The Health Care Field : An Occupation Of Disease Prevention And Promotion Of Good Health Practices

As stated in #4 for any change to be achieved in society, voices for change need to be heard. Although providing better healthcare access is a right step in the right direction to help the American healthcare system, more can be done to prevent the nation to live unhealthy

Not only has the cases of preventable chronic diseases increased over the years affecting half of the U.S population, they account for 86% of the health care costs. Programs and policies that address risk factors and causes of these diseases at their roots would not only promote public health but reduce the cost of health care both in treatment and hospitalization.

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.

The healthcare sector offers a variety of professional opportunities that include pediatric, geriatrics, public policy and many other areas in which I hope to make a impact towards. I have always been intrigued by medicine and continue to gain more interest in public health. In the future, I desire to combine both medicine and public health by participating in an MD and MPH program. My experiences and education provide me with constant motivation in achieving my goals.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This saying goes to show that investing in preventative care is the only way to effectively reform health care plans in America. It is no secret that there are many issues facing health care; however, the most important issue seems to be the lack of funding for preventative care. Redistributing health care related funds into areas like public health and preventative medicine can increase the overall quality of life for patients. If health care reform revolves around preventative medicine, then America’s standard of health will rise. A healthier society will lessen the demand for expensive life-saving surgeries, thus decreasing the overall cost of health care. The overall solution for this issue would be to set a realistic health care budget that correlates to the United States’ current standard of health, thus majority of the budget focuses on preventative medicine.

Most six-year-olds have dreams of becoming a ballerina or an astronaut, not me, I have known since I was in kindergarten that I want to be a doctor and help the people around me. I joined HOSA-Future Health Professionals my freshman year to gain insight and knowledge towards a potential career in the healthcare industry although I was unaware of the opportunities that I would now be able to experience and growth that would now be possible for myself. Looking back on the years since joining HOSA, I have watched myself grow as a leader who continues to learn more every day about better ways to serve those around me. By the end of my first State conference freshman year, I knew I wanted to become more involved in HOSA-Future Health Professionals and someday run for State Office. When I joined HOSA, I viewed the state officers as role models for their love for HOSA and desire to serve the members. Here I am three years later, going after a goal I set for myself as a timid freshman, hopeful that each of these qualities I saw in these state officers are a few of the qualities that people will see in me every day.

“Health care is an essential requirement for well being” (Maruthappu). All over the world, health care is a constant concern because of the difficulty maintaining quality and affordability. In the United States, health care reform has been a huge debate topic. The purpose of health care is to satisfy the medical needs of an individual. However, many Americans consider health care a “luxury,”because millions of low-income families cannot afford the same care as the middle or high class. In this case, the right to quality and affordable health care is not extended to all Americans. Universal health care will ensure a higher life expectancy, reduce the cost of medical treatment through a single-payer method, and improve medical treatments.

While interacting with current medical students pursuing the MD/MPH dual degree at a UTHSCSA student panel, I realized that obtaining an MPH would align greatly with my interests and career goals, allowing me to expand the scope of my medical education and enhance my critical thinking skills. I enjoy how public health combines various aspects needed to treat disease and improve health outcomes, and I know that integrating the MPH core concepts with my medical degree, will help me to become a well-rounded and better physician who approaches healthcare through both an individual and population-based perspective. An education in public health will provide me with various opportunities ranging from the creation and development of community health projects, to contributing to the modification of current health policies. I will seize the opportunity to work with professionals from all occupations including educators, clinicians, executives, and I will become an advocate and a credible voice for positive change through a better understanding of the healthcare system that is in place

My interest in health policy has emerged from the desire to empower those who have a lesser ability to change their own personal circumstances. Throughout my life, three characteristics have driven my goals and choices: (1) an appetite for travel and broad exploration; (2) an enjoyment of problem solving; and (3) a deep-seated desire for equity and justice. For as long as I can remember, it has been my goal to integrate these three core values into my career, and they have fueled me to become a more effective researcher, teacher and practitioner.

Samuel Hahnemann once said “The physician's highest calling, his only calling, is to make sick people healthy to heal, as it is termed.” Over multiple years of being posed the question “What do you want to be when you grow up? I have come to the conclusion that I want to become a physician or at least I think I do. Who wouldn’t want to help save lives? As a physician, I am presented with the opportunity to help better communities all around the world for the rest of my life. I always wanted to try to make a difference that people would appreciate. As I researched this profession, I discovered that because of physicians and their ability to use medical science, the life expectancy in the United States has more than doubled between 1990-2013

I was nine years old when my family made the strenuous decision to come to America; with only a few clothes and barely any money, the pursuit of the American dream seemed more like a fantasy than anything else. Ever since I was young, I was drawn to the medical field. Looking back, it all appears as a nightmare now: a cold room, no electricity, and my parents imploring for the nurses help. Yet this nightmare was my first-hand experience of the detrimental effects of a limited health care. Growing up in a poor town in Albania, I faced minor health concerns, but it wasn’t until I got sick with a common cold that my life almost ended. The unsanitary hospital condition and the lack of medications were part of the sad reality I could not escape from. Thus today, it is my goal to make a significant contribution to the health of the future generations. My passion for the medical field combined with my determination on building and perpetuating an outstanding healthcare service, has led me to pursue a master’s degree in Health Administration

During my undergraduate career, I discovered further inspiration to pursue medicine while founding Texas Healthy Habits, a student organization. As an officer, I created engaging lesson plans and traveled to local elementary schools to teach children the importance of public health. When I revisited the schools, I was delighted to see that my lessons stuck with the children and they were already applying them to their daily lives. It became apparent that my lessons were helping kids make decisions that had a positive impact on their health. This opportunity revealed to me that I am drawn to a career in medicine because one of my long-term career goals is to be in a position that allows me to

“Hey I’m going to need you to stay over a few extra hours” is something that most workers hear more often than not. Working long shifts without a break can drain you mentally and physically. There are many cases of workplace bullying. There are also various amounts of websites dedicated to helping victims of workplace bullying. A personal interview with Amber Mann, a 20-year-old coworker of mine at Sunset Village Retirement Homes, talked about how poor treatment at work affects how she perseveres through the grueling hours of a horrible work week. How you get treated at work can affect how you work, your mood and your all around feelings of being there.

One of the most appealing aspects of becoming a public health professional is the wide range of careers available to choose from. My career goals coincide with the range of opportunities; however, ultimately I want to work with an organization similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. I want to focus on the social and medical aspects of disease, and examine the disproportionate rates of disease and disability among minorities. I also want to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS that is rapidly destroying so many countries. My passion to help others around me has sparked a desire to work with clinics around the world in order to promote change in the treatment and prevention of devastating diseases like HIV/AIDS.

The principal aim of my career has always been to serve the society and my inclination towards public health stems from the very same desire. I grew up in India which has a lot of socio-economic deficits affecting health of our population. My family has always focused on prioritizing education and instilled the sense of responsibility to give back to the society we live in. Studying Physiotherapy in the early years of my career helped me pursue the dream to be able to serve people. I went to Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in India for my graduation followed by eight months of internship in Army Hospital, India. This had given me the foundation of principles of therapeutic assessment and intervention. As I practiced further, I realized that a gap existed between the practice in my country and the ones with better developed healthcare systems and this motivated me to pursue MSc Physiotherapy in UK and gain some clinical experience.