Leprosy Mission Hospital: Personal Statement

Improved Essays
Traveling from the bustling streets of New Delhi on tuk-tuks to rural Nandnagri, Shadara I arrived at the Leprosy Mission Hospital. Nervous but optimistic, I stepped into the undersized clinic, ignoring my mother’s warnings to avoid contacts with lepers. I locked eyes with a patient sitting by himself who later became known to me as Ahkil. Over the span of hours, I listened while Akhil recounted his disheartening story of being isolated in a leper colony for five years after his family abandoned him. After telling his story, Ahkil grasped my hand tightly and said, “Dhanyavaad mujhe ek vyakti ke roop mein dekhane ke lie” translated as, “Thank you for seeing me as a person”. In that moment, I realized I made the right decision to come to India. …show more content…
At BMC I could combine both of my interests, researching ways to improve the healthcare system while still maintaining contact with patients. At BMC, I learned that research and health policy are not separate entities. As a research assistant, I like to think of myself as an unsung hero of the healthcare industry. Research is a meaningful yet overlooked component of healthcare that has allowed me to make a substantive difference in patient’s health and welfare. For example, I am currently working on a project to improve the discharge process at BMC for patients with depressive- like symptoms. Working at BMC has sparked my interest in becoming a health policy analyst to translate scientific evidence into effective policies with a broader …show more content…
The rigorous curriculum will equip me with comprehensive knowledge and problem-solving skills to resolve complex health disparities in individual and community health. Furthermore, enrollment at Boston University will allow me to complete fieldwork in an area of interest. In addition to continuing working with underserved populations in the Greater Boston Area, I will be able to apply theory to practice while gaining critical skills that are directly transferable to a future job and career. Boston’s prime location will put me on the right path to research and innovation by allowing me to learn from and collaborate with faculty members toward an all-inclusive culture of health. Lastly, access to top research centers will further enrich my research skills that are needed to expand scientific knowledge in my future career as a Health Policy

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    My pursuit of a medical degree is greatly strengthened by the Columbia University Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP). Prior to matriculation from the program my source of motivation held no true direction, I wanted to simply “help people”. During SPHSP I was exposed to federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and my eyes were opened to new medium to help people. I admired the measures that FQHC put in place to effectively serve a population of people that, under normal circumstances, would not be able pursue healthcare. FQHCs aligned closely to the sense of equity that I began to develop as I was exposed to communities suffering from health disparities over the course of the internship.…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1) Briefly describe your exposure to medicine As the daughter of a pediatrician, the medical field has surrounded me my entire life. However, my familiarity with the details of medicine expanded at age 15 when I began to volunteer at the C.A.R.E. Clinic, which provides medical care for the uninsured. My internship at a medical examiner’s office exposed me to the anatomy and physiology of the human body and the medical causes of death. In college, I explored medicine by volunteering in the emergency department at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota in St. Paul and participated in a Global Medical Brigades trip to rural Honduras.…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I intend to be a culturally competent and socially conscious physician. I plan to use the acquired skills and knowledge to address the health care needs of minority and medically underserved communities, promote the health and well being of communities and ferociously fight to reduce and end preventable diseases facing the patient population. Therefore, I cannot imagine myself anywhere other than Meharry’s School of Medicine; it is only here where I can imagine receiving the best education and training. It is only at Meharry where I can be surrounded by physicians with similar mission statements and professional goals that are willing to nurture a generation of competent and compassionate student physicians focused on addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities and patient…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States has a health problem: Nearly 70% of American adults are overweight or obese and half of all adults in the US have one or more chronic health conditions. The US invests more of our GDP on healthcare than any other country and is disproportionately ranked 37th by the World Health Organization compared to other national health care systems. How can we solve our problem and improve health in the US? Family practice and primary care physicians are the key to reversing these trends in health rather than specialists; only in primary care do physicians hold the responsibility of preventing disease and promoting health over the lifetime of patients. My interest in primary care is motivated by a passion for preventative medical education,…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Thank you for the opportunity to apply as a Strategic Sourcing Summer Intern. Having reviewed the job description, I remain convinced that I have the qualifications, as well as the relevant work experience, to excel at Thermo Fisher Scientific over the Summer. While pursuing my Neuroscience degree at Bowdoin College, I developed a passion for Healthcare. This passion was solidified last summer, as I had the privilege to work as a Management Intern at the Mission Neighborhood Health Centre, in San Francisco.…

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While studying Cellular and Molecular Biology, I gained a significant amount of theoretical and practical knowledge. However, I feel as though my existing knowledge requires more supplementation so that I can apply my expertise effectively in a real world setting. After weighing my options, I decided that the field of public health would be a perfect fit for me. Public health offers me an outlet to augment my preexisting skills so that I can seamlessly apply them in professional settings. Additionally, public health is an extremely dynamic field and being a part of this field would allow me to work in numerous different industries.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Public Health Education

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    If relevant and appropriate, compare the proposed program with other appropriate programs found locally, regionally, and nationally. 1. Public health programs at the local level are offering generalist/online programs that do not offer emphasis areas at all. At GVSU we are still offering a program with a more specific public health skill set than our competition. The remaining two emphasis areas (Epidemiology and Health Promotion) are the leading areas in the field offered and the most popular among applicants to our program.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    GHI Internship Essay

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Coming to medical I knew that I wanted to further improve on my MPH. I wanted to continue to participate in clinical and public health research dedicated to delivering care to impoverished, underprivileged, and forgotten populations around the world. I wanted to be involved in micro and macro solutions solving the world’s healthcare problems, helping to lessen maybe one person's wait. In terms of academic, this is a perfect opportunity to further improve on my MPH.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In dance, you learn quickly that without pure dedication and drive you will never be successful. While talent can come naturally, skill and technique only come with hard work. I spent countless hours in dance studios growing up, working tirelessly to hone these skills and perfect technique. A lifetime of dance taught me what it means to have discipline and dedication to a craft, values which I have also seen reflected in my clinical experiences. Medicine is a practice which calls for just as much discipline, dedication, and drive.…

    • 786 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Although I currently call Michigan home, Kentucky was my first home as I was born in Bowling Green. I want to attend a medical school that actively works using talents and resources to establish bonds and create improvements within its community. The University of Louisville School of Medicine draws me back to my state of birth with its mission to improve the health of its patients and communities. I am confident the school would prepare me to advocate for the community with the skills and the humility to serve the whole individual.…

    • 92 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Thank You! It was my pleasure and honor to interview at the distinguished University of Washington School of Medicine. I enjoyed every single aspect of my visit. I was privileged to interact with enthusiastic medical students, physicians, and faculty members.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Attending a school that emphasizes diversity like the University of California, Los Angeles allowed me to interact with dissimilar people and immerse myself in many cultures different from my own. Through conversations outside of class and attending multiple culture nights, I was able to experience some of the customs, values, and beliefs of other cultures I had never been previously exposed to. However, most of my understanding has come from my service in Dr. Amy Waterman’s lab at the UCLA Transplant Research and Education Center. The research lab aims to reduce racial disparities in transplant. An example of our discoveries during research was results showing that minorities, especially African Americans, are less likely to pursue living…

    • 502 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My interest in public health started developing after changing my major to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from pre-med. Before, I switched majors, I wanted to become a doctor, but after seeking career advice and interviewing doctors, I realized that I don’t want to anymore. I don’t want to be restricted in providing health care in clinical way and to be limited in ways I could make a difference. But I am glad that I was premed because helped me realize my true passion; which is Public health. After, I switched majors I started learning about current health policies and staying updated on the changing policies.…

    • 1015 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The past thirteen years of my professional career have been spent in three different roles. For two years, I worked as an administrative assistant for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. After moving on from that role, I worked at Daratech for five years as a Research Associate. Since 2011, I have been with Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan as an Executive Assistant. During this time, I worked full-time in addition to earning my Bachelor’s Degree in English from UMass Boston and Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management from Northeastern University.…

    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the summer of 2003, excitement was in the air. It was our first school trip across our state. After a year of ups and downs filled with rewards and regrets, it was time to give something back to the community. As the school bell rang to mark the last day of 9th grade, we rushed home, retrieved our bags, and headed out for the trip. After arriving at dawn, we divided into groups and set about exploring the villages on foot.…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays