Lansing High School Junior Elena Gupta attended the first ever Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, DC on February 14-16, 2014.  The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. 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.

Gupta was nominated by Dr. Connie Mariano, the Medical Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, to represent New York based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

During the three-day Congress Gupta joined students from across the country and heard Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; was given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what is to be expected in medical school, witnessed stories told by patients who are living medical miracles, was inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies and learned about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

"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 Elena Gupta are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her."

“The Congress was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to meet some of the most amazing minds in the medical field," Gupta says.  "Whether it was a Nobel Laureate on the stage, or a fellow scholar sitting right next to me, the amount of talent in the room was unbelievable. I know I’ve definitely come out a changed, more energized, and more capable person.  It felt surreal, sitting down and seriously discussing a medical innovation with your friends during lunch and dinner, and then getting up and shaking hands with the person who created it. I’m so thankful to Richard Rossi, the entire team at the National Academy, the speakers, and the other scholars for making this such a successful event.”

Gupta is now preparing to compete in the National Academy’s merit-based scholarship program. Reflecting on what inspired her most at the Congress, she will choose an unsolved medical, scientific, or world health problem and create a unique research plan to tackle and solve the problem. She will communicate her ideas through a one thousand word essay and eighteen minute Youtube video. The scholarship competition is to be judged based on the participant’s creative ability, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, and clarity. The three finalists will be flown back to Washington D.C. in November, with the winner receiving $185,000 and the two runner-ups receiving $10,000 for medical school tuition.

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