Elwood-John H. Glenn High School 10th grader Isabella Ross was recently selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, an honors-only program for high school students interested in medical field careers.

As a delegate, Isabella joined students from across the country to attend a virtual three-day conference, during which she heard Nobel Laureates and National Medical of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; received advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; and learned about cutting-edge advancements in the field.

The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country to stay true to their dream and to provide resources to help them as they continue on their career paths.

Isabella's nomination was signed by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, to represent Elwood-John H. Glenn High School based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

Since a young age, Isabella has been interested in the medical field, but only after attending the conference and watching a live knee surgery was her desire to become a surgeon confirmed.

“I love science and I love helping people so being able to combine the two aspects, I think would be a good career choice and something that I would continue to enjoy in the future,” she said.

In addition to setting her on her career path, the conference offered Isabella a chance to share her perspective with her fellow delegates, as well as learn about medical advancements spearheaded by teenagers like herself.

“You always think as a teenager, ‘what can I really do?’ but these teenagers found a way through their own determination to make these advancements in medicine and that really inspired me,” she said. “You always think, ‘when I’m older I’ll be able to do it or when I have a degree,’ but that’s not always the case.”

According to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders’ press release, “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. Focused, bright and determined students like Isabella Ross are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.”