My commitment to my legacy began before I even knew it. 240 million years ago, all of Earth’s land was united into one supercontinent: Pangea. Ever so slowly, the glorified land separated into the seven distinct continents that are known today, exemplifying that one land can create many different facets of itself. As a baby, I was Pangea. I was one supercontinent, ready to unlock the interlocked facets of myself. Kansas As fireworks line the sky for the fourth of July, my pride shines for the USA. The USA is the land of freedom, the land of dreams; it is my upbringing, it is my home. I learned how to ride a bike and take my first steps here. I have learned my love for the bacon cheeseburger. Miami As I stepped into the hot and muggy weather of Miami, the Latin culture invaded my senses. The yummy tacos, ceviche, and tres leches; the alluring beat of reggaeton and salsa; and the melodic sound of Spanish have encaptured me in a warm Latin breeze. Learning how to interweave my own Midwestern upbringing with the joyful Latin culture was daunting at first, but I realized that fully immersing myself in the culture, whether that be learning how to Salsa, or shadowing and volunteering at the hospital at the University of Miami with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients, has allowed me to adapt to make better relationships with the Miami community. Peru “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible healthcare. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in healthcare and reduce preventable illnesses. India As my grandpa tied a mauli around my left wrist, a red string bracelet symbolizing protection in the Hindu faith, we both smiled. Every time I visit my grandparents, I make sure to soak in my beautiful Indian heritage. Whether that be making Indian-style chicken with turmeric, cumin, and garam masala or eating with my yellow turmeric-stained hands, I feel at home. Pangea Through being half-Indian and half-White, I have had to navigate my own identity and merge my cultures, while simultaneously living in a predominantly Latin culture for the past couple of years. Being multifaceted in this way has allowed me to really delve into what makes the world so unique: our different cultures and traditions, but also our similarities: our love for family, respect, health, and our community. With only 0.5% of active physicians that are multiple race, non-Hispanic women, I represent a unique mindset, as I understand the nuances and similarities of many cultures. I hope to bring my multicultural background and legacy to the field of medicine, and to ultimately collaborate with other health care professionals about their unique backgrounds to treat all patients with every culture’s universal core values of empathy, compassion, and respect.

“Coach, can I practice with your boys’ team?” That was the instant where my life diverged, where my parallel universe self would lead a much different path based on this seemingly insignificant question I asked my coach. Leading up to this precise moment in time, I had failed to make the top league in soccer, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) over and over again, always being the last cut. At first my idea of practicing with boys daunted me, but my blatant failures kept reminding me that familiarity got me nowhere; only the unknown held the potential to my success. I trained relentlessly four nights a week, with two games on the weekends all year for the tryout. Often, I felt like my legs were made of jelly, barely carrying me on to the next day, but this was the tiredness I needed to feel to know that there was nothing more I could do to make the team. Tryout day finally arrived with the sun blazing, casting the heat to a formidable 98 degrees. I couldn’t believe it, all my hard work seemed to be falling away like the sweat dripping off my face. I kept running and running, this is what I had been training for, taking on extra practices, throwing myself into unknown environments, and pushing myself to become the player I was born to be, and I was rewarded for it: I finally clinched the spot on the elusive ECNL team. My achievement to make the team made me realize that failure is only temporary, and through hard work and dedication, I have the ability to overcome medical school’s challenging academic environment and any failures I may face. Now is my time to embrace the future and any failures that come with it.

As a biology workshop leader for an underclassman biology class, I got to lead my group of six students through a book discussion of The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert. Often the students would be tasked with writing three questions about the chapter we read and I would help facilitate the conversation; however, for the first two group discussions, the discussion was very stilted and disjointed, especially with it being over Zoom. Very quickly I realized that I needed to figure out a way to make the students comfortable enough to speak without feeling judged, and I began to ask questions of the day to help break down these barriers. I asked anything from their desired superpowers to where their hometown was, and it was interesting to get to know a different aspect of these students and learn about their diverse backgrounds. Without these questions I would have never figured out that Nick's desired superpower was to be able to breathe underwater, or that Gabe was from the Caribbean and saw firsthand the coral bleaching that was mentioned in the novel. By the end of the semester, I realized that my strategies to break down the barriers between the students finally worked, as they began to carry the conversation by themselves. Through this experience, I learned about being an approachable and adaptable leader, and got to know students on a deeper level than just academically, which really helped me learn that leading by example is one of the best ways to foster a cohesive group. Through my leadership and mentorship I found that students after this course still continued to talk and email with me about future courses they wanted take or general questions they had, which was the greatest gift. I hope my mentorship continues to create long-lasting relationships.

“Coach, can I practice with your boys’ team?” That was the instant where my life diverged, where my parallel universe self would lead a much different path based on this seemingly insignificant question I asked my coach. But that question was not insignificant at all; it was the question that signified the crux of my life, trying to make an opportunity out of nothing. Leading up to this precise moment in time, I had failed to make the top league in soccer, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) over and over again, always being the last cut. At first, my crazy idea of practicing with boys daunted me, as I would be thrown into an environment without the familiarity and loving teammates I associated with soccer. But my blatant failures kept reminding me that love and familiarity got me nowhere; only the unknown held the potential to my success. So I asked the question that would change my future. And with my coach’s affirmation, I seized the impassable opportunity that would lead me to clinch my spot on the elusive ECNL team. My achievement to make the team made me realize that failure is only temporary, and through hard work and dedication, I have the ability to overcome medical school’s challenging academic environment and any failures I may face. Now is my time to embrace the future and any failures that come with it.

“Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible health care. As my group and I assisted dentists and physicians to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in health care and reduce preventable illnesses whether that be locally or globally. After that trip, I really began to think about health care disparities: the lack of equal care due to location, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, or race. The children I treated in Cusco suffered from these preventable illnesses because of these persisting health care disparities. With this trip I expanded my narrow view from US health care and gained the perspective and knowledge of disparities that continue to permeate our entire world, emphasizing the importance of learning in diverse environments. Through my MD/MBA program at The University of Miami, I hope to participate and contribute to these diverse learning environments and step into the doctor I want to be: helping people that need to be helped regardless of pay and access barriers.

The Radioactive Woman “The way of progress was neither swift nor easy,” Marie Curie stated, exemplifying that she frequently faced obstacles and prejudice when pursuing her life’s work. Marie Curie was a great scientist, setting the path for not only the future of science, but women in science as well. Through her story I learned that being a woman in science and medicine is powerful and should not be overshadowed by male counterparts. After the discovery of polonium and radium with her late husband Pierre Curie, Marie continued to investigate the elements’ properties. In 1910, Curie successfully produced radium as a pure metal which proved the new element’s existence. In 1911, Marie Curie won her second Nobel Prize in a different field, Chemistry. In her acceptance speech, Curie paid homage to her late husband but also emphasized that her work was independent from his, listing their separate contributions and her individual discoveries made after his death. In 1914, during World War I, Curie devoted her time to developing portable X-ray machines, known as “Little Curies,” to take to the fields. Curie made 18 portable X-ray machines that treated wounded soldiers on the front lines. She often repaired and operated the machines herself and eventually established 200 permanent X-rays during WWI. After the war, Curie continued her work as a researcher, head of a laboratory, and a teacher, receiving many awards and prizes. Curie died on July 4, 1934 of aplastic pernicious anemia believed to be caused by her prolonged exposure to radiation.To this day, she is the only woman to win the award twice and the first person to win the Prize twice in two different fields. Marie Curie exemplified that “nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood;” I hope to follow her path.

The Radioactive Woman “The way of progress was neither swift nor easy,” Marie Curie stated, exemplifying that she frequently faced obstacles and prejudice when pursuing her life’s work. Marie Curie was a great scientist, setting the path for not only the future of science, but women in science as well. After the discovery of polonium and radium with her late husband Pierre Curie, Marie continued to investigate the elements’ properties. In 1910, Curie successfully produced radium as a pure metal which proved the new element’s existence. In 1911, Marie Curie won her second Nobel Prize in a different field, Chemistry. In her acceptance speech, Curie paid homage to her late husband but also emphasized that her work was independent from his, listing their separate contributions and her individual discoveries made after his death. In 1914, during World War I, Curie devoted her time to developing portable X-ray machines, known as “Little Curies,” to take to the fields. Curie made 18 portable X-ray machines that could treat wounded soldiers on the front lines. She often repaired and operated the machines herself and eventually established 200 permanent X-rays during WWI. After the war, Curie continued her work as a researcher, head of a laboratory, and a teacher, receiving many awards and prizes. Curie died on July 4, 1934 of aplastic pernicious anemia believed to be caused by her prolonged exposure to radiation. Curie was known to carry radium and polonium in her pocket of her lab coat. To this day, she is the only woman to win the award twice and the first person to win the Prize twice in two different fields. Marie Curie exemplified that “nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.”

240 million years ago, all of Earth’s land was united into one supercontinent: Pangea. Ever so slowly, the glorified land separated into the seven distinct continents that are known today, exemplifying that one land can create many different facets of itself. As a baby, I was Pangea. I was one supercontinent, ready to unlock the interlocked facets of myself. Little did I know that my diverse experiences and cultures would form the woman I am today, the woman that wants to transform the medical field into a diverse, inclusive, and equal space. Kansas As fireworks line the sky for the fourth of July, my pride shines for the USA. The USA is the land of freedom, the land of dreams; it is my upbringing, it is my home. I learned how to ride a bike and take my first steps here. I have learned my love for the bacon cheeseburger. Miami As I stepped into the hot and muggy weather of Miami, the Latin culture invaded my senses. The yummy tacos, ceviche, and tres leches; the alluring beat of reggaeton and salsa; and the melodic sound of Spanish have encaptured me in a warm Latin breeze. Learning how to interweave my own Midwestern upbringing with the joyful Latin culture was daunting at first, but I realized that fully immersing myself in the culture, whether that be learning how to Salsa, or shadowing and volunteering at the hospital at the University of Miami with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients, has allowed me to adapt to make better relationships with the Miami community. Peru “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible healthcare. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in healthcare and reduce preventable illnesses. Pangea Through being a half-Indian and half-White woman, I have had to navigate my own identity and merge my cultures, while simultaneously combating misconceptions and discrimination against my identity. With only 0.5% of active physicians that are multiple race, non-hispanic women, I have faced the stereotypes associated with that statistic, with one moment particularly coming to mind. When I was explaining that I was pre-med to fellow male student, he asked if that meant I was a nursing student. Although the question seemed innocent, these are the barriers I face along with many other women. Correcting the student that I was in fact studying to be a doctor, chagrined laughter lined his face. Although these systematic beliefs can’t be fixed in one day or with one person, I hope to continue to overcome and help break through these barriers that multiethnic women and all women face. I hope to bring my multicultural background to the field of medicine, and to ultimately treat each other with every culture’s universal core values of empathy, compassion, and respect.

“Katherine, it’s your turn to give your presentation.” As an enterprising twelve-year-old I decided to present on a subject no one knew about at the time: Bitcoin and the Blockchain. As I sped through my speech, confused eyes looked at me and I realized I probably should have picked a different topic. However, ever since that speech, I realized the future of the Blockchain and I started to make cryptocurrency videos on YouTube and explored the different Altcoins coming out. Especially as I started to step into my career in medicine, I understood Blockchain’s potential transformative power in the medical field. Whether that be enhancing the security of patient files, creating decentralization of the drug supply chain, or bringing transparency to clinical trials, the Blockchain has a lot to offer to the ever-changing field of medicine. Through shadowing at different hospitals across the country and seeing the discontinuity of patient files from hospital to hospital, the blockchain has the potential to bring unity to patient files to vastly improve patient care and ultimately patients’ lives. Through the MD/MBA program at The University of Miami, I know I will gain the knowledge in the business of health care and, ultimately, focus my ambition to continually improve health care and patient care through innovative technology. I hope to bring my passion for innovation and desire for a transformed health care system to the medical field and provide a unique point of view as I pursue both the clinical and business sides of medicine.

How not to die? How to prolong life? How to prevent cognitive decline? Food. Food is the answer. Food is life. Food is joy. Nutrition is severely undervalued in the United States. Especially with the rates of obesity and type II diabetes increasing every year, emphasis has been placed on exercise. Although exercise is important, and I play soccer and do yoga for both mental and physical well-being, I have found nutrition to be thrown to the wayside too often-- both for myself and the general population of the United States. My first passionate spark for nutrition began during Covid, when I was sitting on the sofa locked down in my home and was afraid of gaining the "quarantine fifteen." Of course I could exercise, but what about the other large component that everyone must do to survive? Eat. What was I putting in my body? When I examined the excessive amounts of artificial sugar, sweeteners, grease, oil, and pure chemicals in my body, the realization staggering. I began researching online about nutrition and came across a book called "How Not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger. The information in that book was life altering and research based. As a medical student, I live for research and the significant differences gleaned through research studies. "How Not to Die" revealed in glowing neon letters that food has the ability to either kill us or save us. I was hooked. One story in particular caught my eye: the author was talking to his students about a miracle drug, and asked the students if they would take this drug. The students all agreed. As the proverbial drumroll ensued, the drug was then revealed to be broccoli. Food has power, but we don't realize it. I have now significantly changed my diet and have started incorporating superfoods into my daily diet. I have also started intermittent fasting. One of my favorite ways to incorporate superfoods is an antioxidant rich smoothie. I add a few strawberries, and then a mixture of berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), half a banana, healthy handful of spinach, walnuts, ginger, dairy/non-dairy milk, and ground flaxseed, creating a superfood power-rich blend. I love to drink this everyday to break my fast and get the day started on the right foot. I also like to incorporate broccoli with every meal and stay away from sugary drinks, primarily only drinking water. I have also taken a nutrition class to further expand upon my knowledge, and have learned about the MIND diet. I actually went pescatarian for over two months and currently stay away from red meat as much as possible. Food is fuel. Food is life.

How not to die? How to prolong life? How to prevent cognitive decline? Food. Food is the answer. Food is life. Food is joy. Nutrition is severely undervalued in the United States. Especially with the rates of obesity and type II diabetes increasing every year, emphasis has been placed on exercise. Although I do exercise regularly through playing soccer and doing yoga, what about nutrition? My first passionate spark for nutrition began during Covid, when I was sitting on the sofa locked down in my home and was afraid of gaining the "quarantine fifteen." Of course I could exercise, but what about the other large component that everyone must do to survive? Eat. What was I putting in my body? When I examined the excessive amounts of artificial sugar, sweeteners, grease, oil, and pure chemicals in my body, the realization staggering. I began researching online about nutrition and came across a book called "How Not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger. The information in that book was life altering and research based. As a medical student, I live for research and the significant differences gleaned through research studies. "How Not to Die" revealed in glowing neon letters that food has the ability to either kill us or save us. I was hooked. One story in particular caught my eye: the author was talking to his students about a miracle drug, and asked the students if they would take this drug. The students all agreed. As the proverbial drumroll ensued, the drug was then revealed to be broccoli. Food has power, but we don't realize it. I have now significantly changed my diet and have started incorporating superfoods into my daily diet. I have also started intermittent fasting. One of my favorite ways to incorporate superfoods is an antioxidant rich smoothie. I add a few strawberries, and then a mixture of berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), half a banana, healthy handful of spinach, walnuts, ginger, dairy/non-dairy milk, and ground flaxseed, creating a superfood power-rich blend. I love to drink this everyday to break my fast and get the day started on the right foot. I also like to incorporate broccoli with every meal and stay away from sugary drinks, primarily only drinking water. I have also taken a nutrition class to further expand upon my knowledge, and have learned about the MIND diet. I actually went pescatarian for over two months and currently stay away from red meat as much as possible. Food is fuel. Food is life.

240 million years ago, all of Earth’s land was united into one supercontinent: Pangea. Ever so slowly, the glorified land separated into the seven distinct continents that are known today, exemplifying that one land can create many different facets of itself. As a baby, I was Pangea. I was one supercontinent, ready to unlock the interlocked facets of myself. Kansas As fireworks line the sky for the fourth of July, my pride shines for the USA. The USA is the land of freedom, the land of dreams; it is my upbringing, it is my home. I learned how to ride a bike and take my first steps here. I have learned my love for the bacon cheeseburger. Miami As I stepped into the hot and muggy weather of Miami, the Latin culture invaded my senses. The yummy tacos, ceviche, and tres leches; the alluring beat of reggaeton and salsa; and the melodic sound of Spanish have encaptured me in a warm Latin breeze. Learning how to interweave my own Midwestern upbringing with the joyful Latin culture was daunting at first, but I realized that fully immersing myself in the culture, whether that be learning how to Salsa, or shadowing and volunteering at the hospital at the University of Miami with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients, has allowed me to adapt to make better relationships with the Miami community. Peru “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible healthcare. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in healthcare and reduce preventable illnesses. India As my grandpa tied a mauli around my left wrist, a red string bracelet symbolizing protection in the Hindu faith, we both smiled. Every time I visit my grandparents, I make sure to soak in my beautiful Indian heritage. Whether that be making Indian-style chicken with turmeric, cumin, and garam masala or eating with my yellow turmeric-stained hands, I feel at home. Pangea Through being half-Indian and half-White, I have had to navigate my own identity and merge my cultures, while simultaneously living in a predominantly Latin culture for the past couple of years. Being multifaceted in this way has allowed me to really delve into what makes the world so unique: our different cultures and traditions, but also our similarities: our love for family, respect, health, and our community. With only 0.5% of active physicians that are multiple race, non-Hispanic women, I represent a unique mindset, as I understand the nuances and similarities of many cultures. I hope to bring my multicultural background and commitment to diversity the field of medicine, and to ultimately collaborate with other health professionals about their unique backgrounds to treat all patients with every culture’s universal core values of empathy, compassion, and respect.

How not to die? How to prolong life? How to prevent cognitive decline? Food. Food is the answer. Food is life. Food is joy. Nutrition is severely undervalued in the United States. Especially with the rates of obesity and type II diabetes increasing every year, emphasis has been placed on exercise. But what about nutrition? My first passionate spark for nutrition began during Covid, when I was sitting on the sofa locked down in my home and was afraid of gaining the "quarantine fifteen." Of course I could exercise, but what about the other large component that everyone must do to survive? Eat. What was I putting in my body? When I examined the excessive amounts of artificial sugar, sweeteners, grease, oil, and pure chemicals in my body, the realization staggering. I began researching online about nutrition and came across a book called "How Not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger. The information in that book was life altering and research based. As a medical student, I live for research and the significant differences gleaned through research studies. "How Not to Die" revealed in glowing neon letters that food has the ability to either kill us or save us. I was hooked. One story in particular caught my eye: the author was talking to his students about a miracle drug, and asked the students if they would take this drug. The students all agreed. As the proverbial drumroll ensued, the drug was then revealed to be broccoli. Food has power, but we don't realize it. I have now significantly changed my diet and have started incorporating superfoods into my daily diet. I have also started intermittent fasting. One of my favorite ways to incorporate superfoods is an antioxidant rich smoothie. I add a few strawberries, and then a mixture of berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), half a banana, healthy handful of spinach, walnuts, ginger, dairy/non-dairy milk, and ground flaxseed, creating a superfood power-rich blend. I love to drink this everyday to break my fast and get the day started on the right foot. I also like to incorporate broccoli with every meal and stay away from sugary drinks, primarily only drinking water. I have also taken a nutrition class to further expand upon my knowledge, and have learned about the MIND diet. I actually went pescatarian for over two months and currently stay away from red meat as much as possible. Food is fuel. Food is life.

My commitment to diversity began before I even knew it. 240 million years ago, all of Earth’s land was united into one supercontinent: Pangea. Ever so slowly, the glorified land separated into the seven distinct continents that are known today, exemplifying that one land can create many different facets of itself. As a baby, I was Pangea. I was one supercontinent, ready to unlock the interlocked facets of myself. Kansas As fireworks line the sky for the fourth of July, my pride shines for the USA. The USA is the land of freedom, the land of dreams; it is my upbringing, it is my home. I learned how to ride a bike and take my first steps here. I have learned my love for the bacon cheeseburger. I have learned how to beautifully intertwine my Indian and American heritage. India As my grandpa tied a mauli around my left wrist, a red string bracelet symbolizing protection in the Hindu faith, we both smiled. Every time I visit my grandparents, I make sure to soak in my beautiful Indian heritage. Whether that be making Indian-style chicken with turmeric, cumin, and garam masala or eating with my yellow turmeric-stained hands, I feel at home. Even outside my grandparents' house, I feel my Indian culture surging through me. Whether that is getting the highest grade in the class, praying to Lakshmi for a raise, or calling everyone "uncle" and "auntie," the warmth of the Indian family bond and culture is a warm and comforting hug that I don't want to let go of. Miami As I stepped into the hot and muggy weather of Miami, the Latin culture invaded my senses. The yummy tacos, ceviche, and tres leches; the alluring beat of reggaeton and salsa; and the melodic sound of Spanish have encaptured me in a warm Latin breeze. Learning how to interweave my own Midwestern and Indian upbringing with the joyful Latin culture was daunting at first, but I realized that fully immersing myself in the culture, whether that be learning how to Salsa, or shadowing and volunteering at the hospital at the University of Miami with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients, has allowed me to adapt to make better relationships with the Miami community. Peru “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible healthcare. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I immediately thought back to India and the similar issues faced there, and discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in healthcare and reduce preventable illnesses. Pangea Through being half-Indian and half-White, I have had to navigate my own identity and merge my cultures, while simultaneously living in a predominantly Latin culture for the past couple of years. Being multifaceted in this way has allowed me to really delve into what makes the world so unique: our different cultures and traditions, but also our similarities: our love for family, respect, health, and our community. With only 0.5% of active physicians that are multiple race, non-Hispanic women, I represent a unique mindset, as I understand the nuances and similarities of many cultures. I hope to bring my multicultural background and commitment to diversity to the field of medicine, and to ultimately collaborate with other health professionals about their unique backgrounds to treat all patients with every culture’s universal core values of empathy, compassion, and respect.

My commitment to altruism began before I even knew it. 240 million years ago, all of Earth’s land was united into one supercontinent: Pangea. Ever so slowly, the glorified land separated into the seven distinct continents that are known today, exemplifying that one land can create many different facets of itself. As a baby, I was Pangea. I was one supercontinent, ready to unlock the interlocked facets of myself. Kansas As fireworks line the sky for the fourth of July, my pride shines for the USA. The USA is the land of freedom, the land of dreams; it is my upbringing, it is my home. I learned how to ride a bike and take my first steps here. I have learned my love for the bacon cheeseburger. Most importantly, I have learned the midwestern values of hard work and selflessness. Miami As I stepped into the hot and muggy weather of Miami, the Latin culture invaded my senses. The yummy tacos, ceviche, and tres leches; the alluring beat of reggaeton and salsa; and the melodic sound of Spanish have encaptured me in a warm Latin breeze. Learning how to interweave my own Midwestern upbringing with the joyful Latin culture was daunting at first, but I realized that fully immersing myself in the culture has allowed me to adapt to make better relationships with the Miami community. Especially through shadowing and volunteering at the hospital at the University of Miami with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients, I have learned that sickness has no language barrier, but more importantly, compassion and care does not have a language barrier either. Peru “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible healthcare. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in healthcare and reduce preventable illnesses. India As my grandpa tied a mauli around my left wrist, a red string bracelet symbolizing protection in the Hindu faith, we both smiled. Every time I visit my grandparents, I make sure to soak in my beautiful Indian heritage. Whether that be making Indian-style chicken with turmeric, cumin, and garam masala or eating with my yellow turmeric-stained hands, I feel at home. Pangea Through being half-Indian and half-White, I have had to navigate my own identity and merge my cultures, while simultaneously living in a predominantly Latin culture for the past couple of years. Being multifaceted in this way has allowed me to really delve into what makes the world so unique: our different cultures and traditions, but also our similarities: our love for family, altruism, health, and our community. With only 0.5% of active physicians that are multiple race, non-Hispanic women, I represent a unique mindset, as I understand the nuances and similarities of many cultures. I hope bring the universal core values of empathy, compassion, and selflessness to medicine as I progress in my field.

March 7th, 2020 is the day I left for Cusco, Peru. “Ok, it’s time to wake up and get ready for clinic!” As I groggily opened my eyes and stumbled through the dark to the bathroom, I remembered that today was no ordinary clinic day; no, today was the clinic day where I would be riding a bus up the bumpy roads of Peru and then walking the rest of the mountain to reach a remote village to help children that had no accessible health care. As my group and I began to treat rotten teeth, and sunburns and chapped lips due to high elevation, I realized that a lot of these ailments were preventable, but these children just did not have the resources. At that moment, I discerned what being a doctor meant to me: instead of practicing in a private clinic and only treating patients with the ability to pay and easily access me, I wanted to treat inequities in health care and reduce preventable illnesses whether that be locally or globally. To do that however, I would need to become a leader in my future medical field. Covid didn’t permeate my Cusco bubble until the sixth day, March 13th. My group was scheduled for our last clinic day on the 13th; however, due to the increasing concerns about Covid, it was cancelled. On March 15th, I flew back to the United States. As soon as I left though, it made me think about the unfortunate reality of these children not getting the treatment they needed, and subsequently, the consequences that might result from a lack of preventable care visits. After that trip, I really began to think about health care disparities: the lack of equal care due to location, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, or race. The children I treated in Cusco suffered from these preventable illnesses because of these persisting health care disparities. With this trip I expanded my narrow view from US health care and gained the perspective and knowledge of disparities that continue to permeate our entire world, emphasizing the importance of diverse learning experiences as well as the importance of leadership especially through this tumultuous time. Currently, I am now pursuing a dual MD/MBA degree at the Miller School of Medicine at The University of Miami to become the leader in both medicine and business to step into the doctor I have always wanted to be: helping people that need to be helped regardless of pay and access barriers. Only a true leader can enact change in our status quo environment, and I will not rest until my dreams are realized.