“If access to health care is considered a human right, who is considered human enough to have that right?” – Dr. Paul Farmer As a current medical student and future physician, I’m quite familiar with the limitations of the American healthcare system. While our healthcare system has many beneficial aspects, these are far outweighed by the insurmountable barriers to care that affect millions of Americans. In fact, a recent survey found that 45% of Americans are unable to access or afford healthcare. These barriers are largely due to the high costs of healthcare and the lack of access to affordable health insurance. I believe a single-payer, universal healthcare system would address both disparities by providing all individuals and families with equitable health insurance and access to necessary healthcare resources. This change would eliminate health insurance premiums, lower prices of prescription drugs, and reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs for patients. A single-payer system would improve access to care by ensuring that patients could not be denied care if they were unable to pay. Additionally, this change would prevent health insurance companies from refusing coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, which is especially critical given that these individuals are often the ones who are most in need of quality health insurance. Beyond these benefits and advantages for individual patients and families, a single-payer system would also lower administrative costs for hospitals and healthcare providers. I believe this change would greatly enhance the lives of Americans and improve adherence to the four ethical principles of medicine: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Universal healthcare would improve patient autonomy by allowing patients to make healthcare decisions based on their values and beliefs, rather than financial considerations. It would also improve beneficence and non-maleficence, enabling providers to treat their patients based on what will benefit those patients the most and do the least harm without being constrained by costs. Finally, it would promote justice by ensuring access to care for everyone, regardless of health insurance status or employment. While I cannot singlehandedly change the healthcare system, I hope to use my platform as a physician to advocate for changes that will reduce the barriers to affordable healthcare and improve the health and wellness of all Americans, not just the ones who can afford the best health insurance plans. I hope to follow in the footsteps of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, who believed all individuals deserve access to quality healthcare and that healthcare is a fundamental, non-negotiable human right.

My parents have always been big advocates of reading. I still remember the big stacks of books they each had on their nightstands throughout my childhood and their prompt declaration at 9 o'clock each night that they were headed to their bedroom to read before bed. Throughout my teenage years, my mom gave me book suggestions, handing me a book she thought I might enjoy. Sometimes I'd take the book, rolling my eyes and shoving it in the back of my closet; but when I was a sophomore in college, I pulled out one of the books she'd given me, "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder, while I was on the bus to a Saturday morning community service event. I started reading the biography of Paul Farmer, a doctor and founder of Partners in Health, and I was stunned by his work in Haiti and his commitment to equitable healthcare. I read his declaration that "healthcare is a human right", and that was the moment I decided on a career in medicine and global health. I didn't want to wait until finishing medical school and residency to begin helping people abroad, so I applied to the Peace Corps. After an extensive application and approval process, I ended up in Rwanda teaching English and volunteering part-time at the community health center in my village. Throughout my time in Rwanda, I learned so much about the resilient and beautiful country, its people, and the language and culture. I also learned about the importance of sustainable development and the necessity of offering people the help they want. My time in Rwanda solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine, and once back in the United States, I began writing my personal statement and reaching out for letters of recommendation. One year later, I was accepted to an MD/Ph.D. program, which I started in August 2020. Currently, I am a second-year medical student, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been trying to find ways to engage in global health, albeit locally. Last year I began volunteering with a local non-profit, Sante Total, that provides sustainable healthcare to rural Haitian communities, working on fundraisers to continue funding the organization's ongoing projects. I hope to use these experiences and my medical training to impact the lives of my future patients, whether here in New Orleans or abroad in Haiti or Rwanda, and increase access to quality healthcare worldwide. A few months ago, I was scrolling on my computer when I read the headline, "Paul Farmer, Pioneer of Global Health, Dies at 62". I was deeply saddened by the passing of this man who I'd never met, but whose story had so profoundly shaped my own. Although I still have many years of school left, I hope to one day follow in his footsteps and contribute to the important work of improving healthcare accessibility worldwide.

In March 2020, I was two weeks into a six-month adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine when I heard the news: a novel coronavirus was sweeping the nation, shutting down countries near and far, and canceling events, from concert tours to the NBA. At that time, we didn’t know what this meant or how long it would last. I naively assumed I would be able to return to the trail after quarantining for two weeks to help stop the spread of the virus. I never had the opportunity to return to the trail, but I started an MD/PhD program in July 2020 as planned before the onset of COVID-19. Just months later, I learned about the rapid development and approval of an mRNA vaccine that could put an end to the pandemic, and I was astounded at how quickly scientists were able to develop a vaccine against the virus that had changed our world. I strived to understand these mRNA vaccines and how they were different from previous vaccines. Before starting medical school, I had worked in a research lab studying Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with a focus on vaccine adjuvants to develop an effective vaccine against HIV, a virus that is notoriously difficult to vaccinate against given its complexity and ability to mutate. Yet, this emerging mRNA technology could change this, providing an alternative technique to vaccinate against not only HIV but other severe diseases that currently have no cure or effective prevention. Since the approval of the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, scientists have begun testing this technology to prevent Alzheimer’s and even cancer. As a physician-scientist in training, these recent advances in mRNA technology are not only exciting but groundbreaking in a way that I hope will change our relationship with many of the severe health issues that currently plague our society.

The first year of medical school is difficult. As a non-traditional student who took three years off before returning to pursue a dual MD/PhD degree, the first semester, which consisted of concurrent anatomy, biochemistry, and clinical skills courses, was a shock to the system. I had majored in neuroscience as an undergraduate and completed all of the requirements to be considered "pre-med", but I had never had to digest so much information in such a short amount of time while keeping up with extracurriculars, friends, family, and a new puppy, all in the context of a global pandemic. That semester, I did not prioritize self-care. I spent most days, including weekends, at the library and coffee shops, crawling into bed close to midnight, neglecting my basic requirements for food, sleep, exercise, and vitamin D. By the second semester, I knew I had to make some changes. I started small, scheduling weekly phone calls with my sisters. I began taking my dog on walks twice a day, which ended up being beneficial for both of us. I found a 10K training plan and committed to running 3-5 days each week, and I made time to go grocery shopping every week so there was always food in the house. While these changes may seem small, together they helped me become a happier and more balanced student, and I noticed improvements both in my grades and mental health. Fast forward to today, one year later, and I have kept up with these practices. I'm currently training for a half-marathon, a huge feat considering I could barely run a mile one year ago. Making these changes and prioritizing my mind and body has helped me become a more successful student, and I will carry these into my career as a physician-scientist.