The endless suffering in my country of birth, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, had a major influence on my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. Now, residing in the United States, I am fortunate enough to work in the healthcare field as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). This experience and exposure to healthcare has strengthened my desire to continue my education and pursue medical school. My ultimate goal is to return to Ethiopia and practice the skills I acquire through my education in this great country. In college, I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation of my science courses which further confirmed my aspirations to pursue a career in healthcare. Following this goal, I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) at VCU. My undergraduate experiences extended beyond the classroom as a home care aid serving mentally ill patients in a group home and as a Pathology Technologist in the clinical microbiology laboratory at VCU Health Systems (VCUHS). Upon graduation, I accepted a full time position in the Clinical Immunology/Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, at VCUHS as a CLS. Part of an academic teaching institution, our department …show more content…
Many of the assays are technically complex requiring a thorough and comprehensive background in the sciences. Having such a background allows me to perform, analyze, interpret and troubleshoot laboratory procedures at the preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases of testing. In this role, I have the opportunity to clinically correlate laboratory results with disease conditions and often work side by side with house staff, pathologists, nursing, and various other members of the healthcare team. Exposure to healthcare at this level assured me that continuing my education and seeking a degree in medicine was the right choice for
In 6th grade, I often found myself standing in the garage holding a baking pan in one hand, and an old knife in the other; I was getting ready to dissect some eyeballs and hearts my mother had brought back from the butchers. Through my laboratory research experiences in the Neuroscience department at the Ohio State University, I developed an interest in biology, which further snowballed into an aspiration for pursuing a career in medicine. By shadowing doctors at a free health clinic, La Clinica Latina, I was able to learn about the soft and hard skills that doctors use while interacting and diagnosing patients. This experience has allowed me to realize my desire for a future career in medicine. At Case Western, I hope to receive an education in biology with a pre-medical focus.
Along with being a biologist, I envision the future me as a pediatric or trauma doctor. Not only do I love learning about how each cell in the human body works, but I want to implement that knowledge in helping others around the world. Along with biology, I am taking anatomy and physiology to pursue my interest in human biology. Choosing my program of interest—medicine—was an effortless decision due to the fact that ever since I was a kid, I have always aspired to be like my pediatrician: always there to treat patients with compassion. Being able to grow up and assist kids who are in need of help has always been a goal of mine, and being able to do so in the emergency department would allow me to give a faster and hands on solution to ailments right in the moment. Science in general is something I am immensely passionate about, in particular biology and being able to learn all the aspects of the human body, and I strive for the day that I graduate with a master’s degree in biology and medical
Given the goals of WRITE, please state why you should participate in the next class of students. Growing up in rural Wyoming instilled within me a desire to work toward improving access to medical care in rural areas, and I feel my participation in WRITE would equip me with the skills and tools necessary to pursue this goal. I possess a unique perspective into rural communities and will be able to share this with physicians and patients while deepening my understanding of health care challenges in rural areas. I enjoy immersing myself in novel situations in order to learn about cultures, practices, people, and worldviews which differ from my own. I strongly believe in a holistic view of medicine: empowering patients to become partners in
As part of the CLS clinical practicum site preparation, I was granted the opportunity to tour Henry Ford Health Systems Laboratory. Being a patient at Henry Ford Health Systems, it was intriguing to see how their laboratory operates behind the scenes. If my physician ever has to order any laboratory tests, it does not take more than two to three business days to receive my results and feedback from my physician. After touring Henry Ford’s laboratory, there was no longer any doubt as to how I could receive my results so quickly; Henry Ford is very driven and modern. Case in point, their main laboratory was in the middle of cleaning up after a major technological upgrade during the tour. I also observed that every employee seemed to be completely
I became captivated by the opportunity to apply my knowledge of the biological and chemical sciences in a way that one day may save a life. Though my interest stems from my experiences, my passion to pursue this field lies elsewhere. Growing up in a family of low socioeconomic status in an area with few sources of acceptable health care, I saw my parents struggle as they aged to provide my siblings and I with a proper education. There were times they would ignore their own illness in order to save funds for an emergency for us. Observing this, I knew that no matter how difficult of a path I picked, regardless if it was pharmaceutical sciences or the medical field, my parents had concurred greater difficulties. Growing under such conditions, I began to realize the disparities in quality of treatments my parents received compared to those who of a higher socioeconomic status. This motivated me to pursue a career where I would be given the chance to offer care to individuals through unbiased views. Of course, there are a plethora of careers that can fulfill this but medicine has presented itself as very unique to me. It promises a lifestyle devoted to empathetic patient care, direct patient interaction, and a boundless opportunity to learn and experience something new. As the end of my undergraduate experience is forthcoming, I look forward to taking on the next phase of my life, endeavoring to join the ranks of tomorrow’s
My goal is to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Trinity Washington University. After working in government and as a massage therapist, I realized that I have a calling in health care. In order to become a great nurse that provides optimal care, I need to be educated by the best institution. I am dedicated to putting in the time and effort to gain all of the knowledge Trinity Washington University can provide me, as I start my journey to the health care field.
Having stood beside my husband for nine months as he struggled through a massive brain injury gave me a firsthand perspective of the power of nurses. Although I had been a new nurse at the time, this experience completely changed my viewpoint. Their compassion, empathy, knowledge, and trust was unprecedented and helped me through many painful days. Devastatingly, after a courageous fight, my husband passed away. This was undoubtedly the most heartbreaking experience in my life.
It all came together last summer on a 5,724.8-mile bicycle ride from Texas to Alaska. I was among a group of students lucky enough to wear the Texas 4000 for Cancer jersey and devote a summer to pedaling for a cause. Like with many other premed students, signs that showed how interested I was in medicine were apparent since before I can remember, but everything from my summer trip validated further every desire I had to join the medical field as a doctor. At the age of ten I was confident I wanted to spend the rest of my life getting back at the disease that took my grandmother away – a decision that led me as a freshman in college to a drug design and biological recognition research lab. I joined the lab as a way to help others by studying infectious diseases, but I sought out a way to make a more personal and unique impact on others Texas 4000.
Only once have I visited the emergency room. Falling in and out of consciousness, I watched the doctor make his rounds and came to a personal revelation: there is no other field I would rather pursue than in medicine. By participating in HLI’s Student Week, I would gain the skills and knowledge required to pursue research and innovation of treatments. While reading snippets of scientific journals is informative, hands on knowledge in a lab is of immeasurable value when I am determined to pursue a career in pathology. Firsthand experience with professionals in a medical laboratory will provide skills I will use in the future in a university research position during my post-secondary to better medical treatments. Having grown up in a developing
After discovering my passion for science and math, I pursue a career in Clinical Laboratory Science with enthusiasm. My desire to study this subject originates from the exciting and rapidly-moving subject area that is highly relevant to major issues facing society today. Clinical Laboratory Scientists play a crucial role in the healthcare field; in detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients. My goal is to be involved in the latest advances in medical research and to constantly be expanding my knowledge about my field. On top of this goal, Clinical Laboratory Science remains a challenging, rewarding and inspiring topic that will motivate and shape my career for my entire life.
My mom would pick me up after school and drive me to the medical clinic where I stayed until her workday was over. I spent much of my childhood there. My memories are still vivid: picturesque diagrams on the walls, dinging sounds from the monitors, oak-colored exam room doors, the clinic “smell”. I remember trying to interpret the pictures, each identifying a complex scientific system. I asked questions to whoever would listen, be it the doctors, nurses, or even patients, but still, it upset me that I could not understand the terminology. Inspired by this curiosity, I became interested in science. I enrolled in the Medical Science Institute at Midwood High School, and, subsequently, majored in Biochemistry at Hunter College. The material I learned in the classroom led me to question how it applied to real-world medical applications. Laboratory research became the platform that enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of how scientific processes interrelate with
My determination to study biomedical science originates from my resolve to help these people in need. One way I could do this is by combining my interest in engineering which stems from my father, as well as my interest in medicine to enter the field of biomedical science and work in a research laboratory, developing new techniques that enable medical workers to explore the different pathologies of diseases
Early experiences like these not only helped shape me into the person I am today, but has also led in part to my interests in public health and pursuing a career in Internal Medicine. With a keen interest in the biological sciences and an aspiration for a career in the field of Medicine, I earned a BSc in Physiology and B.A in Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. During my university years I juggled many tasks including working a part time job, volunteering at the Royal University Hospital, and being involved in associations such as the Animal Research and Ethics Board at the University of Saskatchewan, and the Biochemistry Student Association. While my early environment and experiences instilled in me an interest in serving more
Someone once told me that the large majority of medical decisions are based on lab results. For some reason, at that time, I thought that computers completed those tests, that my blood samples were just put into a machine and someone was there to press start. Before coming to college, I thought I would change the world by using science to cure disease. After a few years of classes I decided I didn’t want to work in a research lab, that I wanted to work with patients more directly. Of course it would still be wonderful to rid the world of disease, but I realized I wanted to see immediate results and have a relationship with the people affected by my work. I hadn’t heard about Medical Laboratory science until the end of my sophomore year
My curiosity to study medicine started from my interest in the study of humans within my Science lessons. From that point I decided to explore this interest outside my academic studies by completing Level 2 Emergency First Aid qualification. Learning and preparing myself for real life medical situations informed me of the demanding nature of medicine both physically (e.g. the physical effort needed do CPR correctly) and emotionally (e.g. dealing with an undesired outcome). Nevertheless, from developing my knowledge in areas such as patient safety in emergency situations during my training I was inspired. Medicine provides the opportunity to help people whilst being involved in the Science community and that is what I aspire to be a part of.