NATCHEZ — For Cathedral School senior Rudy Nugent, the medical field is the best profession in which he can imagine being involved.

Over the summer the 17-year-old spent nine days in the San Francisco area learning about medical professions as he participated in a National Youth Leadership Forum camp.

“I love absolutely everything about it,” he said. “You get to know about how people function, but you also get to know how to help people around you all the time.

“They say when you are a doctor, you are never off duty.”

Nugent’s English teacher, Jean Biglane, told him about the program.

“They gave me a general rundown of the different medical professions and how the people got there and also how I could get there,” Nugent said. “I got to watch a knee surgery, which was really awesome. I spoke with people who did triage during Hurricane Katrina and got to know what that was like.”

Nugent said one of his favorite parts was learning about emergency room doctors’ experiences, though he does not think that field is something he would like to pursue.

“(Their stories) were absolutely entertaining,” he said. “I don’t think I could handle the stress, but knowing what others do is fantastic.”

Nugent also had an opportunity to become cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certified. He was also certified in the use of an automated external defibrillator, which is a device that can diagnose and treat heart problems.

“If you see someone in need of medical attention, you are able to help,” Nugent said. “Being CPR certified, I would be able to help someone regardless of time or place.”

While he liked meeting the different doctors, Nugent said his favorite part of the trip was meeting some of the other 250 students at the camp. Nugent said he was the only one from Mississippi and one of a dozen from the South.

“I met life long friends there,” he said. “It was a big social thing, too. Meeting people of different backgrounds and learning about their goals helps you realize what you want to do with your own life.”

Nugent, the son of Scott and Audley Nugent, said he would like to be either a family doctor or a diagnostic radiologist.

“They are polar opposites,” Nugent said. “In family medicine you get to be close to people and watch them grow in their health. You build relationships with people.

“On the other hand, you diagnose people and help other doctors with patients. Either way you are helping people, either advising the people themselves or the doctors that are advising the people.”

For a few years, Nugent had thought he would attend Millsaps College, but as time to decide draws nearer he said he’s beginning to consider other options more.

“Millsaps is nice because it’s close to home, but I’m looking further away, too,” he said. “It is complicated.”