With an exceptional high school resume and clear vision of her future, Haddonfield Memorial High School junior Tomorrow Baldwin-Montgomery is one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a general practitioner after being chosen to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, D.C.
Baldwin-Montgomery will attend the conference, hosted by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, from Feb. 14 to 16.
“I wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember,” Baldwin-Montgomery said.
She recalled being fascinated with the television show “ER” in her younger years and later going on to explore numerous professions within the medical field.
“I decided I wanted to become a general practitioner because I wanted to travel,” she said.
Baldwin-Montgomery plans to pursue a future with Doctors Without Boarders, following a suggestion by one of her former teachers.
“When I looked it up, it looked like it would be a great thing,” she said.
According to its website, Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides impartial assistance to those in need in more than 60 countries.
In addition, Baldwin-Montgomery said she was inspired after visiting an orphanage in Costa Rica in the summer of 2011 as part of the organization People to People Ambassador Programs, following a recommendation from a middle school math teacher.
Baldwin-Montgomery learned of her selection for the conference following a recommendation from Dr. Connie Mariano, the medical director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. While she said she had never met Mariano in person, she believes that Mariano had perhaps learned of her through other programs.
“I always loved getting mail,” Baldwin-Montgomery said as she described the day she received the letter from the academy in October. “I was really excited and a little emotional.”
Baldwin-Montgomery recalled the hefty package and “pretty letter” announcing her inclusion in the three-day conference.
All those selected for the honors-only program must have aspirations of becoming a physician or going into the medical field, and demonstrate exceptional academic achievement.
In addition to being an honor student at Haddonfield Memorial High School, Baldwin-Montgomery has acquired an impressive resume during her last three years.
Baldwin-Montgomery currently participates in field hockey for junior varsity and varsity, as well as track, and is a member of Bulldogs Against Destructive Decisions.
In the summer, she works with staff members at Camp Lenoloc, which provides summer camp for inner-city children.
Apart from her numerous extra curricular activities, Baldwin-Montgomery has also enjoyed a part-time acting career with roles in films such as “The Man” and “Cover” and television shows, such as “Law and Order” and “Nurse Jackie.”
According to a press release provided by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, the academy was founded to help young physicians find the resources they need to develop into their professional career, by offering free services and programs for students who are looking to pursue a career in medicine.
“This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for the future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, executive director for the academy. “Focused, bright and determined students like Tomorrow Baldwin-Montgomery are our future, and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.”
Speakers featured at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, D.C., include Noble Laureates and National Medal Science winners. While Baldwin-Montgomery said there would be a range of speakers attending the conference, she is most looking forward to hearing the younger speakers and learning more of their accomplishments.
Baldwin-Montgomery also added that she looks forward to once again returning to Washington, D. C.
“My family has vacationed there a lot, and I love the area,” she said.
The academy plans to launch several initiatives in 2014, including an online social network, mentoring programs and communications with parents and students to help facilitate the navigation through college.
As for Baldwin-Montgomery, she is in the process of wading through colleges, with both Swarthmore College and Eastern University as the front-runners.
“Those are really my two top choices,” she said.
She went on to add that if she were to choose Swarthmore for her undergraduate studies, she would have the advantage of already being familiar with the school, after already attending programs there for math and science.
