Two Young Members of the XLH Network Enter Medical School
Date: September 1, 2001
By: Larry Winger

(Note from Webmaster - XLH Network in the following report refers to the name given The XLH Network Inc. prior to incorporation March 2, 2005.)

UK - We are delighted to announce that two of the younger members of the XLH Network, Jenny Britt-Compton, and Breanna Winger, have been formally accepted for places in medical school in the UK for the autumn term, 2001.

The education system in the UK is slightly different than that in other countries. Both of these young women are about 18 years old, and have completed normal high school courses, as well as two years of 'Advanced Levels', which are very like the freshman and sophomore years of American colleges. These courses are in specialized subjects (usually Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, but often additional subjects in the humanities to develop the broad-based individual that medical schools like to recruit). Typically three specialist subjects are studied.

Medical schools interview candidates during the beginning of the second year of their 'Advanced Level' study. Offers of a place are always conditional on the results of final national examinations, which take place in June, and are reported nationwide on 'The Day of Destiny', typically the second or third Thursday in August. It's a special joy to report that our two members succeeded in achieving satisfactory marks, with Breanna leaving school with 4 subjects, and Jenny achieving a dramatic 'A' grade in five! They will start their courses at the end of this month.

After a further six years of study in Medical School, candidates typically emerge with a Bachelor's degree in a science subject, and a commensurate medical degree.

These young women are an inspiration to us all. We wish them all the very best as they embark on their chosen career, and we hope that the treatment of metabolic bone disease may figure in some capacity in their continuing education.

Last modified Aug 8, 2007

XLH is also known as X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (sometimes also spelled as hypophosphataemia), X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets, Familial Hypophosphatemia, Vitamin D-Resistant Rickets (VDRR) Rickets and even Genetic Rickets. Its notable characteristics are bowed legs, short stature, poor teeth formation causing spotaneous dental abscesses, and low blood phosphorus levels.

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