Student sees summer medical program as part of God’s plan for his life_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Student sees summer medical program
as part of God's plan for his life

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

PLAINVIEW–When Martin Ortega received word he had been accepted into the Joint Admissions Medical Program for the summer, he viewed it as an answered prayer.

Now he's in Houston at the Baylor College of Medicine, participating in an intense summer program designed to provide him and the 68 other participants with extra academic and practical preparation toward medical school–even though it is three more years away.

The Texas Legislature created the Joint Admissions Medical Program in 2002 to provide support for economically disadvantaged students pursuing medical careers.

Summer programs are held after each academic year. Students in the program are guaranteed admission into one of Texas' medical schools and substantial scholarships toward the expensive training.

Ortega, who just completed his freshman year at Wayland Baptist University, saw the program as an affirmation from God.

Ortega came to Wayland from Midland, where his father is pastor of Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel.

Ortega initially enrolled to pursue a career in physical therapy, mostly because he knew the cost of medical school would be prohibitive.

But the dream of being a physician lingered in his mind.

When his academic adviser, Adam Reinhart, learned Wayland would have a chance to nominate students for the Joint Admissions Medical Program, he immediately thought of Ortega.

Private schools in Texas are allowed to submit nominations for the program on a rotation basis, and only 10 percent of the places are reserved for private-school freshmen.

“I think this program is tailor-made for people like Martin,” said Reinhart, assistant professor of biological and earth sciences at Wayland.

“You have to be Pell Grant eligible, so it's really meant for students who may not be able to pay for medical school, even if they got accepted.”

When Ortega learned he'd been chosen for the program, he was amazed.

“I feel very blessed to be chosen, but I don't feel like it's a coincidence,” Ortega said.

“I really felt like (Wayland) was where God wanted me to be, and I can't think of anything more affirming than to be accepted into this program.”

Ortega said the narrow window of opportunity for the honor makes it even more special.

Application for the Joint Admissions Medical Program has to be made during the freshman year, and had he come to Wayland a year later or earlier, it would not have been the school's chosen year to nominate. Ortega saw the timing as providential.

“This program gives me a purpose,” he said.

“I realize that all the honor and glory goes to God for this, and it makes me excited because I can see my purpose laid out before my eyes. I know God wants me to use this experience for his glory.”

Ortega is interested in focusing his medical career toward family and community medicine or pediatrics.

For now, though, Ortega says his goals are making it through the intense nine-hour class days this summer, keeping his grade point average high and staying on track with his academic plans.