FlexMed will afford me the opportunity to gain more theoretical and practical skills in global health and health policies and enhance my future career as a doctor devoted to the quality of healthcare in the developing world. Should I be selected for the FlexMed program, I would change my major to Public Policy Analysis/Biology, a special major that would offer me the opportunity to intern at a local public health institution during the fall semester of senior year. I hope to focus on the health issues of underserved populations in LA and develop projects with MEDLIFE Claremont to address the issues. In addition, I plan to learn Thai and go back to Thailand during a summer to start a health education program in the school I volunteered with last summer. The program would primarily focus on sexually transmitted diseases in response to the new rise in HIV/AIDS cases among young people in Thailand. Because of the flexibility the program offers, I am also interested in studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark as a junior to study the health system in Northern Europe.
I started my internship at Lopburi Cancer Hospital in Thailand with excitement and anxiety. “What stage is the cancer in?” I asked in an effort to leave a good impression of the attending physician as we rounded with patients. In my mind, the prognosis for cancer wasn’t a good one and making a patient comfortable was important. However, as I stood waiting on the answer to my question, which my attending had declined to
Combining my two passions of traveling and pursuing a career in the health field has always been a dream of mine. I hope to study abroad during the summers of my undergraduate years at UC Berkeley. Studying internationally will also broaden my horizons on the different medical techniques that are being practiced in various locations around the world. While traveling outside of the United States to study abroad would provide remarkable education and experiences, traveling to different states in the United States would also provide noteworthy experiences. I would hope that through networking with Cal alumni as well as Cal faculty I
The invaluable skills that I have gained and learned through my after school clubs, Future Business Leaders of America, (FBLA) and National Honor Society( NHS), has stirred up a desire in me to help my community and to make a difference in the lives of people, by majoring in the Public Health field. Through Public Health, I will help those in my community at large to live healthy lives; mentally, socially, physically and culturally. Healthcare is an essential need in life and is a great field that would allow me to make a difference.
I am applying for the Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) because of my intrinsic motivation to serve people through the healthcare field, which developed from a very early age. The motivation developed because I had an opportunity to see the miracles research and medicine could do first hand back in Pakistan, as my father was an ENT surgeon. Research wise, classes like Psychobiology and Molecular and Cellular Biology have consistently increased my interest in neurobiology and immunology, and equipped me with the laboratory training needed to perform productive laboratory research. Also being born in Pakistan, a third world country lacking quality health care and through living in a region of the world torn by socioeconomic issues, I have noticed many around the world lack access to healthcare. I aim to change that throughout my life by partnering with organizations like the United States Navy or the Doctors Without Borders, and the attainment of a MD/Ph.D. degree is an essential part of it.
Throughout this internship, I wasn’t forced to just watch on the sidelines. I was able to interact with patients and hear their stories. I was able to assist in performing electrotherapy, hot therapy, and cold therapy. I realized how important bedside manner is, especially when patients are despondent.
Describe how FlexMed will change your educational plan and enhance your future career in medicine. Please concentrate on how you will use the flexibility afforded by FlexMed, and not on the FlexMed requirements.
After receiving my bachelor's degrees in Public Health and Foreign Language and International Economics, and masters degrees in Epidemiology and International Economics, I plan on serving a minimum of six months with Doctors Without Borders-- a health advocacy organization that deploys doctors to communities with active need. Not only is this how I plan to serve my global community directly, but I also plan on using this international service work to develop my career. After going on to receive a Ph.D. in Epidemiology, I plan on becoming an economic advisor, or occupying a related job in a healthcare agency so that I may lead an initiative in solving the economic woes of African countries to set them up for long-term
I arrived to work well rested and ready to start the day. I had just returned after a two week long vacation. Because of the time off, I arrived to 7 East to find that the assortment of patients was not familiar at all. As I began getting reports on my patients, one in particular I started to feel a little anxious and stressed. At first glance I could tell I would be busy for the next twelve hours. Lynda was a 45 year old woman that was admitted almost a week ago after having an emergent tracheostomy placed. Lynda was newly diagnosed with laryngeal cancer with already having several other diagnoses including: seizure disorders, mild mental retardation, behavioral issues, and was legally
Almost thirteen years ago, my life changed when my youngest daughter was born with undiagnosed medical problems. The challenge of finding answers consumed my life. My family and I spent a significant amount of time searching for answers in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals, always by our daughter’s side. Throughout my journey, I was able to learn a lot about the medical profession, including the differences between good and not so good healthcare professionals. We were fortunate to meet a lot of excellent doctor’s, nurses, and support staff, however, we also had our fair share of medical professionals that were not so great. At times our journey was extremely frustrating because we had to depend on medical staff that was uncaring and
It was near the end of a clinic day when I escorted a mother and her four year old daughter to room three, laid out her chart, and put up an x-ray of a the child's knee. Once the doctor had finished with the patient in room two, walked over to the x-ray display, pointed to four small pointed bone protrusions, silently put up the x ray of her shoulder, pointed to another three then sighed. After turning to see what was probably a confused look on my face, he said a single word- tumors. I had seen several other patients with cancer; usually it was caught early, and treatment began very soon after. However, that was not the case here. I stood discreetly by the door as it was explained to the patient's mother, with the help of a translator as the doctor didn’t know Spanish and the mother English, that in order to give her daughter the best possible chance, they would have to take her four hours north of here to a hospital in San Antonio. The mother replied in a small voice that that wouldn’t be possible
On September 28, when we went to Tripler Army Medical Center, I was placed in the Cardiac Ward. At that time, I was able to learn so many diagnosis dealing with the patients. The nurse had briefly explained what was going on with each individual patient and the type of treatments they are doing to help. She had also neatly clarified each medication she was giving them and told me exactly what it was used for. I was able to get an experience of hands on by taking a patient’s temperature. I had shadowed as she did so many things to make the patient feel comfortable and did everything to the best of her ability to make them happy. She had taught me how to record every piece of information about the patients on the computer by showing me what
The MD Program at GW is well-tailored to my specific interests: working as a community physician through service, broadening my medical and cultural knowledge by studying abroad, and performing clinical research.
As I said before I used to be a cancer hospital nurse. I love my job but I feel tired. Too much pressure on my shoulder when I was working. In Death and Anger on Everest Jon Krakauer mentioned, Sharpas help mountaineers to carry food, medicine, oxygen bottles, and equipment. However, they put their own lives in great dangerous without any supports (Krakauer, p19-27). People will remember the mountaineers, not Sharpas. I think nurses and Sharpas have something in common. Nursing cancer patients is a hard work. You have to focus on every detail while work without any tiny mistake. One mistake would kill your patient. The number of patients is growing rapidly, and the number of nurses is inadequate. That means you have to undertake more work and responsibility. On the other hand, the medical environment in China is becoming strained. That makes me upset and scared. I come here not only for knowledge but also for time. I want to give myself some time to make me become better and stronger enough to face all the problems I might meet in the
Also, I find the dynamics of cancer treatment to be absolutely fascinating. I’ve experienced the physical and emotional toll it takes on an individual and their family, and I would like to make a contribution to help better understand the disease as well as better the lives of those who are diagnosed. Along with seeking acceptance into the SURF+ program, I am also in the process of looking for opportunities in which I can volunteer or work in a cancer care setting. Volunteering or working in a cancer care setting while supplementing that experience with research in the field is an extremely rare and invaluable opportunity. If I am accepted, I am almost certain that my experiences during this summer will serve as the core of any of my future endeavors. Currently, I am close to wrapping up my first year of volunteering with Honor Health at the Deer Valley Medical Center, and I can say, without any hesitation, that my desire and motivation to make health care my career has only continued to grow. Additionally, I have taken the time to learn about MIHS itself, its mission, and the services it provides to the
My interest for public health stems from the need to aid numerous people in disease and injury prevention, health protection, and strategies for health promotion. I hope to earn a Master of Public Health with a focus in the area of health care management as well as hospital administration in relation to public health policy development and education. I aspire to develop enhanced intervention policies that can provide the population with direct access to primary health care due to public health preparedness education and strategic planning.
After finishing my Undergraduate, I have seen it wise to purse masters in public health, an area that I have much interest in. Having pursed a Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, minor in psychology, expanding my knowledge in the field of public health has been my next option. The vast knowledge that I have gained learning and working can help me while pursuing this program. Given the chance I would be able to fulfill my career goals.