Transplants continue to revolutionize medicine offering many a second chance at life while prolonging the lives of others. And it all starts with access. I had just been told that I passed my driver's test. I went up to the counter, took my photo, and filled in some information. The question listed on the iPad asked me if I wanted to become an organ donor and I intentionally answered yes. In my life I have been affected by the need for organ transplants. My grandpa had an autosomal dominant lung disease called alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency. He died within the first year of my life after receiving a double lung transplant. I later watched as my brother was screened for the same disease, and I had recognized that his life was saved by the revolutionized medical advancements within healthcare since my grandfather’s death. On a more personal note, within medicine, I have tackled the greatest technological learning curve of my lifetime, managing my new diagnosis of type-1 diabetes with technology daily. I know first hand the benefits of integrating technology into health. Had I been diagnosed before insulin’s invention in 1921, my life expectancy would have been 2 years from diagnosis. Insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors and now research into islet cell transplants to better manage this disease are all realities. Technology is the transformative power prolonging my life expectancy. Already accepted in a dual degree Master Physician Assistant program, I am on the path to advancing medical technology through research and practice, ensuring more lives are saved, prolonged and improved. I am inspired to help many more access technological innovation to transform their lives.

I am so proud of myself for being accepted into a nationally recognized Physician Assistant dual-degree program at Quinnipiac University. A life-changing opportunity that requires a much larger financial commitment as a private, out-of-state university, with higher tuition and travel costs than corresponding in-state public universities. I have been diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes just over two years ago, carrying medical expenses shouldered by my family. While in college I will have expenses for medical supplies and travel both locally and back home for specialist visits and management. The distance will be challenging and more expensive. It is hard to admit, but my management of my health is my part time job. It also limits how much more expendable energy I have to work with in addition to academics and work study. I do not have the means to carry the financial expense of diabetes alone. I depend on my parents for my health insurance and insulin needs. Obtaining this scholarship is my means of helping to shoulder this burden.

Before that day, my purse held my phone, ChapStick, and car keys. You know, only the necessities. Sometimes I brought it with me, but usually I just left it at home and stuffed these things in my pockets without a care in the world. Since that day, I no longer have that choice. My purse now holds my insulin, rescue gels, alcohol swabs, needles, and baqsimi: an emergency nasal spray that I hope to never have to use. It is safe to say that my necessities have changed. My life halted suddenly on July 19th, 2022. After being admitted to the ICU, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Confused and trying to understand all of the medical terms, I did not hear many of the details of my diagnosis. I did hear one thing for sure; this is something that I will live with for the rest of my life. A permanent change. I remember feeling angry and wondering why this had to happen to me, a girl just trying to figure out high school and eager to get back to pre-season field hockey workouts. Doctors came in and out of my room, working to get my blood sugars regulated and under control so that I could go home. After three days in the hospital and lessons on how to give myself shots, I was sent home with my new necessities and a whole new vocabulary. Some of the changes were just annoying, like counting goldfish crackers and having mason jars as my new dinner glass to meticulously measure ounces of juice. But others were much more emotional and intrusive. Getting through the school day and coming to terms with the seriousness of this diagnosis took a toll on me and impacted my learning. Those first few months of shifting my priorities were the hardest time I have ever experienced. As time went on, I became much more aware of myself and others around me. I realized that there are invisible battles that everyone is fighting on a daily basis. With the cards that I had been dealt, I used them to create something in hopes that no one would feel the way I did. I was not able to change my situation, but I could use it to help someone else. I created the Type 1 Diabetes Club at my school. I started this club to support students living with type 1 diabetes, giving them a safe place and an outlet within the school setting. Through the club, I have been able to raise awareness and to educate others on the severity of the condition and how to be an ally. This year we are broadening our community to rising 9th graders, hoping to ease their transition into high school. I am proud to have created this community, one that will continue to thrive once I graduate. I never knew how much I could carry until I did not have a choice. Since that day, I know that things will never be the same as they were before. I AM permanently changed. Becoming more self-aware and setting necessary boundaries to care for myself before helping others is new for me. My purse feels light again some days. Some days it is heavier than ever. But I have proven to myself I am capable of carrying that extra weight while staying true to myself in making a positive impact on those around me.

Strength comes in all different forms, and it is not just in how hard I strike the ball. I found a new love for Field Hockey at the start of high school and played all four years. I learned the strength of a team is not all about athletic accomplishments but rather internal morale. Truly showing up as a community, I have embraced a fellow transgender teammate. I was there as support for my teammate who went through his transition over his first two years on the team. I was a pillar for him to lean on. I helped to advocate and teach others in order for him to be comfortable and feel respected. I learned what it meant to show up so people feel seen. I have learned the importance of advocating for human rights, supporting those that are in the minority who need a friend to see them for who they are. As a team without a lot of athletic wins, we supported each other and gave ourselves the wins that matter the most. I then became the one needing support. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes the summer before my sophomore year. An autoimmune disease in a world where 80% of autoimmune diseases are in women. I was told that I could do anything that any other athlete can do. I could keep doing all my activities, that this disease would not stop me from following my dreams. But what they didn’t tell me is that there will always be this one extra layer that I will carry for the rest of my life. I had field hockey tryouts and team building starting just 3 weeks after my ICU discharge. And I was to do this as a Captain leading others. So began my greatest learning curve. I had to learn how to give myself hourly shots and how to place glucose monitor sensors. I had to understand how balanced meals benefit me. How exercise can keep my glucose levels steady. Yet I had to really grasp the severity of what could happen if my glucose levels drop too low. Field hockey games in the heat and exertion were challenging. Teenagers usually do not have to face morbidity and mortality. I had to grow up and mature faster than I would have and adapt to my new way of life. There are days where I am still in denial of this permanent reality and some days where I feel proud of what I balance each hour. I experience things with more presence and gratitude than I was able to before. My true balancing act.

I have always gravitated towards STEM fields because I love having a decisive answer and using structure and the integration of knowledge to problem solve. I also recognize my ability to connect with people on deeper personal levels and how that brings me fulfillment. Medicine allows for all of this. I have been a part of my mom’s professional world as a physician assistant my entire life. My mom was the designated back-up for my field hockey games when no trainer was available. Her knowledge is always so readily available to help others. In addition, my grandfather’s genetic pulmonary disease requiring a double lung transplant has given me an intimate exposure to the impact of research and clinical development within the fields of medicine and transplants. On a more personal note within medicine, I have tackled the greatest learning curve of my lifetime, managing my new diagnosis of type-1 diabetes. I know first hand the benefits of integrating technology into health. Becoming a physician assistant will allow me to pursue medicine within these and other specialties over the span of my career. Areas I am passionate about include research, surgery, and community-based health. I grew up in Brooklyn, so surrounding myself with more of a diverse community as I transition into college has been a priority for me. I have actively been involved in local Black Lives Matter marches, pride festivals, marches for gun reform, and women’s rights events in a variety of cities. Presently, as a member of the Jewish minority in the South, I have realized the importance of showing up for my broader communities. I have learned the importance of being an ally first hand, continuing to support my peers through a multitude of causes. I am motivated to further study areas within public health and policy and to better understand community perceptions and their influence on various challenges to healthcare access.  In my recent experiences I see the benefit from programs that are not just a classroom experience, but instead a hands-on learning environment. I was selected to attend a day clinic with OrthoCarolina called the Perry Outreach Program. In this clinic, we took part in six mock surgeries, learned from professional women in medicine, and explored careers in STEM. Later that same year, I was accepted into a National Leadership Conference in Medicine and Health Care at American University. Over a two-week span, I assumed the role of a physician, practiced surgical skills, collaborated with my peers to diagnose patients, and debated public health issues. Both of these clinics were very hands-on, teaching me some of the basics and providing me with insight for future careers. The comradery of medicine was stimulating. A university with such a program offers an optimal platform to catapult me into being a major contributor to modern health advancements and would shape my ability to impact generations to come.

Before that day, my purse held my phone, chapstick, and car keys. You know, only the necessities. Sometimes I brought it with me, but usually I just left it at home and stuffed these things in my pockets without a care in the world. Since that day, I no longer have that choice. My purse now holds my insulin, rescue gels, alcohol swabs and needles. It is safe to say that my necessities have changed. My life halted suddenly on July 19th, 2022. After being admitted to the ICU, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Confused and trying to understand all of the medical terms, I did not hear many of the details of my diagnosis. I did hear one thing for sure; this is something that I will live with for the rest of my life. A permanent change. I remember feeling angry and wondering why this had to happen to me, a girl just trying to figure out high school and eager to get back to pre-season field hockey workouts. Doctors came in and out of my room, working to get my blood sugars regulated and under control so that I could go home. After three days in the hospital and lessons on how to give myself shots, I was sent home with my new necessities and a whole new vocabulary. Some of the changes were just annoying, like counting goldfish crackers and having mason jars as my new dinner glass to meticulously measure ounces of juice. But others were much more emotional and intrusive. Getting through the school day and coming to terms with the seriousness of this diagnosis took a toll on me and impacted my learning. Those first few months of shifting my priorities were the hardest time I have ever experienced. As time went on, I became much more aware of myself and others around me. I realized that there are invisible battles that everyone is fighting on a daily basis. With the cards that I had been dealt, I used them to create something in hopes that no one would feel the way I did. I was not able to change my situation, but I could use it to help someone else. I created the Type 1 Diabetes Club at my school. I started this club to support students living with type 1 diabetes, giving them a safe place and an outlet within the school setting. Through the club, I have been able to raise awareness and to educate others on the severity of the condition and how to be an ally. This year we are broadening our community to rising 9th graders, hoping to ease their transition into high school. I am proud to have created this community, one that will continue to thrive once I graduate. I never knew how much I could carry until I did not have a choice. Since that day, I know that things will never be the same as they were before. I AM permanently changed. Becoming more self-aware and setting necessary boundaries to care for myself before helping others is new for me. My purse feels light again some days. Some days it is heavier than ever. But I have proven to myself I am capable of carrying that extra weight while staying true to myself in making a positive impact on those around me. I have tackled the greatest learning curve of my lifetime thus far. I plan to expand my capacity and capabilities to pursue a career in medicine: to be impactful on other’s wellness journeys.