13-Year-Old Fort Worth Girl Youngest African American Accepted Into Medical School

A 13-year-old girl from Fort Worth, Texas is the youngest black person to ever be accepted into medical school.

Alena Analeigh McQuarter is a junior in college. She goes to Arizona State University and Oakwood University at the same time online. That makes her one year away from graduating with a double bachelor’s degree. She applied for early acceptance to medical school at the University of Alabama’s Heersink School of Medicine for 2024.

She was accepted into the program in May.

“I was like, this is what I want to do. I want to go into healthcare. I want to help others and get involved with underrepresented communities,” McQuarter said. “There are viruses all over the world that don’t have cures and I want to be the person who helps to find those cures.”

McQuarter also started Brown STEM Girl, a foundation that offers mentorship for girls. It gives them hope that they can become anything they put their mind to.