party, a lady had an issue,” said Nyla Wilson. “She came to UMMC to have surgery, and she said one of the people she remembered the most was my mom before she went under anesthesia. She was panicking and my mom was there to calm her down. My mom wasn’t really performing anything on the woman, but just seeing her be in the room and being calm and compassionate allowed me to see how you can encourage others to get through the medical issues that they face.” 

The compassion and sacrifices shown by parents can shape a student’s purpose, especially for first-generation college student Victor Diaz-Ornelas from Yazoo City, who said his mother and father sacrificed greatly for him and his younger sister to come to the United States from Mexico in 2012. Diaz-Ornelas said compassion was instilled in him through his parents, whose sacrifices continue to fuel his ambition to serve others and make them proud. 

“Them taking the risk of leaving their own country and coming over and giving me what they didn’t have, I feel like I don’t owe it to them, but in the back of my mind, that is how it is,” said Diaz-Ornelas. “I want to do it for them and let them know that their work is not in vain.” 

During the weeklong orientation for the program, students will network with UMMC leaders and health care professionals and participate in several classroom exercises designed to prepare them for the rigors of medical school and careers in medicine. 

For students like the Wilson twins and Diaz-Ornelas, the program represents more than an opportunity to strengthen an application. It is a chance to build on the values that first inspired them to pursue medicine — compassion, service and a desire to improve the lives of others. 

“Compassionate care is such a huge part of medicine, and we want to talk with them about compassion in the program,” Haynes said. “Hopefully they bring some of that with them, but hopefully we can teach them how to provide compassionate care. We teach our medical students that, but as part of P.R.O.M.I.S.E., one of the ways we are instilling that is having them go to volunteer services.” 

Students within the School of Medicine are required to have a minimum of 35 hours of U.S.-based shadowing, as well as demonstrate how they are supporting the community through volunteer efforts. 

As the largest cohort in the program's history begins its journey, School of Medicine leaders hope P.R.O.M.I.S.E. will continue to open doors for students who may not have otherwise seen a pathway to medical school. For these future physicians, the experience offers not only guidance and resources, but also the confidence to envision themselves one day caring for patients across Mississippi and beyond. 

Program leaders said there is currently no cap for the program. Funding is provided through the IMPACT the Race grant, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as the School of Medicine admissions budget.