Niles’ Rochele Thomas, 18, spent much of her childhood faithfully at the hospital bedside of her sick parents.

During those moments, Thomas never let sadness overcome her curiosity for the medical field. As the nurses filed in and out of the hospital room, Thomas peppered them with questions or watched with interest while they worked.

“I have always been curious,” Thomas said. “I want to know what and why and how does it happen and can we change the outcome of it?”

Now, Thomas’ curiosity and aptitude for providing compassionate care to others has garnered her recognition from the prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders.

The congress is a program designed for honor students interested in pursuing a medical career and seeks to provide them resources and contacts to advance their education and career in the field.

Based on her academic achievements, leadership potential and determination, Thomas was selected as a delegate for the association. She will be presented the Award of Excellence in Boston, in June 2018.

Thomas is a senior at Brandywine Innovation Academy. She was nominated to join the program by Dr. Robert Darling, the medical director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.

Much of her inspiration for the career path came from her father, Michael, who recently died, after more than 10 years of fighting kidney failure.

Her father first fell ill when she was 2 years old. His leg was amputated due to a blood clot.

Despite the pain that he faced daily, Michael fought hard to be there for his family, Thomas said. Because of his need for dialysis treatments, Michael was eventually put into a nursing home.

Before his death, Thomas had the chance to tell her father that she wanted to grow up to be an obstetrician and gynecologist.

Her father was supportive. On tough days, Thomas can still hear his words of encouragement.

“He said, ‘You can do it. Keep going,’” Thomas said.

Being honored as a delegate will now give her the opportunities to begin down the path to accomplishing her dream of becoming a doctor.

During the three-day congress, Thomas will have the opportunity to meet other potential medical students. She will also get to listen to nobel laurates and the National Medal of Science winners, who will present on the leading medical research in the industry.

Representatives from Ivy League and top medical schools will also be in attendance and will advise students on what to expect in their education. 

To continue to assist students as they pursue or go through medical school, Thomas will have access to programs and networking through the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Academy. 

“This is such an opportunity, because I feel like now people will be like, ‘wow, she did good,’” Thomas said. “I know there are going to be some inspiring people there.”

With an insider perspective on the importance of compassionate care, Thomas said she knows she is the right fit for the job.

Thomas first dropped out of traditional public school in the sixth grade so that she could take care of her mom, Susan, who suffers from a lung infection.

Thomas has helped her mother to do everything from cooking and cleaning to bathing and getting dressed.

With the care requiring her to be home most days, Thomas signed up for Brandywine Innovation Academy, which offers students online classes.

While Thomas said she is grateful to be able to care for her mom while getting an education, she said she regrets that online classes, combined with her busy schedule, that includes working a part-time job does not allow for enrolling in clubs or extracurricular activities.

With the honor, Thomas said she feels the recognition will help her college application to stand above the rest.

The senior will be paying for the trip out of pocket, which has cost her more than $500.

As she thinks about her future as a medical donor, Thomas will inevitably recall the compassion she saw exercised for her own parents during their frequent stays in the hospital.

Thomas does not know where she will continue her education at this point, though she said she hopes to attend the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University or a school in Chicago.

Thomas’ boyfriend, Jake Zuidema, of Kalamazoo, said when it comes to compassion Thomas fits the bill.

“Where others go a foot, she goes a mile,” he said.