For incoming public affairs graduate student Jayaker Kolli (MPAff ‘27), the path to the LBJ School didn’t begin in a Capitol office or campaign headquarters, but in hospital rooms across Austin. As a medical student at UT Austin’s Dell Medical School, he has cared for patients whose health outcomes were shaped less by biology and more by socioeconomic factors such as air pollution, access to insurance and safe housing.
“I realized that preventative care cannot happen in the clinic alone — it has to happen in the Capitol too.”
Kolli grew up in Euless, Texas, a diverse community in the suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth. The sprawling highways around his hometown were, in his words, “less of an inspiration and more of a call to action,” sparking a lifelong interest in the connections between the built environment, community health and policy.
After earning his undergraduate degree in cell biology from Rice University, Kolli found himself drawn to the intersection of science and public affairs. The LBJ School’s dual-degree program with Dell Medical School offered him the rare opportunity to pursue both passions simultaneously.
“My interest in policy has always informed my approach to medicine, and vice versa. LBJ and Dell have both been welcoming and supportive of me pursuing both paths, and that’s a unique combination I could not have gotten anywhere else.”
Outside the classroom, Kolli isn’t afraid to test his knowledge in high-pressure settings. He even appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! last year, a nod to his love of learning across disciplines.
As he begins his LBJ journey, Kolli is eager to step outside his comfort zone. With most of his education so far rooted in health sciences, he’s ready to immerse himself in policy-focused discussions and collaborate with peers who are just as passionate about creating change. His goal is to develop the skills and relationships to make him the strongest advocate possible for his future patients.
Kolli envisions a career that blends practice, teaching and advocacy. After graduating from LBJ and medical school, he plans to enter residency in internal medicine, with the long-term goal of working as a physician who treats patients and addresses the larger social and policy factors affecting their health.
Learn more about our Master of Public Affairs degree. Applications open September 1.