From Washington High School

The Congress of Future Medical Leaders is starting to have a Pam Pack tradition.  The congress was created to help high school students who aspire to be physicians, scientists or technologists.  This summer the congress met for the third time in Boston.  Speakers include Nobel Prize winners, deans of medical schools and teenagers who have created cancer tests. It is attended by high school students from the United States who intend on pursuing careers in medicine. In order to attend, one must be nominated by a teacher, possess leadership qualities and have a 3.5 GPA or above. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

This summer Washington High School junior Brooke Taylor became the third Pam Pack student to attend the prestigious congress. Taylor was nominated by math teacher Toby McMahon and joined Taylor Abele (February 2014) and Weston Brown (November 2014) as the Pam Pack Future Medical Leaders. Taylor recently received the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists Award of Excellence for outstanding academic performance, leadership potential and dedication to serving humanity through science, technology, engineering or math. At the congress, Taylor was able to mingle and engage with about 2,000 students with similar interests in the fields of science and technology. She enjoyed hearing inspiring words from accomplished experts in their fields.  She especially enjoyed listening to Dennis Crowley, CEO and cofounder of Foursquare, Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and second man to walk on the moon and Jack Andraka, who created a new-and-improved diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer at the age of 15. During the three-day congress, Taylor heard Nobel laureates and National Medal of Science winners talk about leading medical research and was given advice from Ivy League and top medical-school deans on what to expect in medical school. Dr. Deborah Bedor, one of the nation’s top college admissions experts, shared advice that Taylor found helpful.

The students also witnessed stories told by patients who are living medical miracles, and learned about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology. “This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, executive director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. “Focused, bright and determined students like Brooke Taylor are our future, and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.”

The tradition is looking to continue as sophomore Christina Scott has been nominated to represent Washington High School next June at the next Congress of Future Medical Leaders, also to be held in Boston.