I remember the day my grandmother first forgot who I was. I was thirteen when my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I remember racing up the rickety stairs to her home, eager for her embrace. But when I gazed into her pale blue eyes, I noticed the confused furrow of her grey brows. She smiled hesitantly before mouthing to my father, "Who is this little girl?" That was the beginning of four and a half years of watching my grandmother’s mind deteriorate. Throughout high school, I learned more about dementia than I ever imagined. As my grandmother’s condition worsened, we moved her from her cozy abode in Long Island to a small nursing home in Coney Island, Brooklyn, where we could visit her every day. Through caring for her, I learned what sundowning looked like. I learned that when she asked for her late husband, it was better to lie to her and say he was at the store than to upset her with the truth. I learned how to comb her hair, help her bathe, and brush her teeth. I would hand her little napkins, which she would rip into tiny pieces while I helped feed her dinner. A month after my seventeenth birthday, I learned what it would feel like to finally lose her—how grief had been chipping away at me for years, and as we laid her in the ground, how it consumed me whole. The impact of Alzheimer's on my family, especially the toll it took on my grandmother, ignited my passion for understanding and addressing neurodegenerative diseases. That year, I dedicated my Girl Scout Gold Award, a 150+ hour community service project and the highest Girl Scout award, to raising Alzheimer’s Awareness, particularly for families with children and adolescents. As a child, I blamed myself for my grandmother forgetting me, believing that if I had been more memorable, her memory of me would have lasted longer. My project focused on teaching children what Alzheimer’s is and isn’t, activities to do with a loved one who has the disease, and the importance of understanding that the disease is nobody’s fault, even if it feels easy to blame oneself. During my gap year, I worked at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, researching hippocampal genes involved in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. My interest in geriatric care deepened further when my maternal grandfather, too, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. One day, he fell in the subway while visiting a friend in Chinatown. He lay there for over twelve hours in fear and pain, not remembering where he was or how to get home. These personal experiences with dementia in my family inspired me to focus my medical career on the elderly population, especially those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Two years later, I started medical school at Georgetown University. Despite living only about four hours from home, I struggled with immense guilt over choosing my career over family. My mother assured me things would be okay, and she cared for my grandfather, who was now bedridden. I focused on my studies and finished my pre-clinical coursework with top grades while also volunteering and conducting public health research. At the start of 2024, I began my dedicated study period for the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1. In the first week, my mother was hospitalized for a heart condition. I took the next bus home and began caring for my grandfather while my father stayed with my mother in the hospital. My grandfather, once a large, proud man, had shrunken into an unrecognizable 90-pound figure. Without the support of a nursing staff due to mounting hospital bills, I cared for him in the basement of our family home, trying to study for my exams between feeding him porridge and changing his diapers. Despite my extensive knowledge of Alzheimer’s, nothing prepared me for the challenges of balancing academic stress with my grandfather’s aggressive demeanor. My paternal grandmother had remained pleasant even in her decline, but my maternal grandfather was more like the irritable old man, Carl, from the movie Up. While my grandmother had greeted everyone with a warm smile and a polite “Thank you,” my maternal grandfather preferred to be left alone. Sometimes as I would bathe him, he would yell at me and in a confused panic, try to strike me. Then I would cry. And he would cry. And we would both sit there crying until the tears dried, and I continued pressing the damp sponge against his skin. Between caring for my grandfather and visiting my mother on days my father had to work, I was more physically and mentally exhausted than ever before. After two months of this, I reluctantly took a leave of absence from school to focus on my family. After five months, my mother was released from the hospital, and we celebrated with her favorite Chinese takeout. The relief was short-lived, however, because two days later, my grandfather died. It has been nearly four months since my family cremated the man who was my favorite person in the world growing up. I keep his memory card in my wallet, drawing strength and comfort from his photo whenever I feel down. I wish I could say that I uncovered some profound, enlightening life lesson wrapped in the grief and loss, but the truth is, sometimes there isn't one. Life doesn’t always hand you neat conclusions, and that’s okay. What I gained from this experience was a deeper understanding of the complexities of love and care. Caring for someone often means sacrificing your own needs, dreams, and timelines—something that can feel unbearably heavy but also deeply fulfilling. The exhaustion, frustration, and heartbreak solidified my commitment to a career in family medicine, focusing on preventive health and compassionate care, especially for the geriatric population. In addition to my medical degree, I am also pursuing a Master’s in Public Health to further my ability to promote preventative healthcare, including cancer screenings and improving care for the elderly. I am committed to ensuring that no one I care for will ever have to face the end of their life alone. My grandmother's kindness and my grandfather's fighting spirit continue to guide me. While I can’t change the past or prevent every loss, I can make a difference in others' lives by advocating for early intervention, better support systems, and compassionate end-of-life care.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, deeply influenced by my parents—my mother, a nurse, and my father, who works for the Department of Homeless Services. My father’s journey to his career was not typical; his family’s home caught fire when he was young, leaving him, my grandmother, and my uncles homeless. This experience instilled in him a deep understanding of the struggles faced by those without stable housing. His determination to make a difference led him to work with the homeless population in New York City. As a child, my father often took me with him to meet his clients. Those early experiences opened my eyes to the harsh realities and stigma faced by society’s most marginalized groups. I saw firsthand the impact of poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorders on individuals and families. These experiences shaped my passion for addressing health inequities and fueled my commitment to serving vulnerable populations. Now, as I pursue my medical degree at Georgetown University, my goal is to work as a primary care physician in underserved communities. But my aspirations extend beyond clinical practice. I want to drive systemic change by addressing the root causes of health disparities. To that end, I am also pursuing a Master of Public Health degree online through St. Ambrose University, even though it requires taking on additional financial burdens. My ultimate career goal is to leverage my dual degree to implement community-based initiatives that focus on preventative health measures for vulnerable populations, such as improving mental health care and communicable disease prevention among the unhoused in New York City. Throughout my undergraduate education and gap years, I sought out opportunities to serve marginalized populations in NYC. I volunteered weekly at an underfunded nursing home in Bed-Stuy, where I provided wound care services and assisted with bedsores. During the pandemic, I worked with a public health organization to disseminate COVID-19 testing and vaccination resources in low-SES neighborhoods. In medical school, I led Georgetown University's Street Medicine Outreach Program, where we served as patient navigators and provided essential resources to the unhoused population in Washington, D.C. My public health research has focused on reducing health disparities in lung cancer prevention, and my Master’s thesis aims to improve nutritional health outcomes. These experiences have reinforced my belief that our healthcare system must shift its focus toward preventive measures and addressing social determinants of health. The more I learn, the more I am emboldened by the need to champion the health and well-being of those who have been historically overlooked by our current system. My father’s story and my own experiences have taught me the value of resilience, compassion, and advocacy. In conclusion, I am driven by the desire to make a lasting impact on public health and healthcare delivery. While I am aware of the financial pressures of pursuing a dual degree, I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gain will enable me to contribute meaningfully to the health of my community. My passion for serving the underserved, combined with my education and personal experiences, has equipped me with the tools to address the complex challenges faced by vulnerable populations. I am excited to continue this journey, knowing that every step brings me closer to my goal of creating a more equitable and just healthcare system.

Leadership is often defined by one's ability to inspire and guide others toward a common goal. My journey as a leader has been shaped by various roles and experiences that have allowed me to develop and demonstrate essential leadership qualities. From academic research to community outreach, my path has been marked by a commitment to excellence, empathy, and empowerment. My leadership journey began during my undergraduate studies at Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College, where I pursued degrees in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. Balancing a demanding academic schedule, I was determined to make an impact beyond the classroom. I became Senior Health Educator for Peer Health Exchange, where I taught physical, sexual, and mental health education to underprivileged high school students. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication, patience, and the ability to engage and motivate others. It was here that I first realized the power of education as a tool for empowerment. My passion for research and desire to address health disparities led me to various research positions at prestigious institutions. As a Graduate Research Associate at Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center, I helped conduct a study aimed at identifying barriers to lung cancer screening and improving equity rates in cancer prevention. This role required meticulous attention to detail, collaboration with diverse teams, and the ability to present complex data effectively. My contributions to this research were recognized through co-authorship in a publication, further solidifying my commitment to making a meaningful impact in public health. Beyond research, I have demonstrated leadership in community outreach. During the pandemic, as a Community Outreach Supervisor for the public health organization, AM Trace, I led a team of canvassers to provide education and resources about COVID-19 to low socioeconomic communities in New York City. This role required strategic planning, resource management, and the ability to inspire and motivate a team under challenging circumstances. Similarly, my work with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine involved coordinating food rescue events, where I led efforts to transport food to homeless shelters, addressing food insecurity in my community. My leadership extended to my medical school journey at Georgetown University School of Medicine. As a member of the Street Medicine Outreach Leadership Board, I helped lead a team of medical students in distributing food and health resources to unhoused individuals. This role reinforced the importance of empathy, advocacy, and the ability to navigate complex healthcare systems to provide comprehensive care. Additionally, serving as the President of the First Generation Organization, I mentored first-generation medical students, providing them with the support and resources needed to thrive in their transition to medical school. Leadership, to me, is not just about holding a position of authority but about the impact one has on others. It is about inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential. My journey has been characterized by a continuous drive to learn, adapt, and lead with integrity and compassion. Whether in the lab, classroom, or community, I have sought to create positive change and foster a collaborative and inclusive environment. In conclusion, what makes me a leader is my unwavering commitment to making a difference, my ability to inspire and empower others, and my dedication to addressing health disparities through education, research, and community engagement. Leadership is about service, and I am driven by a desire to serve others and contribute to a healthier and more equitable world.

When my father was nineteen, a devastating fire destroyed his family home, leaving him, my uncles, and my grandmother homeless for nearly two years. This experience profoundly influenced my father's career path, leading him to work with NYC’s Department of Homeless Services. As a child, I accompanied him to meet his clients, which exposed me to the harsh realities and stigma faced by homeless individuals. I was deeply moved by the severe impact of inadequate access to quality healthcare on both their physical and mental well-being. This early exposure inspired me to pursue a career in medicine, driven by a commitment to improve care for underserved and marginalized communities. During my undergraduate studies at Macaulay Honors Brooklyn College, I actively engaged in healthcare advocacy and service. I volunteered as a clinical intern at a critically underfunded nursing home in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. There, I witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of insufficient resources, with patients often suffering from preventable conditions due to delays in medical supplies and severe understaffing. Despite these challenges, I found profound satisfaction in providing essential care and supporting patients during their most vulnerable moments. This experience solidified my determination to specialize in primary care and serve historically marginalized populations. In addition to my clinical experience, I dedicated myself to health education by teaching classes in underfunded high schools, addressing critical gaps in health literacy. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the disparities in healthcare access. As a volunteer with a public health organization, I assisted in disseminating information and resources about COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to low-income communities across NYC. This role reinforced my belief in the transformative power of education in enhancing community health outcomes. At Georgetown University, I continue to pursue my passion through academic excellence and community service. As part of the Population Health Scholars Track, I am involved in research focused on enhancing cancer screening equity—a crucial step in reducing health disparities. Leading Georgetown’s Street Medicine Outreach program, I work closely with local communities to provide essential health services and advocate for comprehensive healthcare solutions. This year, I will complete my Master of Public Health at St. Ambrose University, where I will deepen my knowledge of epidemiology, advocacy for policy reform, and community health program development. Looking ahead, my goal as a future physician is to establish sustainable healthcare initiatives that prioritize preventive care and mental health support for underserved populations. I envision creating educational workshops to empower communities with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed health decisions, addressing healthcare inequities at their roots. I am committed to using my skills and experiences to drive meaningful change and advance health equity, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, has access to the care and support they deserve.