Graduate /
Letter of Intent for Admissions to Masters of Public Health - how this program fits to my goals? [5]
Hi, I would really appreciate any feedback on this letter of intent I have written for admissions to a Masters of Public Health program. I am applying to a few different schools but all are looking for my interests in pursuing the MPH at their school, and to describe how the program fits within my overall personal and professional goals. Also it should identify how I will use the skills and knowledge from my work and educational experiences towards achieving my goals, as well as demonstrating an understanding of the public health field. Any feedback is much appreciated!!
Letter of Intent"... I am committing myself to a career in which I would be continually learning, growing, and actively doing something tangible to help those who truly need support." This was the concluding line from another letter of intent, written by my younger self, which helped to start my career as a radiation therapist. Today, I find myself returning to this sentiment and realizing that its essence has not changed. I have been fortunate to directly care for many individuals from a diverse population of patients that struggle with a cancer diagnosis. However, I recognize the limitations of my efforts. In a typical day where I may treat 20 breast cancer patients, approximately 475 more Canadians are diagnosed with some form of cancer. How many of these people were educated about lifestyle choices and prevention? How many found the cancer early? How many will be survivors, learning how to maintain their quality of life? How many more have not yet seen the benefits of a public health initiative?
My professional experience at the _____ has given me the advantage of experiencing healthcare from an individual patient's perspective, as well as a greater understanding of a provincial public health agency's operations. Along with my patient care responsibilities, I am involved in ongoing mentorship as a preceptor, assessing students' strengths and learning needs while providing guidance. While volunteering as a ___ committee member, I collaborated closely with an interdisciplinary team to plan educational and networking events for my fellow technologists. My interests in public health and collaboration with other disciplines also led me to join a team involved in a emergency response plan for any potentially high risk infections presenting at our center; a particular risk in my discipline due to the high numbers of immune-compromised patients we see every day.
Working in the dynamic environment of cancer care in which life-saving technology and protocols are advancing daily, combined with my strong academic background, has left me with a keen appreciation for evidence-based practice in healthcare. As such, I am currently involved in a research project with the objective of addressing information gaps in patient education and ultimately improving patients' satisfaction and understanding of their upcoming treatment experience. I also had an opportunity recently to provide peer education by delivering an in-service on our center's current advances in a treatment technique. My strong research and communication skills were essential to creating a concise, evidence-based presentation for my peers that contributed to their center's adoption of the technique.
Recently, I was inspired by the words of Jorge Soto, a TED talk speaker, discussing his vision for cancer care of the future: "In the next 10 years, medicine will change forever. It will not be reactive, it will be preventive." Through a Masters of Public Health program, I hope to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to not only identify gaps in public health, but also to critically evaluate, design and implement programs that promote this vision of preventive medicine. I am drawn to ____ because of your focus on communities and collaborations, reputation for research excellence, and skills-based learning environment. With the resources and knowledge your school will provide, I am confident that the intellectual drive, motivation, and interpersonal skills demonstrated in my academic and professional experience will enable me to become a public health professional with the commitment and ability to achieve meaningful change.
