Healthcare studies junior Jayson Mahalik, who published an abstract in a peer-reviewed medical journal and started a student club, is working with the Health Professions Advising Center to help his chance of medical school acceptance.
University of Texas at Dallas premed student Jayson Mahalik is adding experiences to his resume and planning for important milestones as he prepares to apply to medical school and embark on a career in medicine.
In addition to taking challenging classes, publishing an abstract in a peer-reviewed medical journal and starting a student club, Mahalik is using Applicant Support at UT Dallas’ Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) to prepare his medical school application.
About 80% of students who complete Applicant Support are admitted to medical and dental schools. About 40% of UT Dallas students who don’t use the advising center are accepted, which is about the national average, said Doyen Rainey BA’02, BA’02, MAT’03, director of the HPAC.
“At UT Dallas, students with the intellect and work ethic to become good doctors find the resources to make that happen,” Rainey said.
A team of HPAC advisors helps students select courses, explore career options and build prehealth competencies. They also guide students through revisions to medical school applications, conduct practice interviews and address candidates’ weak areas.
In 2025, UT Dallas was the No. 15 medical feeder school in the country and No. 3 in Texas, according to the AAMC. UT Dallas premeds overwhelmingly choose to attend Texas medical schools, including Dallas’ UT Southwestern Medical Center and Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine, which are among the nation’s highest ranked.
“The admission rate for UT Dallas students working with the advising center is very high,” Rainey said.
Mahalik, a junior in healthcare studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, turned to the center to help him determine his class schedule and when to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which he plans to take this summer.
“The biggest thing is planning everything as a freshman because there’s so much to do,” Mahalik said. “The advising center was really helpful because they have programs, mock interviews and a checklist for the MCAT.”
Health Professions Advising Center
The Health Professions Advising Center supports students throughout their training for and application to professional health schools. Resources include student organizations, research opportunities and summer health programs. Learn more on the center’s website.
A self-described overachiever, Mahalik began to research gastrointestinal issues a year ago after he collaborated with a friend in medical school and considered different areas to research. He and his colleagues conducted a research project in which they analyzed patient data from clinical studies comparing the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease, anxiety and depression in gastric bypass surgery patients versus those who took semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.
Mahalik, who is leaning toward a career in anesthesiology or orthopedics, was lead author of an abstract about the study that was an electronic poster presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s Annual Scientific Meeting & Postgraduate Course in October and published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He said he learned a lot from the experience and received valuable feedback that will help him in his future research.
Mahalik credited his UT Dallas classes and professors with helping him in other ways. One of the courses that made an impression on him was The U.S. Healthcare System, taught by Dr. Leah Goudy, assistant professor of instruction in healthcare studies.
Goudy said she has been impressed with Mahalik’s drive and accomplishments.
“He’s very aware of what he wants and how to get it,” she said. “I have no doubt he’s going to be highly successful.”
“He’s very aware of what he wants and how to get it. I have no doubt he’s going to be highly successful.”
Dr. Leah Goudy, assistant professor of instruction in healthcare studies
To encourage other undergraduates to publish research, Mahalik started a student club — Pre-Med Publishers — and tapped Goudy to be the advisor.
“It’s a big deal when you get published,” Mahalik said. “I’d love to get other people interested.”
Mahalik’s interest in science began before he graduated from The Colony High School in the Lewisville Independent School District with both a diploma and an associate’s degree. In middle school he was fascinated with learning about how the body works. During his junior year of high school, he got firsthand experience as a patient when he fractured his humerus near the elbow while pitching for the baseball team.
Mahalik also worked as a pool lifeguard all through high school and once rescued a child who ended up in the water after miscalculating a jump to an inner tube.
“I have always gravitated toward jobs helping people,” Mahalik said. “And I plan to make an impact on the scientific community.”