Malachi Underwood, a sophomore at Fulshear High School in Fulshear, is a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders to be held on June 25 –June 27, just outside Boston, on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus.

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 interested in these careers, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

In an email to the Katy Times, Underwood said that he was selected based on his academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to serving others.

Underwood's nomination was signed by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Texas based on his academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

Underwood said that he is a straight-A student and has consistently excelled throughout elementary and middle school, especially in math and science. He is currently self-teaching trigonometry and learning Mandarin. “I genuinely enjoy challenging myself and finding new ways to grow intellectually and personally,” he told the Katy Time.

Outside of school, Underwood is passionate about coding, making beats, and creating 3D art on the computer. He also enjoys weight training and exploring how to take care of himself both inside and out. “Whether it's building new skills or developing my leadership capacity, I revel in opportunities that push me to reach my fullest potential,” he said.

During the three-day Congress, Underwood will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients discuss leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learn 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 a press release from the organization. “Focused, bright and determined students like Malachi Underwood are our future and he deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give him.“

The Academy offers free services and programs to students who want to become physicians or go into medical science, such as online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical

students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and much more.

The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that prospective medical talent must be identified at the earliest possible age and helped to acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career. Based in Washington, D.C. and with offices in Boston, MA, the Academy was chartered as a nonpartisan, taxpaying institution to help address this crisis by working to identify, encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to the service of humanity as physicians and medical scientists.