Rosalind Franklin was someone who not only impactfully contributed to the field of genetics but worked to do so in a time when women were scarcely in STEM. As an overshadowed trailblazer during her career, I have the greatest and utmost respect for someone who still pursued what she loved even when it wasn't anywhere near the "norm." As an aspiring physician who hopes to reduce the implicit bias against women in the healthcare industry, I aim to harness her same tenacity and spirit to be a woman in STEM.

I have always been inspired by the work of Rosalind Franklin. She was a woman who pioneered in the field of genetics and discovered the unique double helix structure of DNA. She was able to overcome the stigma of a working woman in her time and used her extensive intelligence to break boundaries by shattering the glass ceiling. An inspiration herself, I hope to become a similar figure for young girls in my work as a physician. This past summer, I found a calling for my future as a doctor. The Black Lives Matter movement lit a spark for social change, causing many to think introspectively about inequality towards various groups. I decided I wanted to learn more about how gender still has an alarming influence on treatments in healthcare globally. I was astounded to find out that situations still occur in which women are under prescribed medicine or denied care because doctors implicitly or outwardly believe that women “over exaggerate” their symptoms. Through my research, I learned this bias is rooted in the idea that women suffer from “hysteria,” a post-Freud belief that had many believing women hyperbolized their symptoms. As someone who aspires to pursue medicine, I firmly believe in bridging the gap in treatment between men and women, be it through outreach in underprivileged countries or through community service right here at home in the United States.