Trips to the hospital were a common part of my childhood in India because of hydrocephalus diagnosed after my premature birth causing a shunt to be placed to drain excess fluid from my brain. These childhood hospital visits sowed a strong interest in medicine in me. By the age of 8, I had traveled to remote areas of India, Nepal, and China with my father, who used to work in these areas. While there, I saw a lot of poverty and sickness which made me think about the health of this people. Oral health is crucial for a person’s overall wellbeing because every human being does eat, but not everyone gets infected by the pathogen. But if one doesn’t take care of their teeth and mouth, it may lead to opportunistic infections that can cause serious health problems and the earlie
...r the problem is fixed, the better because prevention is better than cure. I thought much about how to help the people who are sick on this matter and came up with an idea of becoming a pediatric dentistry. We then relocate to United States where I witnessed better lifestyles and health. These experiences developed curiosity in my mind, and I got the urge of helping others reach a better state of health.
I shared my experiences and views with my uncle; a physician and aunt; a dentist. With their guidance, I delved deeper into science courses and began volunteering at the local hospital. I learned that healing about understanding human experiences. I was amazed that a mental health patient could have a better day because of an honest conversation and a meal with a voluntee
like me. It showed that while the science of medicine cures symptoms of a physiological disease, a patient also needs conversation, compassion, and a friend. This expanded view of healing influenced my decision to pursue a certificate in medical humanities during my undergraduate experience at Drexel University. It also solidified the idea of the dentist I wished to be: one who treats patients holistically by keeping their wishes, hopes, and identity in mind when creating a treatment plan.
My medical science curiosity has made me undertake numerous research opportunities. Drexel offered me a coveted position in the Students Tackling Advanced Research (STAR) program during the summer after my first undergraduate year. As a field researcher, I drove motor boats and learned to dive to capture turtles and obtain mating and coloration data. I presented my findings at the STAR Research Day and was invited to present to the biology department and at a university-wide research day. I also worked in a neuroscience lab to add my research exposure on brain changes in Fragile X syndrome. I further joined PolicyLab research team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to understand how research informs health care. Under the direction of Dr. Aletha Akers, I have had the opportunity to design my own research study, for example, I am performing a chart review to characterize patterns of reproductive health care service utilization among adolescent women who initiate long-acting contraceptives.
The road to pursue my career in medicine has not been easy. When we moved to this country, I faced a lot of cultural and aesthetic differences. At first it was difficult for me to realize that handling the cultural and aesthetic
differences would help boost self-esteem and help bring out the hidden personality in me caused by the low self-esteem. Also, I lost three Grandparents over two years. It was a tough time for me since I developed a sense of loneliness as I complete college. I also received rejection when I applied for graduate school before getting a position at Drexel’s Master’s program.
I came to realize that I needed professional help when my academic performance in the first year doing masters had dropped. I then realized I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism and began treatment. While there, learned some amazing strategies for managing academic workloads, which will serve me well. It taught me that it is good to ask for help and there are many ways to succeed. Hard work and positivity made me succeed at the end of my first graduate year.
With strong mindset and positive can-do attitude, I am ready to tackle an upcoming year full of academics and research to obtain my Master's degree and take my life in a successful manner. As a determined, dedicated and empathetic individual, I strongly believe I have what it takes to become a successful patient-oriented physician, and an osteopathic medical education will allow me to reach my goal.
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