Anna Margaret Jones, a junior at Demopolis High School, is about to embark on the opportunity of a lifetime – one that has come as the result of an anonymous nomination. Annie, as she is known to family and friends, has been invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta July 19-28. Annie will join other high school students from around the country who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and an interest in a career in medicine. Annie’s particular field of interest is medical pathology.

Throughout the 10-day forum, participants will be introduced to a variety of concepts in public health, medical ethics, research, and general practice. The high school scholars will engage in a simulation using problem-based learning, an educational method in which students will be presented a fictional patient’s case history and must diagnose and develop a treatment plan for the patient. The aspiring young medical practitioners will also make a number of site visits to hospitals and clinics near the well-known Emory School of Medicine, giving them the opportunity to hear from and interact with physicians, surgeons, researchers, scientists, and medical educators as they observe these medical professionals at work.

Annie says that she is looking forward to the entire NYLF experience but that she is, perhaps, most excited about seeing the normal pace of a doctor’s daily routine and about the possibility of observing surgery.

For Annie, NYLF will be her first opportunity to shadow a doctor but it will not be her last. Her father is an anesthesiologist at UAB, and they have already made plans for her to spend time job shadowing with him during her senior year.

Annie is the daughter of Dr. Bryan Jones of Birmingham and Emily Taylor of Linden. Her grandparents are Ro and Patti Tucker of Linden and Yvonne Jones and the late Roy S. Jones of Demopolis. Annie’s honors and activities at DHS include being Student Council vice president, copy editor for the yearbook staff, Beta Club member, A Honor Roll member, Key Club member, FCA member, Drama Club member, sophomore homecoming maid, and DHS Varsity Cheerleader 2008-2009. Annie also plays violin and piano, and she is a member of Linden Baptist Church where she enjoys being involved in M-Fuge mission trips.