A Connellsville Area High School senior recently spent a weekend in Washington, D.C., attending the Congress of Future Medical Leaders.

Jordan Hosfelt, 18, of Bullskin attended the honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields.

According to the National Academy of Future Physicians, the purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

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, said Richard Rossi, executive director, National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. Focused, bright and determined students like Jordan Hosfelt are our future and he deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give him.

Hosfelt was nominated by Dr. Connie Mariano, the medical director of the National Academy of Future

Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Pennsylvania based on his academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

It felt great to receive some recognition for all of the hours that I've put into my studies, Hosfelt said.

During the three-day congress, Hosfelt joined students from across the country to hear Nobel

Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research. Participants were also given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what is to be expected in medical school. They witnessed stories told by patients who are living medical miracles and received inspiration from fellow teen medical science prodigies. They also learned about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

While at the congress, I listened to many prestigious speakers, watched a live surgery from a Chicago hospital via Skype as well as a documentary, and mingled with some brilliant young minds from all across the country, Hosfelt said. The most enjoyable part of the conference was meeting so many other high school students that shade my drive and are just as passionate about medicine as I am. It's something I could never experience at my high school.

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Connellsville student spends weekend with future medical leaders