Youngest M.D.: Child Prodigy To Graduate From Med School At Age 21

Youngest M.D. Sho Yano

Sho Yano is set to become the youngest recipient of an M.D. in University of Chicago's history.

The 21-year-old will be awarded an M.D. this week at UC's prestigious Pritzker School of Medicine, after finishing the school's Medical Scientist Training Program, which is designed for those seeking to earn an M.D. and Ph.D. He has been awarded a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology back in 2009 at age 18.

Sho, who has an estimated IQ of 200, was reportedly reading by age 2, writing by age 3, playing classical music on the piano at age 4 and composing by age 5. He went to the Mirman School as a child. After scoring 1500 out of 1600 on the SAT at age 8, he entered Loyola University Chicago at age 9, finishing in three years and graduating summa cum laude.

"If the pressure had come from anyone else, like my parents, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going," said Sho. "You have to be driven by something you want to do."

Born in Portland, Ore., Sho spent most of his early years in California, where his father, Katsura, now runs the American subsidiary of a Japanese shipping company. Sho lives in the university's family housing with his mother, who originally came to this country from Korea to study art history, and 15-year-old Sayuri, also a prodigy and his closest confidante.

After his graduation this week, Sho will be second youngest person to receive an M.D. in the U.S. According to Guinness World Records, Dr. Bala Ambati completed his studies at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York in 1995 at the age of 17.