Midwestern University Medical Student Receives Prestigious Chicago Young Leader Award
Midwestern University medical student Nicole Paprocki has been selected for the prestigious 35 under 35 Young Leaders Making an Impact Award. This is a highly selective award that highlights the achievements of Chicago area leaders making an impact on the community. The 35 under 35 Award is given by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit organization that helps academically ambitious students from under-resourced Chicago communities to complete college and become the city's next generation of diverse leaders.
Ms. Paprocki, a third-year medical student at Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), received the award for her leadership efforts including developing a pipeline program for socio-economically disadvantaged youth through a partnership between CCOM and the Chicago charter school Instituto Health Science Career Academy. As part of the program, high school students experience engaging classroom health lessons that align to their science curriculum, a summer career explorers program, and ongoing mentoring from Midwestern University medical students and other professionals. Ms. Paprocki also is a Chicago Scholars Mentor for high school seniors, founding member of the Associate Board for Chicago Scholars, and a former Chicago Public School teacher.
"As a 2011 Chicago Scholar, I am grateful to the organization for developing my leadership skills as I navigated to and through college," Ms. Paprocki said. "Through the Scholars de Salud program, I aim to give back to my community by empowering other ambitious young people who may experience barriers to higher education with the knowledge, confidence, and professional network to start a career in healthcare."
Ms. Paprocki is passionate about issues in health, education, and gender equity and plans on pursuing a residency in Family Medicine and providing high-quality primary care to Chicago's underserved communities. The 35 under 35 Awards were created in 2015 to recognize the accomplishments of Chicago's top young leaders. Ms. Paprocki will receive the award at the UnTied Gala on Friday, April 27, 2018.