Born and raised in metro-Atlanta, it’s hard to overlook the poverty that shapes many communities. Just minutes apart, you’ll see gated neighborhoods with three-story homes that are then followed by aging project housing and overcrowded homes, where families struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis. In these underserved communities, healthcare often becomes an afterthought, and poverty contributes to poor and worsening health outcomes. Often families go without medical coverage, lack reliable transportation to appointments, or are without accessible clinics or necessary physicians. This is the reality that continues to shape medical care and the overall health of marginalized communities, especially within major cities like Atlanta. However, this isn’t just a story I’ve heard—it’s a reality I’ve lived. What should have been a joyful day turned into a nightmare when my mother went into labor with my younger brother. The room she envisioned with doctors was empty. And without doctors present, my little brother became stuck within the birth canal and lost air circulation. For 9 minutes and 38 seconds, my brother was declared brain dead and was delivered with a broken arm. And as for my mother, a week after delivery, she nearly died from an internal infection from her emergency C-section. Though that time in our lives was filled with fear, pain, and uncertainty, it lit a fire in me that gave me purpose for my life and future career. Since the age of four, I knew I wanted to become a doctor; however, it was at this moment that I knew I wanted to become more than a doctor but an advocate and a voice for families and communities like mine. Throughout high school and college, I deeply involved myself in programs that allowed me to serve others, especially communities that were often forgotten, overlooked, or unheard. One of my most meaningful experiences has been working with the Buds for Buddies program at Kendrick Middle School. Inspired by the early therapeutic and recovery challenges my brother faced, I assist and support students with disabilities by providing companionship, classroom support, and creating interactive learning activities. Additionally, I have had the honor of volunteering with the Samaritan’s Purse Foundation, where I help distribute hygiene and life-essential items to remote and rural communities within the U.S. and globally. I hope not only to help my local community but also to continue to make a difference and impact the lives of those in underprivileged communities around the world within the medical and educational spheres. Attending Mercer University, majoring in biology and global health studies, my mission is to provide and ensure accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare around the world, especially within impoverished countries. Aspiring to become a general surgeon, I want to organize a non-profit organization and mobilize mobile healthcare centers that provide surgical and preventive medical care services to marginalized communities to reduce disparities and advocate for the health of those that are often forgotten. Not only do families and individuals largely lack medical care, but surgical care is scarce within such communities. These mobile centers will offer not only surgical procedures but also preventive health screenings/care and educational programs that give practical ways to maintain proper health. I firmly believe that healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege but is an endowed right. Class, background, socioeconomic status, or race shouldn’t shape health outcomes, and I desire, within my future career, to heal, restore, and provide equitable health for families and individuals within my community and worldwide.