Germantown Academy junior Meredith Rizzi ’24 has been selected as a member of Penn Medicine’s 2022-23 Penn Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Teen Advisory Council. In the role, Rizzi will be working on several Adolescent Health projects as well as learning about health practices and how to improve physical and emotional healthcare for teens. The position started in November and runs until May. 

Rizzi said she saw the position posted when she was at Penn for a doctor’s appointment. 

“I thought that it’d be really cool opportunity for me,” Rizzi said. “Honestly, I've been interested in the medical field since a really young age. A lot of people in my family are in the medical field, so it's like, I've grown up around it.”

According to Rizzi, the application process was fairly simple; just some questions about issues that were important to her, what issues she thought pertained to teens and adolescents, and how more awareness could be raised. After about two weeks, she received email confirmation of her selection. 

Right now, she is getting ready for Adolescent Health Week in March. While she cannot say for certain what her project will be, Rizzi – who also volunteers at Cradles to Crayons – said she would like for it to be some type of clothing drive. 

“When I volunteer, I see a lot of stuff for younger children,” Rizzi said. “But the need for clean clothes and other items doesn't go away when you're a teenager. I'd love to see something connected there. I still have to finalize things, but something along those lines.”

The junior said she is not sure what her favorite aspect of the medical field is, but that she enjoys the scientific side. Overall, Rizzi is looking forward to the connections and experience of working at Penn.

“I really like the group of people that I'm with,” Rizzi said. “Everyone's really nice. The two doctors who lead it are great, so I'm really looking forward to getting to know everyone a little bit more and to do this project.”