At nine, I developed Type I Diabetes which cut my lifespan by 13 years. While it is treatable, there is no cure. My diagnosis brutally shaped me into an individual who was fearful, angry, defeated, and thought she had no control in her life. However, my Endocrinologist found this unacceptable. She forced me to confront my disease and my life head on. Her mantra to me while I was in the hospital was: “You have this disease. Your choice was taken away. But, you get to choose your attitude towards it. So, pivot.” I took what she said to heart.
My diagnosis ignited my passion for helping others transition through difficult times by volunteering at the American Diabetes Association (ADA). My plight and my work at the ADA allowed me to experience the “global” healthcare system firsthand. As a young diabetic, I had the opportunity to witness the problems that plagued the healthcare system firsthand and uncensored. During my extensive stays at various hospitals and physicians’ offices, I realized that the healthcare system was no different from a business. The system was …show more content…
I have discovered that, while a shortage of viable organs has resulted in extended wait times in the United States for those in need of transplants, the wait times in China are relatively short. Furthermore, Chinese medical practitioners continually strive to innovate the types of transplants performed, as seen with the recent development of a full-face transplant. By pursuing a concentration in Law and Society at the Yenching Academy, I hope to study how China has built such an efficient system and bring this knowledge back to the US and to the larger world. Participating in this program will also afford me the opportunity to work with people with diverse backgrounds whose perspectives will only add to the depth of my
My diagnosis ignited my passion for helping others transition through difficult times by volunteering at the American Diabetes Association (ADA). My plight and my work at the ADA allowed me to experience the “global” healthcare system firsthand. As a young diabetic, I had the opportunity to witness the problems that plagued the healthcare system firsthand and uncensored. During my extensive stays at various hospitals and physicians’ offices, I realized that the healthcare system was no different from a business. The system was …show more content…
I have discovered that, while a shortage of viable organs has resulted in extended wait times in the United States for those in need of transplants, the wait times in China are relatively short. Furthermore, Chinese medical practitioners continually strive to innovate the types of transplants performed, as seen with the recent development of a full-face transplant. By pursuing a concentration in Law and Society at the Yenching Academy, I hope to study how China has built such an efficient system and bring this knowledge back to the US and to the larger world. Participating in this program will also afford me the opportunity to work with people with diverse backgrounds whose perspectives will only add to the depth of my