By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Staff Writer

Christina Hufford, a rising senior at McIntosh High School, recently attended a National Medical Leadership Forum in Washington,DC.

Hufford was part of a select group of juniors and seniors from around the country and world that attended this special forum. She was selected because of her academic achievements and her interest in medicine.

The students went on an 11-day tour of some of the nation's most prominent medical institutions and met some of the more powerful and distinguished medical leaders. The students had intensive day-long concentrations at institutions such as the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They were allowed to examine state of the art diagnostic tools and future medical specialties.

Some of the people that Hufford and the other students met were Surgeon General David Satcher, Patch Adams, M.D. of the Gesundheit Institute, and Dr. Saralyn Mark, senior medical advisor to the U.S. Public Health Service's Office on Women's Health.

“During 11 days of firsthand experiences in a motivating and challenging environment, participants see the world of medicine from a perspective unlike any other,” said Dr. William Levin, president emeritus, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “They leave having gained a valuable head start toward the careers and successes they dream of achieving.”

Some of the topics that were discussed during the forum included breakthroughs in genetic research, cancer research, AIDS, sports medicine, computers in the world of medicine, bioethics and clinical decision making.

The National Youth Leadership Forum is a nonprofit educational organization that sponsors highly specialized, career-oriented programs for outstanding secondary youth with demonstrated leadership abilities. Many of the students were nominated to participate in the program by their high school teachers or guidance counselors.

To contact the NYLF Office of Admissions call (202) 628-6090 or by e-mail at info@nylf.org.

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