Biochemistry Personal Statement

From a personal standpoint, the history of the physician assistant profession is remarkable, especially in regard to how established the profession became in such a rapid time. Ultimately, the profession was designed with the goal to benefit patients, and as a physician assistant, the approaches to accomplish this goal are infinite. Anyone would be honored to be a part of such an established profession and contribute to such a noble

At 17 years old, I had the grueling task of deciding how I wanted to spend 40 plus years of my life. I always aspired to land a career in the medical field, so I majored in biology like most pre-med hopefuls, but during my junior year, I no longer desired to become a physician. The medical field was calling out to me, but the specialty of focus was incorrect. After graduation, I went back to the basics and put my nursing assistant certification to use.

Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to experience some of the best and most difficult times of being a medical assistant. I have had hands on experience with patients of all different ages, races, religions, and personalities. These last few weeks have not only taught me patience, acceptance and boundaries of others, but I was able to learn more about myself as well. My externship experience has opened my eyes to the realities of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, physically and mentally, as well as the importance of family and friends. DePaul Medical Center and In Faith Psychological Services were the best locations I could have chosen for my first look into the life of a medical assistant.

After graduating high school, I was accepted to Alabama State University and decided to study Biology. I figured that this area would help me study living organisms, life processes and understanding the basic life processes that required different medical provisions. I believed that I would eventually find out if I wanted to studying medicine or counsel people. On May 7, 2011, I graduated from Alabama State University with my Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Then I volunteered at Jamaica Hospital emergency room alongside the medical providers and interact with the families of those who are medically

You’d never think growing up a very sick dad and worried mom would have a made such a positive impact on my life. But in my case, it is the main reason why I have chosen to become a physician’s assistant (PA). In the beginning stages, I was too young to really understand the importance of the doctors and medical staff that worked countless hours to make this medical miracle happen, but as time went on, I began to comprehend the role of the people who were trying to save my dad’s life so he could watch his girls grow up. Seeing a multidisciplinary team of physicians, social workers, and dieticians work so well together to solve a problem made a lasting impression on me. I watched as they spent countless hours analyzing the numbers and evaluating my dad’s physical condition to solve the problem. Working so tirelessly showed how passionate and dedicated the team was. I can 't accredit a single person in that group of medical specialists that inspired me to be to become a physician assistant because each and every one of them played a tremendous role in my journey. I desire to become a PA so that

I stood with a look of wonderment as I watched the beehive of physicians, radiologists, nurses, and paramedics collaboratively save a man’s life. The scene initially appeared chaotic with scrubs flying around and doctors swarming all over, but in actuality the team was extremely single-minded—as if driven by instinct. I was amazed by the speed and conviction with which the attending doctor made his decisions; his training and experience was evident with every move. Seeing the tearful wife thank the doctor highlighted the impact of his work—his actions had saved a husband and a father. I left admiring both the competency of emergency physicians and their ability to touch lives in such a dramatic way. While my enjoyment of high school biology sparked my original inclination towards medicine, my first hand experiences in the hospital deepened my motivation and left me steadfast in my decision to become a doctor.

Defining a moment in life that determines a career pathway is often a difficult task. Though sometimes inspiration from a particular person or event directly impacts that decision. The goal of becoming a Physician Assistant became clear for me in 2013 when I spent many months dealing with health professionals before and after the death of my infant daughter. This was a life changing moment and I knew then that the passion for working with people and being able to help solve some of the medical mysteries with diagnostic components would be where I wanted to make my career. Choosing the Physician Assistant role allows more of a social aspect with direct patient care in comparison to a Physician, yet they are more equipped to tailor a plan

After completion of high school, I moved on to Barry University where I majored in the premedical sciences in pursuit of my ultimate goal of becoming a medical doctor. A career in medicine is the only goal I have had as a child since my dad handed me an anatomy atlas while in primary school. The task was daunting, but with hard work and many late nights I persevered. The experience of college developed my communication skills, exposed me to several cultures and helped me to mature as a leader.

As I walked into that small and musty room, in a dimly lit corner of an office building, I did not expect much. I was very reluctant to accept my first job as a 16-year-old in medical records at a multi-physician practice in my small hometown. Why couldn’t I have been hired at the restaurant down the street where all of my friends worked? As I began this all but glorious job scanning paperwork, filing patient records, and obtaining multiple paper cuts along the way, it turned into something very unexpected. I ended up loving the atmosphere of working in a medical practice, and I knew the medical field was something I wanted to explore further.

I quickly recognized I wanted to practice medicine as part of a team and under supervision. However, I still desired sufficient independence with extensive and in-depth training. With this in mind, I began forming opinions about the various careers in healthcare until I came across the PA profession. By shadowing Araya, a PA, at a clinic, I observed how she provided sensitive and comprehensive care to the patients. She took time to explain to the patients their diagnoses in a warm, personable,and comforting attitude, which were all personality traits that I possess. I was extremely pleased of the lengths the PA went to in order to make the patient feel included and taken care of. Prior to this experience, I knew I wanted to construct strong relationships with my future patients and understand and treat patients as a whole. Not only was this palpable within the care Araya provided to her patients, but I now have the opportunity to build relationships with patients as a healthcare volunteer at Jamati Clinic by listening attentively to their main concerns as well as their outlook on their

Adversity has only improved my tenacity, focus, endurance, and problem solving abilities. Various circumstances have affected my academic performance negatively, but I use that as motivation to continually improve myself. I want to be a part of the solution to the family physician shortage and serve the community in the most effective way. My drive to improve the lives of others will help propel me through the difficulties of medical school and beyond. The personal experience I have with my immersion in the field of primary care gives me unique characteristics that will translate into creating a successful physician that focuses on building meaningful relationships with patients. I continually witness how my grandfather is positively impacting the community through medicine and it is my goal to be granted an opportunity to do the same. My belief in lifelong learning and continual self-improvement consistently drives me towards the study of medicine. Because of my life experiences, I now have the balance, endurance, clarity, and tenacity needed to be a successful medical

When I was in high school, my great-grandmother became ill and came to live with us. Before school, after school, and during the weekend, I helped take care of her. This gave me a sense of pride and during that time, I realized how fulfilling it is to help people. I did not start out on the path to be a part of the medical profession, but I always had the desire! I have often given of my time volunteering at the Agape Senior Care facility. Now I am well on my way to becoming a medical assistant (MA)!

During high school, we were forced to look at different careers and fields of study weekly. I had known that the STEM field was most appropriate for me. I was all in on being an engineer of some sort, but after taking an engineering class, I quickly changed my mind. Then I thought about math and physics. I did very well in math and physics just applied those skills. However, I found them to be quite boring after a while. So, within the last year, I have been looking more seriously into chemistry of biology. Chemistry was my favorite high school

Vanderbilt defines itself as “a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large.” That definition directly aligns with why I am drawn to both political science and molecular biology. I am drawn to both political science and molecular biology because growing up, I witnessed systematic failures firsthand; from my parents being sued for over twenty years over property that was rightfully and legally theirs to blatant governmental corruption in India, to the inequalities in my school district in Oklahoma. Rather than being disheartened, my parents made a conscious effort to give back from starting a school in rural India, to putting two "untouchable" girls through college. Now, I want to meld the attributes my parents exemplify into a life of service.

My interest started in elementary school, because of the teachers who enhanced my passion for science. In elementary school, I never thought about turning my passion into an actual career; that didn’t happen until high school. Science always intrigued me, from the never-ending science fair projects to research projects. Georgetown University’s Masters’ program in Biotechnology/ BioScience will continue to enhance my passion for science, but will also enhance my other passion in health related professions. Throughout my life, I loved science and health, but more so, the satisfaction of putting someone’s well being before my own.