Preventative Medicine: Personal Statement

Preventative medicine has served to play a pivotal role in creating a world where people live healthier lives, make large efforts to prevent common illnesses, and take precautions against illness and disease. All of these roles are in line with how I see myself contributing as a physician to the to the family medicine speciality. I have seen the societal improvements and benefits that have arisen through previous public health initiatives, such as vaccination programs, restrictions on the use of tobacco, family planning, etc. I want to be able to mold my career is such a way that I am able to help a large number of people, emphasize prevention and primary care, and also continually be challenged in ways that motivate me to improve as a physician. …show more content…
As such I see preventative medicine as means for improving overall health conditions and reducing those obstacles or hindrances that may pose as a barrier towards obtaining health or health related services. The passing of my grandmother in Nigeria while trying to obtain life saving yet simple equipment, gave me a real life view of the problems faced by communities with significant health care needs but with limited access to healthcare services or resources. I see preventative medicine as a medium for helping me to develop and guide my strong interest in international health thus allowing me to create sustainable health initiatives in underserved areas both locally and globally. I am also interested in developing ways to improve health literacy throughout various communities. After working at a literacy foundation, I am very familiar with the power that education and knowledge provides people as they move through society. For me empowering patients with the ability to better understand and become invested in their health would only serves to improve health outcomes