A Copiah-Lincoln Community College student’s discovery ofself-confidence has propelled her into selection for theprestigious Summer Medical and Dental Educational Program at DukeUniversity Medical School.

Katy Young, who will graduate from Co-Lin on May 16, saidselection for the program has boosted her self-confidence and willarm her with advanced knowledge for later medical courses.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to this,” Young said.”This is my passion and what I want to do.”

The summer program at Duke University provides a solidfoundation in the pre-medical sciences, math, writing, ethics andclinical experience. Talented students leave the program withstrong credentials for admission to a medical school.

Selection to the six-week program includes travel to the school,room and board and a monetary stipend. She will leave June 6 andreturn July 18.

However, Young said she wasn’t always confident enough to pursuea career as a doctor.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure I could makethe grades,” Young said. “I wanted to do this, but it’s only beenrecently that it’s become a tangible possibility.”

Shadowed by doubt, the 2007 Brookhaven High School graduatedecided to pursue a nursing degree instead. She could remain in themedical field to help others, but didn’t need the level ofeducation a doctor would be required to have.

It was her first semester at Co-Lin that she was introduced tomicrobiology.

“I just fell in love with it,” Young said. “The micro course wasgreat. I got my highest grade in that class. I would really like tostudy genetics or emerging diseases. The cellular level isincredible.”

The prospective doctor said she already monitors the Centers forDisease Control Web site researching emerging diseases and had beenshadowing several Brookhaven doctors to receive practicaleducation.

Part of the summer program is hands-on experience at a hospitaland clinicals.

“It will really give me a good insight on what I will be doing,”she said.

Young has also received some valuable knowledge working in thepharmacy at Walgreen’s, she said. The company has been verysupportive of her in providing her a leave of absence to attend theDuke University program and in working to transfer to a Hattiesburglocation on her return so she can attend the University of SouthernMississippi, where she intends to major in microbiology.

Eventually, she said she would like to return to Brookhaven andpractice medicine here.

Young is the daughter of Tawana and Jeff Parkman of Brookhavenand Michael Young of Fort Collins, Colo.