Sandy’s Scholarship

When my father was nineteen years old, his family’s home burned down. He and his family were homeless for nearly two years. That tragedy shaped the rest of his life, inspiring him to work for NYC’s Department of Homeless Services so that he could help people enduring the same hardships he once faced. Because of his influence, I grew up volunteering in homeless shelters throughout my childhood. From an early age, I learned how profoundly poverty harms the physical and mental health of marginalized communities. I met people who lost sight and limbs because they could not afford insulin, and others who lost loved ones to preventable diseases that went untreated due to limited access to care. Their pain and resilience was both devastating yet deeply motivating. I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to mitigating health inequities and providing compassionate care to communities that society has historically ignored, cast away, or left behind. My passion for geriatric care deepened when my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. My family became her caregivers, and I learned firsthand the physical and emotional toll of supporting a loved one with degenerative memory loss. Years of watching my grandmother slowly disappear into a shell of her once vibrant personality led me to center my Girl Scout Gold Award project on a 150-hour Alzheimer’s education initiative for families, especially children and adolescents, grappling with the same confusion and grief I once felt. I wanted to transform the pain and helplessness I carried as a teenager into resources and understanding for others, because that is what my Grandma June would have wanted. Through this experience, I learned the power of holistic care in honoring dignity, promoting patient autonomy, easing fear, and uplifting families during some of life’s most difficult transitions. These early lessons are what led me to pursue a dual MD/MPH. In my training, I’ve focused on underserved populations, chronic disease prevention, nutrition insecurity, and community partnerships. Whether volunteering with older adults, engaging in dementia-related health education, or contributing to global public health projects in Mozambique, I have centered empathy, advocacy, and service in everything I do. Though the path has been long and sometimes challenging, my goal remains clear: to become a family physician who integrates public health principles into primary care: expanding access, empowering communities, and supporting patients and caregivers with the compassion and dignity they deserve. Sandy Dykshoorn’s legacy speaks to me deeply. She was known for her selflessness, her advocacy, and her dedication to individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, values that have also shaped my life and aspirations. I hope to continue her legacy as a future family physician who not only provides medical care, but also stands beside patients and caregivers with compassion, understanding, and unwavering support. Thank you for considering my application. It would be an honor to carry forward Sandy’s spirit of service and caregiving in my work as a physician committed to equity, community, and dignity for all. Attached is a photo of me volunteering with Georgetown University School of Medicine’s student-run HOYA Clinic, where we provide free health and nutrition education and annual flu vaccinations to underserved communities in the Washington, D.C. area.