Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe your interest in Georgetown. (Applicant was accepted by Stanford, Harvard, UCLA, UC San Diego and several other major medical programs)
I first learned about the Georgetown Medical School during my 2001 summer fellowship at the NIH. As an informal observer of politics with an interest in different cultures, I enjoyed the school's vibrant, multicultural location in Washington DC and diverse student population. Also, Georgetown's resources within the capitol allow students to work with institutions that influence healthcare on an international and national level. During my time abroad in Southeast Asia, I could see recent changes resulting from globalization, sparking my awareness of how improving health in communities affects development, and vice versa. I became interested in the role of aid organizations on healthcare and development, and I feel Georgetown's goals and resources would allow me to explore these interests. I was also impressed by Georgetown Medical School's emphasis on not simply addressing an illness, but treating the whole person, because I have sought to make these connections within my own education. My academic background is in biochemistry, which provides a scientific understanding of disease. However, I feel that my studies in anthropology have better captured the nuances of the human emotional response to illness. My interest in spirituality was sparked by a comment from Prof Lynnette Leidy, the head of the Slovenian Menopause Study and a former nurse: 'Faith plays a role when people experience a tragedy - the death of a child, death of a spouse, or divorce. The people who bounce back the quickest often have a strong belief in God or another religion, allowing them to entrust their worries with a higher power, and begin recovery.' As I traveled in Asia, I explored cultures with Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, which were often integrated with animistic beliefs, local customs, and alternative medicine practices. Regardless of the region, religion had a profound effect on spiritual and ethical practices of communities during times of calm or times of crisis, and I believe that Georgetown develops this awareness within the course curriculum. Georgetown also provides a unique research environment with interaction and collaboration between different departments. Although I have always been involved in research, my time abroad fostered interest in new questions. With my past research experience in womens health, I conversed with physicians about anecdotal and scientific evidence concerning the differences between men and women in disease, aging, and responses to therapeutic drugs. I believe these differences are starting to be explored in the scientific community. I am also interested in population genetics; with recent advances in genomics, it is possible to explore anthropological questions like migration patterns with biological tools. Even if I do not ultimately choose to pursue a career in research, my mind will never stop questioning and trying to solve problems, and I appreciate how Georgetown advocates the pursuit of lifelong learning through independent research. I believe that Georgetown Medical School's approach to education and its access to resources will provide the best opportunity to develop and refine my skills as a future physician.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Why are you interested in Georgetown University Medical School? Major Essay
I first learned about the Georgetown Medical School during my 2001 summer fellowship at the NIH. As an informal observer of politics with an avid interest in different cultures, I enjoyed the school's vibrant, multicultural location in Washington DC and diverse student population. In addition, Georgetown's resources within the capitol allow students to work with institutions that influence healthcare on an international and national level. During my time abroad in Southeast Asia, I could see recent changes resulting from globalization, sparking my awareness of how improving health in communities affects development, and vice versa. I became interested in the role of aid organizations on healthcare and development, and I feel Georgetown's goals and resources would allow me to explore these interests. I was also impressed by Georgetown Medical School's emphasis on not simply addressing an illness, but treating the whole person, because I have sought to make these connections within my own education. My academic background is in biochemistry, which provides a scientific understanding of disease. However, I feel that my studies in anthropology have better captured the nuances of the human emotional response to illness. My interest in spirituality was sparked by a comment from Lynnette Leidy, my advisor at the University of Massachusetts. As the head of the Slovenian Menopause Study and a former nurse, she stated that 'Faith plays a role when people experience a tragedy - the death of a child, death of a spouse, or divorce. The people who bounce back the quickest often have a strong belief in God or another religion, allowing them to entrust their worries with a higher power, and begin recovery.' As I traveled in Asia, I explored cultures with Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, which were often integrated with animistic beliefs, local customs, and alternative medicine practices. Regardless of the region, religion had a profound effect on spiritual and ethical practices of communities during times of calm or times of crisis, and I believe that Georgetown develops this awareness within the course curriculum. Georgetown also provides a unique research environment with interaction and collaboration between different departments. Although I have always been involved in research, my time abroad fostered interest in new questions. With my past research experience in women's health, I conversed with physicians about anecdotal and scientific evidence concerning the differences between men and women in disease, aging, and responses to therapeutic drugs. I believe these differences are starting to be explored in the scientific community. I am also interested in population genetics; with recent advances in genomics, it is possible to explore anthropological questions like migration patterns with biological tools. Even if I do not ultimately choose to pursue a career in research, my mind will never stop questioning and trying to solve problems, and I appreciate how Georgetown advocates the pursuit of lifelong learning through independent research. I believe that Georgetown Medical School's approach to education and its access to resources will provide the best opportunity to develop and refine my skills as a future physician.
