My Pursuit of and Passion For Medicine

When challenged as to why I would want to pursue a career in medicine, my response includes an acknowledgement of the realities of an intensely stressful and academically rigorous profession, but also a recognition of the rewards that come with having the ability to make a real difference to peoples’ lives. We depend on medicine in our weakest times and seek strength in those who dedicate themselves to research, prevention and treatment and I believe I have both the compassion and motivation to make a positive contribution.

Well, the day after my mother returned from yet another visit, I found out. Apparently, my grandfather had lung cancer and was in desperate need of IV fluids, but he lacked the resources to fund his treatment at a proper, advanced hospital. Because of the unsuitable care he received, he passed away the day my mother arrived to visit him. This anecdote goes beyond poor timing- it reflects how important access to excellent medical care is a matter of life or death. If my grandfather had more money, or maybe lived closer to places adequate for his health needs, he most likely would still be alive, according to my mother. This one incident has pushed me to want to prevent easily preventable deaths from occurring by providing for disadvantaged populations at a greater risk for it. On the other hand, I have seen how receiving the required medical attention saves lives. My head martial arts instructor was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. While he mostly stopped teaching, he sought the best treatment he could find, which admittedly, was not difficult. The surrounding area has several world-class hospitals with committed and well-trained healthcare

The issue of disparities in health service and uneven distribution of resources in the United States health care system are well-known principle challenges in medicine. The United States doesn’t adhere to any health care model in particular instead it is structured as a hierarchy, causing wide gaps in quality and availability of health care to exist between income levels. For instance, the level of care and or coverage of a child in a rural area like Flint, Michigan (where 40% of the population live below the federal poverty line) will not compare to the quality of care delivered to the child of a wealthy CEO who resides in San Jose, CA. Conversely, low-income areas are generally less sanitary and less healthy than their richer counterparts. Hence, these low income/impoverished demographics deserves more attention than currently allocated, they deserve more health resources and funding because this type of demographics is

Growing up in a small rural community in Jamaica I had a real life view of an area on the forefront of poverty with limited access to proper and affordable healthcare. Twelve years ago I can recall watching my cousin slowly declined from being a joyous mother and friend to a torpid corpse that deteriorated from breast cancer. Despite all the help and effort to sustain her life with the little resources available, she died nine months later even after having a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. The cancer had metastasize long before she was diagnosed. Losing her was devastating, especially on her husband and two children. Her death and as well as other experiences contributed to my appreciation physicians and other health care workers.

While taking in each detail of the surgery, I witnessed the specialized skills required to make the incision and insert the tube through the patient’s chest. The physician’s success in carrying out the skills reminded me of the techniques I had mastered for my microbiology thesis. I found the missing link between my fascination with surgery and my thesis research: patient-centered care. I was awestruck by the physician’s ability to maintain focus on the chest tube insertion while simultaneously providing emotional support to the patient throughout the surgery. Witnessing the procedure instilled a deep desire to develop the physician’s abilities to deliver life-saving, patient-centered care.

I quote a man who has been accepted by the general populace to be accurate in his observations of society: “Every civilization is, among other things, an arrangement for domesticating the passions and setting them to do useful work”, Aldous Huxley is known to have said. I know not the purpose of life, but I know of passion, and mine lies in medicine.

My interest in medicine stems from family experiences. My grandmother suffered from Parkinson’s disease for most of her life and required constant care. Helping my grandmother with simple tasks like eating breakfast, or helping her up the stairs was a humbling experience. This experience drove my curiosity about the human anatomy, specifically the brain and how it is treated, which led to the realisation that, for me, a satisfying career would involve helping others. A career in medicine will allow me to combine these motivations, and to gain knowledge that I can use to serve more people than just my family.

My family has had an abundance of encounters with difficult health circumstances. My father has type two diabetes, countless ear infections and operations, dentures, and deteriorating cartilage. My cousin Elias was born with multiple deformities and recently passed away. Much more of my family in Morocco face some of the same illnesses and others including skin cancer, undernutrition, etc. I have always wanted to help them, but I am not a person who is fond of dissecting and gore as a doctor would have to be. I would rather say I am creative and like finding solutions in building things.

I have always known that I wanted to make a difference in this world, even if it is one person at a time. I have dreamed of becoming a nurse, instead of being just a dream it is now going to become reality. My passion for health is more than a passion it is my lifestyle, a lifestyle I want others to follow. I have started up a small running group within the community to promote a healthy lifestyle. I often donate blood as I know how important it is in the healthcare field. I have worked at the Community Health Center of Branch County for 5 and half years now. I absolutely love my job, I started out as a nursing assistant on the floor, assisting the nursing staff with dressing changes, doing vitals, obtaining different types of specimen

As a medical scribe, I observe every doctor-patient interaction, and working in San Jose exposes me to a wide demographic. As a result, I gain understanding of how the disadvantaged attain health care and some of the difficulties they experience. Many of the patients I see use the emergency room as if it were a primary care clinic because they do not have health insurance or a regular doctor. This is unfavorable for the patient because they do not get the extended treatment that is often required for non-acute ailments, however their situation leaves them with little choice.

One of the most important things in my life is my passion for medicine. I love to learn more about different fields and career paths that are available to me. Although it is a very important part of my life, most people do not know about it.

As a Hemophiliac, I have always had an interest in pharmaceuticals and healthcare because they have had such a pronounced impact on my life. Growing up with a disability was difficult because I didn’t have a lot of access to information, but I see myself in a unique position to help pharmaceutical companies in the bleeding disorders space assuage this information gap. Health complications related to my Hemophilia over the past year and a half have only amplified this interest.

To Whom It May Concern: It is no secret that we all grow up at different rates. Some bud quickly, and other flowers take time. Some even take 25 years. I am no longer who I was at 18 or 21. The number of experiences, interests, and knowledge I’ve gained could not have been accomplished without time. Without this time, I would have never lived the diverse experiences that led me to find my passion for the medical field. Having this many experiences, as seen from my application, allows me to assess situations from different angles. Solving problems, managing people, executing ideas, leading professional change, and connecting with patients - all made easier because of the vast exposure I’ve accumulated throughout my life. That’s not to say I’m

This project interests me, Meldrick Ravida, because I have a passion for technology. The innovations and breakthroughs we make in medicine are absolutely astounding. I believe this project will yield positive results in our community by persuading teens to take steps toward optimizing their health, by getting the necessary vaccinations; in addition to providing data for the JABSOM students. Being able to work with Medical School students will be a great experience to explore different pathways and learn more about public health as well - a possible health career to pursue. I would like to say that all four of us have the work ethic, ingenious, and motivation to partake in a project bigger than ourselves. We all get along well with each other

There was no specific moment that helped me realize medicine was my passion. Throughout my life, I have witnessed the true meaning of service and the positive role that medicine plays in the lives of others. My mother was my original inspiration for service, yet both of my parents inspired me through the models of sacrifice and kindness they demonstrated over the years. Their dedication to others, proven in both work and family, are unequalled. My parents gave me the opportunity to see a selfless way of life and the joy that can be found in caring for others. Their values nurtured a passion inside of me, one that has manifested in the world of healthcare, a world that I feel as if I belong to like no other.