“Her back is curved,” the pediatrician said surprisingly to my mother as her hand traced my spinal cord. What followed were many doctors’ visits and scans to monitor the curve of my spine and determine if I would need a brace or surgery. While I did not have a severe case of scoliosis, sitting in those cold patient rooms, with their ever-present smell of rubbing alcohol, and hearing the footsteps of doctors scurrying back and forth made me feel apprehensive. By contrast, the staff of medical personnel charged with my care could not have been more warm and reassuring. Even though they were busy, they were always friendly, patient, and responsive to my questions and concerns. Beyond the tactical matter of seeing to my care, they took the time to learn about me as a person and brought much-needed levity to what was a naturally nerve-wracking experience. It was their bedside manner as much as their medical prowess that I will always remember. I looked up to these individuals and had a desire early on to make others feel a similar sense of comfort that my pediatric doctors made me feel. My interest in pediatric medicine further developed as I gained more exposure to the medical field. I have several memories as an intern at the Kennedy Krieger Institute where I shadowed pediatricians as they interacted with patients and their families of mostly minority backgrounds. Each time, I witnessed the physicians’ providing the patient and his or her family with assurance and comfort throughout the interaction. I recall a baby girl brought in by her parents for a general checkup. The parents were low-income, full-time employees facing a number of stressful circumstances. The physician was able to speak to the family in their native language, Spanish. While my Spanish was not as advanced, I was able to introduce myself in Spanish as well. I remember the look of relief on each parent's face because they could communicate in their primary language. The pediatrician was compassionate and attentive to the family’s feelings and concerns. She put a significant focus on educating the family about accessible resources that they can obtain to promote their wellbeing and mitigate the barriers that they face. She not only examined the patient but also asked the parents about their health and wellbeing. She provided the family with her phone number and encouraged them to call her at any time. The stress and concern that the parents had going into the visit were contrasted by the content that they had leaving the office that day. I am intrigued by the longitudinal doctor-patient relationship that is possible as a pediatric doctor. I am excited to grow with patients and collaborate with them and their families to make plans that will be most beneficial to their specific needs. Having just completed my first year of medical school, my desire to go into pediatric medicine is stronger than ever. During my first year, I learned about the common diseases and cancers experienced by children and also shadowed a pediatric neurologist and other physicians that work with children. I look forward to providing children like Noah and their families with excellent care, not only focusing on the organic pathology, but also considering the psychological, social, cultural, and socio-economic determinants of health. I am especially passionate about serving underserved communities who often lack the appropriate resources and knowledge to safeguard their health and wellbeing.

Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by powerful, amazing women. My mother, especially, has been a great inspiration for me. While working a full-time job and running a business, my mother practically raised her four children all by herself. She would leave work as a teacher, pick us up from school, drive us to our practices, cook dinner for us, and give us all the love a mother could give. My mother, like most women, is a superhero. Women have the power to shape the destiny of civilization. They make up 51% of the world population. They are the reason for a population, yet they still are gravely mistreated. One of my favorite quotes is “Sometimes we are tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.” Since the beginning of time, women have faced injustices and inequalities. This is especially true for black women. The history of women demonstrates the ways in which society has failed, but it also demonstrates the resilience and strength that the female population holds. I believe that for society to most effectively empower women, it starts with understanding the past and present struggles and inequalities that women face. It is important to enhance knowledge of the mistreatment of women that, in many cases, continues today. History exemplifies the opportunities offered to women are significantly lower than the opportunities offered to the male counterpart in many aspects of life, including job opportunities, income, respect, and education. Knowledge of this mistreatment will go on to protect women and ensure that history does not repeat itself. This knowledge can, in part, be attained by empowering women to continue speaking up about their experiences and mistreatment and supporting them when they do. It is also important for those who may not be directly affected to actively speak on the injustices they witness and do their part to ensure that justice is met. May it be purposely or subconsciously, many organizations and businesses do not provide the same treatment to women as they do to men. Women in power, like my mother, often have a much more difficult time in business transactions solely due to gender. Implicit bias training could be a powerful tool to eliminate the discrimination and unfair treatment women experience in the workplace. It is also important that more women have the opportunity to have a seat at the table and attain leadership positions. Women should be seen as equals in all aspects of life from the home to the workplace. I am currently in medical school. I plan to work globally and assist in protecting and caring for all people of all genders such that they all have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

It was a quiet morning. I was sitting at my desk waiting to see the next patient when I heard a shout from a young woman across the hall filling the silence of the room. She was shouting at the medical staff as they rolled her to her room. I cannot remember what she was saying, but I later recall her labs showing elevated blood alcohol levels. Following the paramedics was a little boy who looked about eight years old. His face displayed sadness and frustration as if he had experienced this before. My heart sunk for that little boy. Unfortunately, these experiences were frequent at my job. As an emergency room medical scribe in a predominately black community, I witnessed some of the detrimental effects of untreated mental health disorders on patients and their families. Childhood adversity has profound effects not only on the children experiencing the adversity but also on the future children who will be born into adverse circumstances. Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse and neglect disproportionally affect black families. We must work to terminate the generational effects of childhood adversity in order to improve the lives of black children today and in the future. Optimal mental health to me is the availability and accessibility of proper healthcare and effective programs that promote the mental and physical well-being of black families to be passed on from generation to generation. Specifically, these programs should include group-based lessons tailored to the needs of community members such as mental health care, effective parenting strategies, financial and occupational support, and home-visiting programs. Additionally, racial and cultural diversity in healthcare and program leadership roles are important factors that will help to ensure the effectiveness of such programs. Representation of people of color can build trust and comfort among patients. I believe that family-based interventions that provide parenting lessons and mental and emotional healthcare will have a great impact on ending the family adversity cycle and promoting social justice. These factors will have long-term improvements in child outcomes and serve as protective factors for the adversity that children may face during the developmental stages of life. Increasing the focus, funding, and resources towards addressing mental well-being will increase the resilience among children who have faced severe adversity and decrease the prevalence of mental and physical health disorders as children age. I will be starting medical school in Fall 2021. I aspire to aid in decreasing the healthcare disparities faced by underrepresented minorities and providing them with the care that they deserve not only through enhanced medical knowledge but also fair treatment, compassion, and cultural humility. Furthermore, I aim to use my role as a physician to develop and promote group-based mental health programs that aim to foster the wellbeing of communities of color. When individuals obtain the mental health care that they deserve, it will lead to enhanced personal, social, and financial success. Getting the care they need will strengthen them and promote resilience such that they have the tools to overcome adverse circumstances. Decreasing the stigma behind mental health, especially in the black community will encourage individuals to seek support and make healthy decisions for their lives. Having access to and utilizing mental health resources will strengthen the black community such that we can advocate for ourselves and promote equity. Through this, we can achieve social justice.

A quote that is significant to me is “Once you make a decision the universe conspires to make it happen” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. To me, this quote signifies achieving success by believing and acting like success has already arrived. It indicates the importance of intentional actions that reflect personal goals. For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. The idea of healing others and guiding them to maintain their health was especially appealing to me. I would often put on a white coat that my mom brought me for Holloween and treat my stuffed animals. As I got older, I pursued opportunities to gain experience in the medical field. For example, I volunteered at a hospital going around patient rooms to keep them company or provide them with needed resources such as blankets or water. One of my most memorable experiences as a volunteer was when I met an older lady from Germany who was recently admitted to the hospital. As soon as I walked in and introduced myself she greeted me with a bright smile and began to tell me a story about her experiences as a child during the Holocaust. I took a seat near her bed. It was an astonishing and tragic story, but I was honored that she felt comfortable sharing her traumatic experience with me. Experiences and interactions like this helped me imagine my future career as a medical doctor promoting an environment where my future patients are comfortable being vulnerable. The global pandemic has been one of the biggest obstacles I have had to face in my pursuit of medical school thus far. I graduated from college in December 2019 and planned to use the beginning of the 2020 year to prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and apply to medical schools. Due to the unforeseen and tragic impact of COVID-19, my MCAT was canceled twice and each time I recommitted to an arduous timeline for preparation. The delay and uncertainty brought about much anxiety and affected my plans to get involved in other medical opportunities. Even with all the setbacks and obstacles, I was still passionate about getting into medical school this cycle. The past year further enhanced my desire to pursue a medical degree. The devastation that the virus has caused, especially to underserved populations, has reinforced my mission to gain both the technical and interpersonal skills to combat such ailments and provide comfort to my future patients. Eventually, I was able to take the MCAT and obtain a pleasing score. I was also admitted into my top medical school and will be starting in August 2021. I made a decision a long time ago to become a doctor and even with unforeseen obstacles and global pandemics, I am confident that I will achieve this goal.

I anticipated my life to look very different in 2020. I graduated from college in December 2019 and planned to use the beginning of the 2020 year to prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and apply to medical schools. I never anticipated, however, just how different this year would be. My MCAT was canceled twice and each time I recommitted to an arduous timeline for preparation. The delay and uncertainty brought about much anxiety and affected my plans to get involved in other opportunities. Furthermore, when coronavirus cases began to rapidly increase in the United States, I was working as an emergency room scribe. I ended this position due to concern about exposure. I live with individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and thus felt obligated to decrease the risk of exposure to this easily transmittable, and oftentimes deadly, affliction. This year has also been one of much injustice, especially racial injustice. Police brutality and its disproportionate effects upon people of color parallel the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 also upon people of color. This year’s tragedy was further amplified by the fact that the community members could not come together to mourn and comfort each other but were instead advised to stay home and isolated. People laid sick and alone, and many could not fight off the foreign virus eventually passing away. I sat and mourned not only for the friends and family that I lost this year but also for the nation and those around the world who were grieving for their lost ones. While this was a tragic year in many different ways, it also reminded me to appreciate the blessings and small victories in my life. I was able to connect with more people than ever before virtually. I began volunteering as a mentor for young students to enhance their literacy skills. I also started working as a contact tracer for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to positive cases. I am grateful to provide support and guidance to others during these difficult times. It provides me with a unique sense of accomplishment to be able to bond with others during a time when the world has been disconnected by contrast due to the global pandemic. This past year has also further enhanced my desire to pursue a medical degree. I have traditionally viewed physicians as experts who serve primarily through their advanced scientific knowledge, but when the pandemic started the medical community knew very little about the COVID-19 virus and its various effects. As physicians were still learning about COVID-19, empathy, sensitivity, and collaboration must take on a more central role than they might have before the pandemic. The devastation that the virus has caused, especially to underserved populations, has reinforced my mission to gain both the technical and interpersonal skills to combat such ailments and provide comfort to my future patients. Eventually, I was able to take the MCAT and obtain a pleasing score. I will be starting medical school in August 2021. I am confident that I will acquire the necessary skills in medical school so that I may be fully equipped to treat patients from diverse backgrounds and with diverse symptoms, especially underrepresented minorities who oftentimes lack adequate access to medical care.

It was a quiet morning. I was sitting with my laptop waiting to see the next patient when a young African American woman walks in with a large backpack. As an ED scribe, I was responsible for documenting the patient’s information. We discovered that she had uncontrolled diabetes and was suffering from homelessness, the latter condition clearly a potential contributor to the former. Her large backpack carried everything she owned. I led the patient to her room and as she settled in she asked me for a blanket. I returned moments later with a warm blanket and placed it over her. The patient expressed her appreciation for this simple task, but I longed to do more to help her and others like her. My initial desire for working with underserved communities began as an undergraduate. I majored in Public Health Science where I studied community factors that shape the health and wellbeing of individuals as well as society as a whole. My coursework in public health enhanced my understanding of disease trends, healthcare management, and healthcare disparities. After learning about these health-related concerns, I was inclined to work in underserved communities and better understand their specific needs. My internships and work assignments reinforced my commitment to assisting underserved populations. During my internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) in Baltimore, MD, I analyzed the effects of adversity on low-income racial and ethnic minority groups in the Baltimore City area. This research was paralleled with shadowing pediatricians as they met with patients from these minority groups. I recall a baby girl brought in by her parents for a general checkup. The parents were low-income, full-time employees facing a number of stressful circumstances. The physician was able to speak to the family in their native language, Spanish. While my Spanish was not as advanced, I was able to introduce myself in Spanish as well. I remember the look of relief on each parent's face because they could communicate in their primary language. My research and shadowing experience at KKI increased my passion to eliminate the barriers to adequate medical care and promote resilience among families facing numerous adverse circumstances. My personal background and experience as an African American female and daughter of immigrant parents have also enlightened me on the prejudices and discrimination experienced by underrepresented populations. My personal and familial struggles with these factors have enhanced my understanding of the covert mechanisms of feeling inferior and inadequate. I aspire to work in underserved communities as a physician and advocate for underserved individuals such as those that I met as a scribe and research intern. I am committed to using the skills I learn in medical school to aid in mitigating the challenges that underrepresented families face and improving their quality of life through medical guidance, compassion, and cultural humility.

My parents were low-income immigrants from a small island in the Caribbean named Grenada. They worked hard to create opportunities for themselves and their four children. My parents’ hard work and diligence enabled them to overcome the multitude of barriers that they faced and inspired me to dream big and work hard to achieve my own goals. My desire to become a physician started when I was a little girl due to my experience as a patient. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age and thus, had to visit the doctor’s office often so that they can monitor the curve of my spine. While my condition was not severe, I always felt nervous sitting in those cold patient rooms with their ever-present smell of rubbing alcohol as doctors and nurses scurried back and forth outside my room. By contrast, the medical personnel charged with my care were warm and reassuring. They brought much-needed levity and inspired me to make others feel a similar sense of comfort and reassurance. As I got older, I engaged in medical-related opportunities often serving underrepresented, low-income minorities. For example, as an intern at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), I analyzed the effects of adversity on low-income racial and ethnic minority groups in the Baltimore City area. This research was paralleled with shadowing pediatricians as they met with patients of these minority groups. I recall a baby girl brought in by her parents for a well-child visit. The parents were low-income, full-time employees facing a number of stressful circumstances. Even with their demanding schedules, they made time to bring their daughter to her doctor and obtain guidance to ensure her wellbeing. The physician not only focused on the health of their baby girl but also provided support and resources for the parents to maintain their wellbeing as she understood the crucial role that the family's health has on a child’s quality of life. My research and shadowing experience at KKI enhanced my awareness of the significant barriers faced by individuals of low socioeconomic status and the role that medical professionals can have in protecting these families and promoting resilience. This experience along with similar opportunities increased my passion to aid in mitigating the challenges that underrepresented families face and improving their quality of life through medical guidance, compassion, and cultural competence. This scholarship will assist in funding my medical school expenses so that I can contribute to the medical community by providing excellent patient care to those in need. I am committed to using the skills I learn in medical school to eliminate the barriers to adequate medical care that exist among underserved populations.