Graduate / MPH statement - how public health will help my future goals and my country [3]

Statement of purpose

Primary health care is not just better or universal medical care, but truly a new public health. Not a program, but an approach.A composition of elements that are essential health needs constituting an indivisible package.

It was during my clinical rotatory internship in Osmania general hospital, after final year of my medical school, I was posted in the infectious diseases department and during one of my routine out patient examinations I had a chance to encounter with Mr. Ravi, presented with worsening fatigue, intermittent jaundice and purpuric cutaneous lesions and generalized vasculitis. upon several laboratory and histological investigations we diagnosed the case as chronic hepatitis B with fatal end stage liver cirrhosis and the purpuric cutaneous lesions as leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to deposition of circulating hepatitis B antigen-antibody immune complexes.I got acquainted with him and his family over his regular visits and the deep seated pain in their eyes moved me after I explained about the prognosis of the disease.The patient could not be saved due to extensive and irreversible liver damage.This experience challenged me and ignited the spark in me to research further about infectious diseases, their prevention and control.I wish to augment my knowledge in public health before pursuing a residency in infectious diseases and be an integral part of public health sector in India.

Hepatitis B virus is a DNA virus with a remarkably compact genomic structure; despite its small, circular, 3200-bp size, HBV DNA codes for four sets of viral products with a complex, multi particle structure. HBV achieves its genomic economy by relying on an efficient strategy of encoding proteins from four overlapping genes: S, C, P, and X. HBV replicates in the liver but exist in extra hepatic sites, contain their own endogenous DNA polymerase, have partially double-strand and partially single-strand genomes, are associated with acute and chronic hepatitis and hepato-cellular carcinoma, and rely on a replicative strategy unique among DNA viruses but typical of retroviruses. Patient may be asymptomatic during acute infection and the virus is transmitted by blood and bodily fluids. HBV infection is one among the leading infectious disease in the world with an average estimation of 36 million carriers in India.

My penchant for biology in school was kindled from interesting experiments on photosynthesis, vegetative reproduction and field visits to local primary health centers, active participation in immunization programs like " pulse polio" , environmental programs like "green India" where we planted around 1000 trees around my town,other community and welfare programs gave me a basic foundation on public health and sparkled my interest in medicine right from school. After my high school and intermediate education with 85% I moved to china along with my family in 2005. I got into M.B.B.S (bachelor of medicine and surgery or bachelor of clinical medicine) program at medical school of Soochow University. The program was very challenging and I enjoyed my classes and clinical postings in various clinical departments at the first affiliated hospital of Soochow university.The unique language and culture of china is amazing and I had a chance to learn the basics of traditional chinese medicine and accupuncture. During my third year of medical school I was introduced to the subject of preventive and social medicine and my interest was peaked by my mentor mr. lu chen under whom I learned my basics of different kinds of statistical studies, actively participated in various clinical trials in the research department of our university, the demographic studies and prevalence of various infectious diseases in the municipal and shantytown areas of suzhou. I had the opportunity to participate in health camps conducted by our hospital where we performed tasks like collecting stool samples in cholera endemic regions, counseling people on various health care measures like safe sanitation, measures for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health services like regular antenatal checkups,immunization procedures and schedule,distribution of iron and folic acid tablets for pregnant ladies. I worked as a teaching assistant conducting classes for undergraduates in my medical school.I stood among the top three in my class for the year 2009-2010.

I was back to India in 2010 after my final year of medical school and started working as clinical intern in Osmania general hospital for 2 years where I was rotated in different departments like cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics, emergency medicine where I performed various procedures like conducting normal vaginal deliveries, venesections, securing a central line, thoracotomy, suturing of lacerated wounds, securing an air way, performing emergency procedures like BLS, ACLS. My two month posting In the department of preventive and social medicine at Sir Ronald Ross institute of parasitology was very challenging where I got a chance to conduct descriptive and analytical field studies like case-control and cohort studies. I was trained in disaster management like the International four colored code system used for triage management, preforming screening for incidence and prevalence of infectious diseases in endemic regions.

After graduating in january 2012 from medical college of Soochow University, I was offered a position as house officer and on call emergency assistant at Omni hospitals ,one of India's leading private hospitals and my responsibilities include making rounds, diagnosing and treatment of infectious diseases and conducting health camps in villages and remote areas where medical facilities are limited, educating and bringing awareness about the Importance of public health by giving seminars at health camps conducted by national rural health mission in India.

Right now,Public health in India is comparatively under developed. The basic problem and the greatest drawback of health promotion effort is that people feel the need for health only when it is lost.Public health in India is remembered only when there is a major epidemic or disaster and forgotten soon after the event is over. There is a paucity for public health professionals in India and preponderance of doctors and health professionals are confined to urban settings. The advances of science and technology in diagnosis and treatment may have helped add years to life, but have not rendered the community, at large, healthier.There are 585 rural hospitals compared to 985 urban hospitals in the country. Out of the

6,39,729 doctors registered in India, only 67,576 are in the public sector. However, I trust there is great prospects for community health in India and a career in public health will be formidable, yet gratifying. Hence, there is a lot that can be done to develop the public health sector in India with knowledge acquired from the advances in public health in your prestigious country and university. An MPH program with concentration in epidemiology is the perfect course to start in public health as the extensive program will help build up research skills and statistical analysis which will help me to gain a sound knowledge in conducting research back in India right form residency.

The public health program at the university of georgia school of public health and advanced research opportunities will be a major contribution to my future goals and career. The thorough program at your school, the renowned faculty, academic excellence and my strong aspiration attracted me to take up public health program. The great words of Buddha " Your work is to discover your world and then, with all your heart give yourself to it", Inspired me the most and I discovered my world is to be a diligent health care provider and with a strong medical background, motivated to learn and contribute, I'm confident I'll do my best to it.

Graduate / CASPA personal statement: What sparkled my darkened hopes. [2]

Here is my statement for the pa program I'm applying. Any suggestions or changes are highly appreciated :)

I was in high school when my Mother was diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma, she was admitted in the hospital and the consultant was engrossed with his patients, he performed a physical examination, ran some diagnostic tests and told us they had to perform a surgery on her. He did not explain anything about the condition, etiology and what kind of a surgery would my mom be undergoing. After a while the physician assistant approaches and introduces herself with a warm hello and explains everything we need to know, the causes for this condition could be hormonal ( which was in my mother's case) or mutations in the genes coding for some proteins like MED12 and risk factors like Diabetes, hypertension and that she should undergo a surgery where they would remove the entire uterus and she will be fine and healthy within 4 weeks after surgery. The way she explained was so lucid and the care she took in supervising the procedures like PAC, collecting all the reports and explaining every little detail mitigated our anxiety and gave us hope. This Ignited the spark in me to take up health care field as my profession and I aimed to give all my heart to it. I was more passionate about being a PA because they do almost the same work an MD does plus the interaction and the more personal patient care a PA provides gives him the utmost satisfaction.

My interest in health sciences was initiated by teacher Mrs. Anita who accentuates practical learning more than rote learning which is a common practice in Indian schools. we were motivated towards community work and our visits to the local hospitals, primary health care centers, NGO,rural health camps made me more passionate towards health care and community work.There are no traditional PA programs in India so I decided to choose medicine as my career.I was above average at academics, worked hard for my grade XII exams and passed out with grade A ( 82.5%). I had to move to china in 2005 and was accepted for M.B.B.S program at medical school of Soochow University. The program gave me a solid foundation and basics in medicine. I appreciated my postings in various clinical departments where I could get hands on clinical experience and the chance to provide patient care. After completing my 4.5 years of medical school in Jan 2010 with 73% and being among the top 3 in my class in the final clinical year, I returned to India and cleared my licensing exam with good scores and started my externship at Omni Hospitals from feb 2010 to december 2010. I started my year long clinical rotations in Jan 2011 at Government general hospital (Osmania University) . My posting in department of Internal medicine was very challenging where I had to perform the role of a PA. I got to take histories, perform physical examinations, explain the patients regarding the nature of the Illness, the outcomes, plan of management, run diagnostic tests, make provisional diagnosis under the guidance of professors. My work in other departments comprised of conducting normal vaginal deliveries, managing emergency casses like Organo phosphorus poisoning, cardiac and respiratory arrest, providing ventilatory support,performing procedures like venesection, Endotracheal tube insertion, Thoracocentesis, Lumbar puncture,daily out patient examinations and conducting clinical lectures for undergraduate students.

I was offered anatomy residency in India but I couldn't accept it because the lack of patient care and treatment in the field. It was when I was feeling down and disappointed that I came across the physician assistant program which put light into my darkened hopes of providing health care and helping people with sedulous care. The thorough program at your school, the renowned faculty, academic excellence and my strong aspiration attracted me to pursue the PA program. The great words of Buddha " Your work is to discover your world and then, with all your heart give yourself to it", Inspired me the most and I discovered my world is to be a diligent health care provider and pursuing a PA career is the best way I can give all my heart to it.