Bishop Noll junior Giovanni Komyatte receives his Award of Excellence from the Congress of Future Medical Leaders from Bishop Noll principal Lorenza Jara Pastrick.
Bishop Noll junior learns from leaders in medical field
Bishop Noll Institute junior Giovanni Komyatte has a passion for medicine and joined other high school students from around the country who aspire to become the next generation of leaders in the medical field.
Giovanni represented Bishop Noll and Indiana at the National Leadership Academies’ Congress of Future Medical Leaders, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Highland resident was taught by some of the greatest minds in medicine including winners of international prizes, prominent medical school academic leaders and prodigies who are leading the future of medicine.
“It was a great experience to be with so many people who share a passion for science and medicine,” said Giovanni, who attended elementary school at Our Lady of Grace School. “It was amazing to hear from not only the people who know about current scientific advances, but are actually making the advances.”
He was nominated for the congress his freshman year at Noll but was unable to attend. As a sophomore, he was able to take advantage of the opportunity. The congress is one of many ways attending Bishop Noll is helping him prepare for a career in the medical field. Another is the advanced science classes he takes.
“Many schools don’t give students the opportunity to take college level biology and chemistry, and Bishop Noll’s offering of them has helped me know that science is the right field for me,” Giovanni said. “Biology Club has also been extremely helpful because it offers the opportunity to learn even more about biology and how it can be pursued through college and life after.”
Ms. Rebecca Dostatni ’00, Giovanni’s biology teacher and Biology Club sponsor, is one of his inspirations because of her passion for science.
“Her love for biology is infectious and she really helped me to discover my interest in medicine,” he said.
“Giovanni is an incredible science student,” Ms. Dostatni said. “He has a great deal of natural ability but is also a diligent worker. He enjoys taking advantage of any opportunity he can for himself by joining various science related activities like Biology Club and Science Olympiad.
“The Biology Club has made several visits to the University of Chicago's Human Genetics labs and Giovanni is always optimistic about these experiences. He has even read a scientific journal article and discussed it with its author before it was published. Giovanni is curious about science and medicine, and has already taken the initiative to immerse himself in experiences that enhance his knowledge of these subjects while preparing him for the challenges of a career in medicine.”
His education at Bishop Noll and attending the congress helped Giovanni realize who he is and what he can do. “Before going to the congress, I was not as confident in my abilities and future as I am now. It showed me that I was downplaying my strengths and overplaying my fears.”
For more information on the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, visit futuredocs.com.
Bishop Noll Institute will showcase its science program and plans for a STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, math) Innovation Center and Lab during the school’s next open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the school, 1519 Hoffman St. For more information, visit bishopnoll.org.