If there's one thing Jessica Capron is certain of it's that she wants to pursue a career in medicine, specifically the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. So it was exciting for the eleventh grade St. Anne's School student to receive an acceptance letter to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (NYLF/MED).
This summer, Jessica, 15, will be one of a number of young scholars who will participate in NYLF/MED sessions held in 12 cities across the United States. At the Forum on Medicine, students will join other high school students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in a career in medicine.
Through the 10-day (July 7-16) forum, NYLF/MED will introduce students to a variety of concepts in public health, medical ethics, research and general practice. Students will participate in site visits to medical schools and clinical facilities. A highlight of the forum will be a simulation in which students are presented with a fictional patient's case history and must diagnose and develop a treatment plan for the patient.
In addition to visiting medical schools and clinical facilities, Jessica and her peers will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with leaders within the medical field. She will be able to engage personally with physicians, surgeons, researchers, scientists and medical educators as they view the professionals at work.
They will hear from a number of speakers and engage in clinical site and medical school visits. Jessica will also be able to participate in a medical education discussion (MED) session group with other students. Each MED session gives the participants an opportunity to talk about medicine, from getting into medical school, to ethical issues in the field, to becoming a leader in their community and being at the forefront of tomorrow's medical profession.
While Jessica is certain that OB/GYN is in her future, she will be participating in the conference with other students who do not know exactly which specialty to pursue as a career. Through the NYLF/MED program they are expected to take a closer look at the different specialties. Jessica is expected to leave the forum with a wealth of experience, insight and information that will allow her to continue to determine where medicine fits into her future.
"I'm extremely excited, happy and proud to be invited [to the NYLF/MED]," said Jessica, who was nominated by her teachers to the National Society for High School Scholars.
"My expectation for the forum is to just get that hands-on experience and to be able to shadow a doctor, and know what it's like... the different things they go through and the different things they experience on a daily basis. To find out what it was like for them to accomplish the different things they've done and to basically be more aware of what the medical field is all about and just get to know it a lot better," she said.
Each student may very well be the face of the future of medicine, said NYLF Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Marguerite C. Regan.
"The National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine creates a virtual classroom with hospitals, clinical facilities and healthcare professionals. By shadowing key personnel, these students have the opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on a medical career. The timing is critical as young people explore their career paths, just prior to immersing themselves in college coursework," she said.
Forums will be held in different states. Jessica chose to attend the Atlanta forum. Some of the area institutions that have participated in the NYLF/MED program include Emory School of Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University, Mercer School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia Campus-Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The youngster who thinks chemistry is her best subject said she decided on medicine as a career because of television.
"When I was younger I used to watch TLC shows 'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant' and 'Baby Story' and different things like that and it just interested me... I don't know why, but I just came to like it and I said it's probably something I would go into, and I just started researching it and I just seemed to like it," she said.
During the summer forum Jessica will participate in histology (using microscopes to view cell anatomy), visits to an anatomy lab, vital signs workshops and learning to diagnose on SimMan (portable, patient simulator).
Jessica, who is eager for summer to arrive so she can begin her adventure, said education for her is about "exploring yourself, grabbing knowledge and awareness about the world".
"It just opens your mind to a lot of different things," she said. "It helps you explore and get to know people and things better."
Jessica, whose grade point average has ranged between 3.00 and 3.50 for her high school career, said she's always been an honor roll student. And while she lays claim to the sciences as her favorite subject, she said there isn't one subject she would say was her least favorite.
"I do well in them all, but the sciences are just a little above the rest."
No bookworm, Jessica is a well-rounded student who participates in volleyball, track and field, swimming, band and numerous clubs -- Student Christian Movement, Key Club and Debate -- at her school. She's such a good athlete that she's snagged the most outstanding athlete of the year award at her school for three years running -- grades eight, nine and 10. She earned the most outstanding female award in the eleventh grade.
The smart kid also has six Bahamas Junior Certificates (BJC) exams and two Royal Music Pitman. And she has earned her Governor General Youth Awards Bronze medal.
With such a busy schedule, Jessica who describes herself as ambitious, and a person who strives to always do her best, always ensures that she makes time to study.
"Usually when I get home from school at between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., I get something to eat, then I read for about an hour before I take a 15 minute break; then I try to read until about 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. but I change up the subjects on different days."
"If there's something I don't understand, or am confused with, I strive to get it. I try different approaches to get it. I would say I'm strong-headed and that I strive to do the best that I can in all aspects of my life," she said.
The daughter of Melvin Capron and Judy Capron, she said she gets her ambition to do well in her studies from both of her parents, but she said her father recently obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounts from The College of The Bahamas, which has further strengthened her resolve to always do well. She said if he could do it, she knows she could to.
"My dad is an example for me," she said.

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