Bethannie Yarnells mother recalled her daughters conversation with the family doctor.
Enamored with the world of medicine, Bethannie explained her desire to become a doctor.
She was 3.
And so it began, the eldest of Timothy and Jo Yarnells three children, setting out her goals at an early age.
At 5, she declared her desire to travel the world.
I didnt really start thinking of colleges, until I was 10 or 12, Bethannie said.
Now 16, Bethannies world continues to expand.
The Iola High School sophomore has been selected to attend the 2018 Congress of Future Medical Leaders in June in Lowell, Mass.
The three-day event is geared for high school honor students who want to become physicians or go into related medical research fields.
I didnt even know about this until I got something in the mail, and it said, Hey, you won something, she said.
Bethannie gave the notice barely more than a passing thought at first.
I didnt think it was that big a deal, she confessed. I figured it was something where theyd have 50 people from each county.
A closer look at the fine print shows just how wrong her assumption was.
Among the presenters during the Congress are multiple Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners. Medical school deans from several Ivy League institutions will speak about what to expect in medical school, and patients considered living medical miracles will talk about their experiences.
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, Richard Rossi, NAFPMS executive director, said in a press release. Focused, bright and determined students like Bethannie Yarnell are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.
The activities also will include witnessing a live surgery, during which Bethannie and others will be able to ask the surgeons questions in real time.
Such an opportunity is right in Bethannies wheelhouse.
