ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Being able to hold a human brain, heart, liver or kidneys in her hand isn’t something the average senior gets to do, but several summers Adrienne Sundie, a student at Robertsdale High, did just that. In the process it helped her look at a number of career paths as she begins the college application process.

“I was part of the National Youth Leadership Forum,” Sundie said. “My particular area of study was medicine, which was held at Emory University in Atlanta.

Sundie raised $2,500 so that she could attend the medical portion of the forum.

“At Emory we lived in dorms, ate in the school’s cafeteria and heard a variety of speakers each night.”

During the day the group, which included a boy from Bayside Academy and another girl from a school in north Alabama, visited various hospitals and medical schools where they were introduced to many of the various forms of medicine. In the labs they were also able to learn how blood supply was tested for the HIV virus for both domestic use, as well as shipment abroad.

“We were able to observe real surgeries, as well as be allowed to feel a variety of human organs,” she said. “They wanted us to know what the organs felt like, how much they weighed and the job within the body that each performed.”

Sundie said she cried as she listened to a man tell about his heart transplant surgery.

“For him to live it meant that someone else had died,” she said. “This man said that without his new heart he too would be dead today. He gave an excellent presentation about organ donation, and the importance of having it in your will, or marked on your driver’s license.”

Each evening the group was divided into teams as a medical issue was presented. The teams debated the pros and cons of each topic.

“I’ve always been kind of shy,” Sundie said, “but the debates helped me gain the kind of confidence I need to speak in public.”

Sundie said one of the fields she is considering is nursing school for the Bachelor’s degree she will need before making application to medical school.

“A Bachelor’s of Science in nursing would help prepare me for medical school,” she said, “as I would already be familiar with medical routines, terminology and how to deal with doctors. Not only would I be able to speak the same language the doctors do, but I would have a better idea about what they want from a student. Besides, I would be licensed to work in a hospital should I need to earn extra money. That’s something the chemistry and biology majors couldn’t do for another couple of years.”

At the present time the field of family medicine is what appeals to Sundie, but she knows that could change.

“I would love to shadow a family practitioner this summer, as well as get involved in the Summer Scrubs program,” she said. “Of course, I would love to go back to one of the National Youth Leadership Forum events, as I cried when I had to leave the last one.”

Another medical field she is considering is that of sports medicine.

“Although I’ve been accepted to the University of South Alabama I’m also looking at the University of West Alabama, as Dr. R.T. Floyd, the professor who teaches sports medicine there, wrote the textbook on sports medicine that is used at a number of colleges and universities,” she said.

Sundie knows she needs to concentrate on math and science, especially anatomy, to do well within the field. She is currently maintaining a 3.8 grade point average.

In order to be invited to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum, Sundie had to be nominated by a faculty member. Theresa Lacey, her English teacher, was Sundie’s nominator.

Approximately 400 students applied for one of the slots in the week long medical program. Only three from Alabama were chosen.

“Mrs. Lacey will never know how the Leadership Forum changed my life, or how important it has become since I got back,” she said. “It was worth every penny that was invested in me by those who contributed.”

Sundie said she planned to look into a program that would help her cut down on her tuition costs.

“The way I understand it,” she said, “if you agree to spend three years practicing medicine in a rural Alabama region the state will reduce you tuition costs. This is something I want to learn more about as medical school, whether it’s at the University of Alabama – Birmingham, or the University of South Alabama, can get expensive.”

Another option is the military as the armed forces will supply a physician with a practice, pay their insurance and furnish a number of other perks, including help with any medical tuition bills.

The daughter of Gale and Curtis Sundie of Robertsdale, Adrienne has two sisters.

“My twin sister, Alexis, also goes to RHS,” she said. “We have a younger sister, Madison, who is a freshman at RHS.”

Sundie is involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at RHS, as well as Interact. She also plays on the varsity soccer team.

“I’m also involved with our youth group at Silverhill Covenant Church,” she said.

This coming summer Sundie said that in addition to trying to get into the Summer Scrubs program she planned on volunteering at least 25 hours at a local hospital.

“I would eventually like to return to Baldwin County to practice,” she said, “but I know that’s quite a few years in the future.”