What is the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (NYLF/MED)? The National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine introduces outstanding students with an interest in medicine to all aspects of the medical field. Since 1993, this forum has introduced students to professionals from some of the nation’s top medical centers and faculty from renowned institutions of learning.

With close cooperation from many prestigious and technologically-advanced hospitals, research facilities and medical schools, NYLF/MED enables students through its interactive format to explore a broad range of topics including educational requirements, career options, clinical practice and complex ethical and legal issues facing the medical profession today. Students also get firsthand accounts of what life is like as a resident, discuss global epidemics, cures for life-threatening diseases, medical specialties and primary care with current physicians and patients.

Who is eligible to participate in NYLF/MED? Students must be in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade during the 2011/2012 academic year. Recently graduated students may also attend. Students ages 15-18 are eligible to attend NYLF/MED.

Is there a GPA requirement? Students must have demonstrated academic achievement and have an interest in the field of medicine.

Where can I get a sample schedule? Please click here to view a sample schedule, which is provided to demonstrate the pace and composition of a typical session.

Who are the speakers? Students participating in NYLF/MED have the opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with some of today’s most respected and internationally recognized physicians and healthcare professionals. They gain rare insights into current issues and obtain invaluable information about pursuing a career in medicine.

Which institutions participate? Some of the nation’s most prestigious and technologically-advanced medical schools, research facilities and hospitals welcome NYLF/MED participants. Students have up-close and personal contact with physicians, surgeons, researchers, scientists and medical educators, as they go behind-the-scenes to view these professionals at work.

What is the curriculum? NYLF/MED students participate in educational activities that cover important medical topics such as bioethics, clinical decision-making and public health. During a medical ethics activity, they are challenged to examine an ethical issue facing the medical community and debate the pros and cons of the issue. Students engage in an activity utilizing problem-based learning, a methodology now used in medical schools and in “The Match,” a simulation of the process used to match medical students with their specialties. Students also learn how to take blood pressure and proper suturing techniques. To learn about the many facets of public health, students will take part in a simulation of a disease outbreak on a college campus.

How many sessions will there be? What are the dates? There will be twenty sessions held in ten different cities during summer 2012. Click on the individual cities at the top right of this page for updated session information and city-specific highlights.

How many students will be in each session? NYLF/MED will admit approximately 350-400 students per session.

Who will the faculty advisors be? All faculty advisors are college graduates. NYLF/MED values diversity among its staff. Many will have explicit experience facilitating high-level experiential curriculum and many will have a strong background in the area of medicine. We also provide extensive pre-program training for our staff and perform five-year background checks on all faculty advisors.

What is the Student Code of Conduct? Click here to read the complete Student Code of Conduct.

What does tuition cover? Tuition covers hotel accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, charter bus transportation during the Forum (students are responsible for their own travel to and from the forum location as well as a shuttle fee from the airport to the program site), instruction, speakers, program materials, supervisory personnel and all activities throughout the 10-day program. Students will need money only for lunches and any incidentals they wish to purchase.

Does NYLF offer financial assistance? The National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine is proud to offer a limited number of scholarships to students. Through the scholarship program, NYLF opens the door to young leaders from a variety of backgrounds across the U.S. For nominees who are interested in fundraising to help offset the cost of tuition, NYLF has prepared a Sponsorships & Student Fundraising Guide featuring helpful, step-by-step suggestions and activities that enable nominees to fundraise.

If there are a limited number of spaces in NYLF/MED and Enrollment Applications are processed in the order in which they are received, what if no spaces are available by the time I am able to accrue full tuition through fundraising? We recognize that fundraising may delay the submission of your application, so we encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions once you initiate fundraising efforts. While we cannot guarantee a space in the Forum, your call will make us aware of your fundraising efforts and intent to attend.

How do I apply for a Scholarship? Your Student ID can be found in the letter and on the Enrollment Application you received in the mail. If you have enrolled in the program, your Student ID can also be found in your enrollment materials. When entering your Student ID, be sure to include the dash. (Ex: 1000000-10000000).

Where do I find my Student ID to access the online scholarship application? If you received a letter and other materials in the mail regarding your nomination to attend The National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, click here to view all available scholarships.

For nominees who are interested in fundraising to help offset the cost of tuition, NYLF has prepared a Sponsorships & Student Fundraising Guide featuring helpful, step-by-step suggestions and activities that enable nominees to fundraise.

How are students supervised? The safety and well-being of the participants is our highest priority during the Forum. Attendees are supervised by professional forum staff. Nightly room checks are conducted to ensure that all students are safely in their rooms at Forum curfew; floors are single sex; Forum personnel and local security staff patrol the student areas throughout the evening. Students must stay with the Forum at all times unless written permission is given by a student's parent/guardian prior to participation. Private motor coaches are used; students never use public transportation. Staff continually monitor outside conditions and implement changes in our programs as necessary. All NYLF staff and participants adhere to security procedures in place at facilities visited.

What safety measures does NYLF/MED follow?

• Our staff is stationed at each of the designated airports for each forum location to greet students at the airport and provide transportation to the forum site. For a listing of designated meeting areas in your airport, please see your Bring on Arrival Day! form located in your online enrollment materials.
• We only provide single-sex dorm rooms.
• The student-to-staff ratio is 17-to-1.
• Our staff is comprised of highly trained and experienced faculty advisors.
• Night monitors are on duty each evening.
• Evening room checks occur each night.
• Students travel by private motor coach and never use public transportation.

What time is room check? Forum staff will conduct a room check at 11:00 p.m. each evening. After this room check, participants are required to stay in their rooms.

How can a parent contact a student while she/he is at the Forum? NYLF suggests that families make arrangements in advance regarding phone contact. Students will have very little free time during the Forum and spend little time in sleeping rooms. Cell phones are permitted at the Forum and may be used during social times. Calling cards are also strongly recommended. In case of an emergency, parents can contact the field office and speak with the office coordinator. The office coordinator will contact the appropriate member of the staff to locate the student and ensure he/she calls home.

Where will I stay while at NYLF/MED? Attendees and staff reside at local universities, hotels or conference centers.

The summer 2012 sessions are being held at the following locations:

• Atlanta: Emory University
• Boston: Babson College
• Chicago: University of Illinois, Chicago
• Houston: Renaissance Houston Hotel
• Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles
• New York: St. John’s University
• Philadelphia: Villanova University
• Raleigh-Durham: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• San Francisco: University of California, Berkeley
• Washington, D.C.: Marriott Fairview Park

What are the accommodations like for students while participating in the Forum? All students are housed three to a room, and each student will have his or her own bed. Linens, blankets, pillows and towels will be provided. Students should bring all of the clothing they will need for the duration of the Forum, as forum activities are scheduled from morning through evening and students will not have time to do laundry. Telephones are located in each room, however, students will be charged for any outgoing calls made from their rooms and should be prepared to take care of this bill. We encourage students to bring mobile phones; however, they must remain off during scheduled forum activities.

Can I request a roommate? If not, how are roommates selected? Roommate requests are not accepted. We randomly assign rooms and roommates prior to arrival day. This is done to give students the opportunity to get to know their peers from other areas of the country. We strongly believe that learning about - and from - other young leaders from all over the country provides a significant leadership development opportunity.

When should I book my travel arrangements to attend the Forum? Once you have received confirmation that you have been enrolled in your desired session, you can begin making travel arrangements. Feel free to contact WorldTEK, the official travel agency of the National Youth Leadership Forum. For assistance, call (800) 522-1733, or contact WorldTEK online at www.nylf.org/WorldTEK. WorldTEK will answer any questions you may have regarding your travel, complete all of your travel arrangements and provide your necessary travel documents and materials for the reasonable fee of $28.

Which local airports should students fly into and out of for the Forum on Medicine? For students attending the Forum on Medicine, our staff will be available to meet students at the designated airports in each forum city on the first day of the Forum to meet students when they arrive.

Summer 2012 Session Airports:

• Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
• Boston: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Chicago: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
• Houston: George Bush International Airport (IAH) or William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
• Los Angeles: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• New York: LaGuardia Airport (LGA) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Philadelphia: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Raleigh-Durham: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
• San Francisco: Oakland International Airport (OAK) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Washington, D.C.: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Ronal Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Where do I meet the staff at the airport? NYLF staff members will be stationed at the designated baggage claim meeting areas. Please refer to your Bring On Arrival Day Form in your acceptance materials for specific meeting places. Students should first retrieve their luggage and then meet at their designated meeting areas. Staff will escort students directly to the shuttle (see below for more information).

Is there a shuttle service provided from the airport? For your convenience, shuttle service between designated airports and the forum location is available for a $50 nonrefundable roundtrip fee. Please note that the fee for the airport shuttle service is still $50 even if you only utilize the shuttle one-way. The first series of shuttles will depart at approximately noon and, thereafter, will run continuously. You can make a shuttle reservation and pay the $50 shuttle fee online by submitting your Mandatory Pre- Program Information Form at www.nylf.org/med/info.

Is a shuttle service offered from train/bus terminals? NYLF does not provide a shuttle service nor is there staff available to meet students at train or bus terminals.

Can I book my flight directly through NYLF? The National Youth Leadership Forum has selected WorldTEK, a travel management company, to serve as its official travel agency. We highly recommend that NYLF families contact WorldTEK to determine the lowest available airfares and arrange their travel. Click here to learn more.

How will the students be getting around their program city? Do they take any public transportation? Students will not use public transportation during the Forum. Private motor coaches provide all transportation between the housing sites and forum activities during the Forum on Medicine.

What is the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan? Each student has the option of enrolling in our Tuition and Travel Protection Plan for an additional fee. This trip cancellation insurance is recommended and can be purchased during enrollment. If you would like to know more specifics about the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan, please call the plan administrator, Nationwide, toll-free at (866) 282-3987.

What kind of spending money will scholars need at the Forum?NYLF recommends scholars bring approximately $8 to $10 a day for lunches and a little extra for incidentals.

Should students bring calling cards or cell phones? Yes. It is recommended that students bring a calling card and/or a cell phone.

Can students bring computers? It is not recommended that students bring their notebook/laptop computers.

Should I bring an alarm clock? All students should bring a watch. Most sleeping rooms will have an alarm clock, but you may want to bring one as a backup.

What is the dress code? Professional attire is required during most days and at some evening events for most NYLF programs. However, there are also times where relaxed professional attire is appropriate. Semi-formal or professional attire will be required at any closing ceremony or dinner dance. Comfortable dress shoes are a must for the Forum on Medicine, as the forums requires a lot of walking. In addition, closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are required for all hospital visits.

What is professional attire? Professional attire for women includes a jacket with blouse and dress, pant or skirt suit (no denim). Men must wear a sport coat, slacks (no denim), dress shirts and ties or suits. Most evening and weekend activities allow weather appropriate casual attire (jeans, shorts, T-shirts, golf shirts). Detailed information will be provided to students in their online enrollment materials.

What is relaxed professional attire? Relaxed professional attire includes dresses or medium length skirts or khakis and blouses or sweaters for ladies. For gentlemen relaxed professional attire includes khakis or dress slacks and button-down shirts or polo shirts.

What is casual attire? Jeans, T-shirts, tennis shoes, sandals, etc. are acceptable. Sweatpants or athletic shorts are not permitted. Consistent with our Student Code of Conduct, offensive or inappropriate clothing will not be permitted.

What is the pre-Forum assignment FUEL? The first step of your journey includes assessing your strengths and opportunities for growth. To aid in this assessment, you must complete a pre-Forum assignment entitled Feedback for Understanding Emerging Leaders (FUEL).

When is the deadline to submit my FUEL form? Is the assignment mandatory? Please ask your mentors and peers to complete the survey no later than one week prior to your arrival at the Forum. You will see the results on the first day of the Forum. The assignment is mandatory for all scholars.

How many people need to complete my survey? All students must complete a self-evaluation form and select at least five mentors and at least five peers whom you know and respect, and ask them to complete a short survey. The mentors you select may be teachers, coaches, youth group leaders or other adult mentors you know. The peers you select may be friends, classmates, teammates or other people your age who interact with you on a regular basis. You will need to ask your mentors and peers to go to this web site: www.nylf.org/med/fuel. They will need to enter your Student ID number, which can be found in your acceptance letter. Please ask your mentors and peers to complete the survey no later than one week prior to your arrival at the Forum. You will see the results on the first day of the Forum.

Can special dietary needs be met?Vegetarian options are always available, and kosher meals can be made available upon request. Please contact the Office of Admissions to make a special request.

Can NYLF accommodate students who may need special assistance? NYLF encourages participation of students with special needs, including students with disabilities. NYLF may be able to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to assist students with special needs to benefit from participation in the Forum. Students with special needs and their parents, guardians, legal representatives or educators are encouraged to contact NYLF for more information and to discuss particular needs before they apply for enrollment in the Forum.

What if my scholar loses something, or forgets to bring a personal item home after the Forum?All lost and found items are retained by staff for two weeks following the forum session. Items of higher monetary value are retained for 30 days after the forum session concludes. After 30 days, all items remaining are discarded or donated. We strongly recommend following the advice provided in the suggested packing list, which includes placing your scholar’s name on all personal belongings that he or she will be bringing to the Forum.

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