Public Health Personal Statement

I think I fell in love with the idea of a career in public health before I ever even knew what public health was. Upon entering my undergraduate career, I had a profound passion for the medical field and had hopes of pursuing a medical degree. Although I have always had a large-hearted ambition for helping others and a dedication to the medical field, the more classes I took at the collegiate level, the less passionate I became about the life I had previously envisioned. I was continuously fascinated by the applications of mathematics to biology and moreover their translation to medicine. I fell in love with the idea of modeling biological phenomenon and understanding the dynamic systems this entails. However, with this new approach, I began seeing health and medicine as not just something that begins and ends when you enter and leave a physician’s office, but rather a system of constantly changing variables that effect the health of all at a level I never had considered before. …show more content…
With this change of pace, I felt like I lost my sense of direction. I knew I was still passionate about the healthcare field, but did not know how my new found interest could translate into a career. I loved the idea of focusing on the multidisciplinary level of population health while integrating social, political and economic implications and upon showing interest I had a professor suggest I read And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts. The book left a lasting impression on myself and my future aspirations in the field of medicine. With Shilts’ reporting on the HIV/AIDS epidemic I found myself finally understanding the direction I could use my passion for: research and social justice driving health as a human