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Kylie Phan

665

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

Hello! My name is Kylie Phan, and I am a second-generation immigrant. In my free time, I like to binge Netflix series and bake pastries for my family. Recently, I have developed a new fondness for gardening because a maintained garden with vibrant flowers makes me happy. My goal is to obtain a doctorate in dentistry to pursue my dream profession and to be able to support my family. I discovered my newfound passion for dentistry when I applied for a summer internship program, where I shadowed dental hygienists and learned the ways of office operation. As I immersed myself in the many tasks, I immediately realized that I wanted to be a dentist– to help people feel confident about their smiles while doing what I loved. I believe I am the perfect candidate for this scholarship because my unrelenting passion and diligence will significantly impact my family and my patients in the future. I promise to give back to my community and positively contribute to the healthcare field when I achieve my goal.

Education

University of Southern California

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Human Biology

John A Rowland High School

High School
2020 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Majors of interest:

    • Dentistry
    • Human Biology
    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Dentistry

    • Dream career goals:

      I would like to open my own dental practice.

    • Clinic Intern

      Center for Pediatric Dentistry
      2022 – Present2 years

    Sports

    Dancing

    Varsity
    2020 – Present4 years

    Arts

    • Rowland High School Dance Program

      Dance
      Annual Winter and Spring Productions
      2023 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      California Scholarship Federation — Commissioner of Special Activities
      2022 – Present

    Future Interests

    Volunteering

    Entrepreneurship

    Collaboration & Diversity in Healthcare Scholarship
    As an Asian, growing up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood made me feel outcasted at a very young age. It was not until fourth grade that I met someone who could relate to me and understand my needs. My fourth-grade teacher, Vietnamese like me, became a friend that I felt comfortable being around. This exact bond of comfortability and understanding applies to that of a doctor and patient, which is why it is imperative for a diverse and collaborative environment in advancing healthcare. The medical field needs to be diverse in order to treat people with various backgrounds such as race, ethnicity, gender, wealth, religion, age, etc. Perhaps a Muslim dietician could better help create a porkless diet for Muslim patients, or an Asian radiologist can reassure Asian immigrants experiencing culture shock during their treatments. Some patients have needs that can be addressed by any general doctor but are better understood and taken care of by someone with similar backgrounds. In addition to diversity, collaboration plays an equally important role in the success of the medical field. All professionals must work diligently toward the same goal of helping patients. The medical field deals with the most important aspect of life, one's health, because with impaired health, one may not be able to enjoy other aspects of life. Therefore, all health professionals should collaboratively work, without dispute, toward the one goal of serving the patient. My dream is to open my own dental practice in which I will apply the values of inclusion and cooperation in my future work by employing a diverse team and encouraging coworkers to bond. A safe and friendly work environment ultimately leads to good collaboration. A past experience I had while interning at a pediatric dental office was when an anxious 6-year-old boy refused to take teeth X-rays. He constantly squirmed, cried, yelled, and pushed the dental hygienist away, resulting in blurry X-ray photos. The office staff and I worked together to calm the boy with pep talks and Spiderman stickers while multiple hygienists quickly took X-rays. The photos were necessary because we later found cavities that needed to be treated. This incident is the embodiment of teamwork resulting in success. The boy needed kind-hearted and patient people to comfort him while skillful dental hygienists worked on his mouth. The team was primarily successful because of the friendly work environment as well as the good chemistry between employees. From this moment, I realized how a cooperative and inclusive work environment in healthcare greatly benefits patients.