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Taste of medical school

By Nick Favoriti, age 16 | August 1, 2019

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CONSIDERING THE FUTURE Nick Favoriti, a junior at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, learned about leadership and medicine at the National Youth Leadership Forum. (Photo: Anne Favoriti)

This summer I was invited to join high school students from across the nation to take part in a unique academic and career experience, the National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine hosted by Envision on the campus of Rice University. In this immersive experience in medicine, I learned real-life skills, critical to success in a career in healthcare.

When I arrived at Rice University, I did not know what to expect over the nine-day forum. I was able to experience life on a college campus, complete with my own dormitory room. Students participated in daily events on campus that included lectures in leadership and ethics, surgical video broadcasts, clinical skills training and real-life medical simulations. We conducted medical research and presented findings to our peers.

Part of the forum included two off-campus excursions. The first one was a medical school exploration at the Texas A&M College of Medicine in College Station. Students were given a tour around campus, and this visit gave me insight into the life of a medical student. Both professors and medical students were available to answer questions about the admissions process, and I learned about A&M’s Engineering Medicine track. I was even able to experience a hands-on activity exploring real-life human organs and bones. Visiting a medical school was one of the most intriguing, unforgettable experiences of my life.

Another impressionable experience was a field excursion to the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education. I was able to experience the role of a healthcare provider with a simulated clinical learning experience, including surgical robotics and virtual reality. It was cool to see innovative robotic surgical machines in action that will define the next generation of medicine!

Attending NYLF: Medicine was a unique experience and one that will help shape my future. I made new friends, learned more about myself as I begin thinking about colleges and career paths, and I’m thinking more about a possible career in medicine and what it will take to lead and succeed.

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