Community Advisory Board recognizes youth leadership forum selections

Five local area high school students who have received scholarships to participate in the prestigious National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine were recognized this week by UC Davis Health System's Community Advisory Board.

The CAB's Nominating Committee selected the scholarship recipients from a crowded field of highly qualified candidates to attend the NYLF/MED summer program, scheduled for July 9-18 at UC Berkeley. The students, who received certificates of accomplishment at the CAB general meeting on Tuesday, are:

• Mary Luc, 3.97 GPA, West Campus High School
• Dinh Thau, 3.7 GPA, Sacramento High School
• Janelle Tiulentino, 4.0 GPA, Rio Vista High School
• Kimberly Washington, 4.0 GPA, Sacramento High School
• Nang Xiong, 3.97 GPA, Valley High School

The health system and School of Medicine usually offer four scholarships every year, but this year added a fifth scholarship. The cost of the attending the program is fully covered by the scholarship, although students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the program site.

The NYLF/MED program is one of the nation's leading programs in pre-medical education for high school students. The 10-day program offers an intense and stimulating exploration of the field of medicine through educational activities that include speakers, site visits and seminars.

Held every summer at some of the most prestigious hospitals, research facilities and medical schools across the United States, the program allows students to hear from internationally recognized and respected physicians and health-care professionals to gain insight into current issues and obtain invaluable information on pursuing a medical career.

Additionally, students have up-close and personal contact with physicians, surgeons, researchers, scientists and medical educators, as they go behind the scenes to view these professionals at work.

Through seminar sessions, NYLF/MED participants explore some of today's leading medical issues and gain insights into the medical field as it is today and as it promises to be in the future.

Students are also exposed to important medical topics such as bioethics, clinical decision-making and public health through educational activities.

Throughout the program, students work to develop public-health projects that they can take back home and implement in their communities.

Both the UC Davis Health System and School of Medicine are sites the NYLF/MED students will visit in the summer months.

For more information on NYLF, visit: www.nylf.org.