Spatel
May 2, 2012
Graduate / 'providing care and guidance' - Essay for Physician Assistant Program [6]
I was born in India, in a time when the caste system was even more prevalent than it is now. Nonetheless, this system still bares health disparities and misfortunate for minorities preventing health services and medical procedures the higher caste receive. A hardship I witnessed on many travels to India. Seeing this and the sadness I felt, piqued my interest in Public Health and ultimately a desire to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
My undergraduate education proved to be an excellent opportunity to learn about myself. I struggled to adapt, organize and balance my studies while taking courses. As a result, my grades in the first two years suffered. After obtaining a Bachelor degree in Political Science, I moved to Washington, DC. Here, I lobbied, researched, and advocated for several nonprofit organizations to support underserved populations receive medical care. In addition, I attended numerous National Institute of Health symposia and discussions to further my knowledge. My eagerness to address this topic ultimately inspired an education geared towards Public Health. I started taking courses at George Washington University school of Public Health and discovered natural science is where my real interest lies.
Due to my passion in this field, I sought out an array of volunteer experiences. As a medical assistant for the Capital Women's Care my duties include preparing and administering Gardasil shots as well as assisting with colposcopies and pap smears. In addition, I counsel patients on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and inform women about abnormal test results. I have taken on further responsibilities by volunteering at the orthopedic department at Sibley Hospital to assist in aiding patients in mobility after surgery and bandage minor cuts. In many situations, my language fluency and cultural background in Hindi, Gujurati, and Mandarin has helped to understand and communicate with patients in this hospital and members of my community.
My curiosity in medicine led me to secure a position with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Medical Services. Working alongside Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and medical doctors presented opportunities and experiences to better understand different opportunities available in the medical sector. I was trained to prepare patients for stress tests, aid in cardiac sonograms and perform physical examinations with the assistance of a mentor. In addition, I also organized and was invited to attend the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Seminar for U.S. Foreign Service Physician Assistants (PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) in Istanbul, Turkey. While at the CME (hosted by Cleveland Clinic) I learned new medical procedures, complex and challenging care issues faced by Foreign Service officers. These exposures made me realize how rewarding a profession as a physician assistant will be.
There are many traits I possess which I'm looking forward to utilizing as a Physician Assistant. My current position as a Program Analyst for Emergency Preparedness, has equipped me to become a skilled leader to organize and respond to emergencies for health units overseas. In addition, for the past three years, I've successfully managed to work and prepare for the Physician Assistant program. Undertaking these endeavors has been challenging yet my perseverance was rewarded as I maintained a 3.7 G.P.A in my post undergraduate school.
I look forward to utilizing these skills to apply to the different facets of medicine. The medical training I obtain from this program will enhance my future goal to assist underserved population. I look forward to interviewing with you and sharing my experiences in person. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application. I'm confident I will be a good fit and an excellent student in your well-respected Physician Assistant program.
I was born in India, in a time when the caste system was even more prevalent than it is now. Nonetheless, this system still bares health disparities and misfortunate for minorities preventing health services and medical procedures the higher caste receive. A hardship I witnessed on many travels to India. Seeing this and the sadness I felt, piqued my interest in Public Health and ultimately a desire to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
My undergraduate education proved to be an excellent opportunity to learn about myself. I struggled to adapt, organize and balance my studies while taking courses. As a result, my grades in the first two years suffered. After obtaining a Bachelor degree in Political Science, I moved to Washington, DC. Here, I lobbied, researched, and advocated for several nonprofit organizations to support underserved populations receive medical care. In addition, I attended numerous National Institute of Health symposia and discussions to further my knowledge. My eagerness to address this topic ultimately inspired an education geared towards Public Health. I started taking courses at George Washington University school of Public Health and discovered natural science is where my real interest lies.
Due to my passion in this field, I sought out an array of volunteer experiences. As a medical assistant for the Capital Women's Care my duties include preparing and administering Gardasil shots as well as assisting with colposcopies and pap smears. In addition, I counsel patients on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and inform women about abnormal test results. I have taken on further responsibilities by volunteering at the orthopedic department at Sibley Hospital to assist in aiding patients in mobility after surgery and bandage minor cuts. In many situations, my language fluency and cultural background in Hindi, Gujurati, and Mandarin has helped to understand and communicate with patients in this hospital and members of my community.
My curiosity in medicine led me to secure a position with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Medical Services. Working alongside Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and medical doctors presented opportunities and experiences to better understand different opportunities available in the medical sector. I was trained to prepare patients for stress tests, aid in cardiac sonograms and perform physical examinations with the assistance of a mentor. In addition, I also organized and was invited to attend the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Seminar for U.S. Foreign Service Physician Assistants (PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) in Istanbul, Turkey. While at the CME (hosted by Cleveland Clinic) I learned new medical procedures, complex and challenging care issues faced by Foreign Service officers. These exposures made me realize how rewarding a profession as a physician assistant will be.
There are many traits I possess which I'm looking forward to utilizing as a Physician Assistant. My current position as a Program Analyst for Emergency Preparedness, has equipped me to become a skilled leader to organize and respond to emergencies for health units overseas. In addition, for the past three years, I've successfully managed to work and prepare for the Physician Assistant program. Undertaking these endeavors has been challenging yet my perseverance was rewarded as I maintained a 3.7 G.P.A in my post undergraduate school.
I look forward to utilizing these skills to apply to the different facets of medicine. The medical training I obtain from this program will enhance my future goal to assist underserved population. I look forward to interviewing with you and sharing my experiences in person. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application. I'm confident I will be a good fit and an excellent student in your well-respected Physician Assistant program.
