1. What three attributes of the Stony Brook PA program most influenced you to apply to our program and why?
Many elements of the Stony Brook PA program influenced my decision to apply to this program. The stated mission of the Stony Brook PA program reflects my personal approach to health care. At Stony Brook, there is an emphasis an on a “comprehensive patient-centered medical care”, rather than simply relying on a one-size-fits all approach. This corresponds to both my own orientation and my experience. In my different volunteer experiences, I have seen all different types of patients, and have seen how different approaches work for different patients. The program also has …show more content…
The experience of talking to different people at Roosevelt has given me a window into the lives of all these different groups. I also worked with underserved communities while volunteering abroad in Israel. At Alyn Children’s Hospital, over half the children lived under the poverty line. At the hospital there were Arab and Jewish children, many of whom lived on government aid. In addition to medical help, these children needed other types of support from the hospital staff. Many of the children came from large families who were only able to give them limited attention, despite the fact that they desperately needed large amounts of individualized attention. The care that staff gave these children helped level the playing field for some of them. Despite their differences, all patients, first are foremost, are united by the fact that they are people who just want to improve their heath. As someone who is passionate about connecting with and helping others, I am interested in more than just the medical problems that people might have; I am interested in the patients as people. These experiences made me realize how important understanding the whole patient is. Looking at the patient as a whole person, looking beyond their illness, will help make me a better PA, one who is able to give more extensively to the community. …show more content…
The work of the first organization was primarily educational. I was responsible for organizing all public events on campus. As president of the religious group, my responsibilities were to make sure that the needs of each individual in the community were met. Both of these leadership opportunities taught me a great deal. I learned about the value of teamwork, and the importance of delegating responsibility, not just to ease my own burden, but also to help create a sense of commitment, responsibility, and ownership among group members. I leaned when it was necessary to be forceful and confront a difficult situation head on, and when a more conciliatory approach was called for. I learned that there are times when attempting to build consensus might lead to inaction or even fragmentation; there are times when a leader simply needs to take charge, make a decision, and do what needs to be done in order to accomplish a specific goal. I try to be a leader that listens to everyone and tries to find the best solution to problems that might arise. I think that a leader knows how to lead but also when it is not only OK but necessary to take a step back, and let others shine. An effective leader knows the strengths (and weakness) of their team, and how to use her own strengths, in the most effective way possible. (250