22-year-old woman becomes youngest graduate of Wright State University's medical school

Jet, July 15, 1996

At the tender age of 22, when most students are graduating from college, Tiffani Clark of New Rochelle, NY, recently became the youngest graduate of Wright State University's School of Medicine in Dayton, OH.

The gifted scholar, however, is taking her historical accomplishment in stride. I do feel honored that I'm the youngest person to graduate from the school,, she says. "But I am more pleased with the fact that I buckled down, studied and was able to finish medical school at age 22."

The overachiever skipped kindergarten, fifth grade and 10th grade. She attended New Rochelle Academy in NY and Garden State Academy, a college prep school in Tranquility, NJ. She graduated from high school at 10 and earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology at age 18 from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI. Her late father, Willie Clark, was a school teacher and her mother, Mrs. Evangeline Clark, is a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

She says her age was never a factor in her academic career. She was always able to fit in with the other students. "I was able to fit in well because the changes were gradual. It was not like I went from fifth grade straight to college."

She will soon start a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, OH.

The future gynecologist wants other young people to realize the importance of good work ethics and learn how to set goals for themselves.

"Every child does not have to finish college early," she notes. "What's more important is that they stick to what they want to do. Decide what you want to do, work hard, stick with it and you'll make it," she stresses.