Each month, Get to Know… will feature two members of UT System Administration’s talented and diverse staff as they offer insights into their lives in and out of the office. Each new edition will be published here.

Enrique Jasso

Texas Medical Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS) Director and Texas Health Education Services (TXHES) Communications and Outreach Strategist
(TMDSAS was created by the UT System Board of Regents to serve as a central application center for all UT System medical and dental schools. It now also includes the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas and the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine.)

What are your primary job responsibilities?

I direct the application processing, digital production and communications teams. These teams are responsible for actively engaging the pre-health community in Texas and generating educational and support resources aimed at nurturing aspiring health professionals through various channels, including via the Inside Health Education newsroom.

What is your proudest work moment?

During a summer, I led a cohort of 80 Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) scholars through a six-week MCAT Intensive Program at UT Dallas. It was my responsibility to oversee the administration of the program. One evening, a student expressed doubts about their ability to meet the program requirements and wanted to leave. Drawing upon my previous experience mentoring another student in similar circumstances, I offered to connect them. Working closely with this student revealed the challenges that JAMP scholars face and highlighted the importance of mentorship within the program. Not only did this scholar overcome their difficulties, but they also achieved success alongside a record number of their peers from the cohort. Today, they are a practicing physician in an underserved area, providing guidance to others who follow this path. Having the opportunity to assist aspiring health professionals and improve the support systems in place is a tremendous privilege that fills me with gratitude for being part of the UT System. 

What is a book or movie that has inspired you – and why?

Dr. Brené Brown's Dare to Lead was particularly impactful with her ideals of striving for courageous leadership through vulnerability, which is particularly relevant with the work I perform. By embracing imperfections and fostering trust, connection and authenticity, we can be more effective in taking risks, learning from failures and create meaningful change in the lives of students and aspiring pre-health professionals. The importance of inclusivity and belonging drives me to confront biases and create inclusive environments where our team (and those we engage with on a state and national level) can thrive academically and personally. Dare to Lead is a powerful reminder to lead with authenticity, compassion and wholeheartedness.

Who is currently playing on your Spotify playlist?

I enjoy switching up my music constantly. One playlist has everything from ABBA to Led Zeppelin, while another one has 90s dance hits and neo-disco. I particularly enjoy music in Spanish I grew up with mixed in with Bad Bunny, Selena and Los Ángeles Azules.