Senior Joo Young Lee’s interest in science and social personality whisks her away to the windy city next fall to get a head start on her medical career.

Lee was one of the select few applicants to be accepted to Northwestern University’s Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) for the class of 2023. She will be a part of the seven-year program, which will encompass both her undergraduate and medical school degrees.

“I honestly didn’t think I would get in because it’s such a competitive program,” Lee said. “They choose less than 30 people in the nation or internationally, so I was very shocked. I still don’t know how I got in.”

HPME is a program specifically designed for accelerated students, giving them the opportunity to earn their medical school degree after only a three-year undergraduate program and automatic admission to four years at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. This also allows those in the program to be exempt from taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) that is normally required for entrance into medical school.

“The reason why I was applying for these combined programs in general was because I wouldn’t have to get an MCAT,” she said, “I would be guaranteed admission to medical school, which makes my undergraduate years a lot less stressful, and I can explore a lot of different things.”

Lee said she ultimately chose Northwestern both for its academic programs and unique work environment for clinical study.

“I chose Northwestern specifically because they have programs in their medical school that are close to what I want to do,” she said. “They integrate clinical years and your studying all together starting your first year of medical school, which is something I really like. Then their medical school is in Chicago, so there’s a lot of stuff going on and a lot of diversity. I can work with a lot of different types of people.”

Although Lee has a long road ahead of her to complete the HPME program, she got a good start here at LHS.

Students and staff at have noted Lee’s academic success throughout her high school career. As well as taking on several AP classes she has been a part of student council, debate, orchestra and more.

“She’s a unique combination of artistic and intellect, and I think she’s going to be a fine doctor,” said Lee’s AP Biology teacher, Ann Foster. “I’m delighted for her. She’s going to open up so many different opportunities, and this is just one of those amazing things that she’s been able to accomplish.”

Lee’s family is especially excited for her since going to medical school has been a dream of hers since she was young, they said.

“Getting into a selective combined admissions program has been a long time goal for her throughout her teenage years,” Hyun-Jin Lee, Joo Young’s father, said. “She has wanted to be a medical doctor since she was very young.”

Hyun-Jin attributes part of Joo-Young’s decision to her own health issues as an infant.

“Joo Young was a premature baby born at 27 weeks,” he said. “She was in NICU for two months. She has told me that this was very influential in her decision to become a doctor, and she has considered becoming a NICU doctor among other specialties”

After completing her education at Northwestern, Lee plans on staying in Chicago.

“I really had an interest in science and math ever since I was young,” Lee said. “Then when I was exploring a lot of jobs, me being a really social person, I thought be a doctor would really suit my interest: interacting with other people and in the process, also helping them with their medical needs.”