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Personal statement
In 1988, my family left our homeland in search of a brighter future in America. However, as is often the case in life, things did not go exactly as planned. After a severe injury on the job, my father, who was a professor in pharmacology with several international publications, became handicapped and unemployed. The money we brought from Iran soon dwindled and my family was forced to survive on a yearly worker's compensation stipend of $8,400. Somehow, amidst all the distractions that surrounded me, I blocked out the economic hardships my family faced and concentrated on my education. That determination and focus helped me come to Yale University, where I embarked upon my journey to become a doctor. There is no single event in my life that led me to pursue a career in medicine, but rather a myriad of experiences, dreams, and sentiments have come together and guided me down the path that I am now choosing. The fragility of life is a phenomenon I have experienced first hand, and in medicine, this concept is a recurring theme. A person who feels perfectly fine one day can have his life turned upside down by a heart attack, stroke, or diagnosis of cancer. The traumatic accident that left my father broken has etched in me a deep sense of empathy for others who face uncertainty in their lives. When I volunteer at the local soup kitchen I feel a strong connection to the people I serve; these are individuals who are there partly due to events over which they had no control. An unexpected layoff is as devastating as a medical emergency; in both cases, it is vital that someone help the afflicted individual during his ordeal. Therefore, I have an intense desire to aid my future patients during their time of need and give them hope by doing everything I can to treat their illnesses and relieve their suffering. In addition to the compassionate nature of medicine, my love for science draws me to this profession. As an undergraduate I have decided to pursue a B.S. in Biology. After learning the fundamentals of cell biology my freshman year, I decided to get involved in basic science research. Since two of my grandparents passed away from heart attacks, I was interested in learning more about the cardiovascular system. I began to work in a cardiology lab that studied injury-induced vascular remodeling. In addition to learning several molecular biology techniques, I also gained an appreciation for research and its importance to modern medicine. Behind every new drug or procedure that a patient benefits from in the clinic is the wet lab work that went into uncovering the solution to the problem. My experience in the lab has shown me that clinical medicine and basic science are interrelated, and I wish to continue doing research throughout my medical career. This year in July, the data that I gathered was published in Circulation. Currently, I am working in a lab studying the congenital causes of hypertension and the role that glucocorticoids play in its etiology. For my senior thesis project I plan to further my research on this subject and gain a greater understanding of this devastating condition. Apart from the scientific rigor of medical research is the unadorned world of clinical care. As a volunteer at Yale-New Haven hospital, I had the opportunity to interact with patients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. I enjoyed responding to their simple requests by adjusting their beds, getting them extra blankets, or bringing them a cup of refreshing water. The emotional gratification I felt after a shift was enormous, and I realized how fulfilling my life would be if I could someday have the ability to treat these patients. Over the past two years, I have shadowed my brother many times during his internal medicine residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital. During my rounds with him, I have learned a great deal about the dynamics of patient-physician interaction and the teamwork involved in the successful treatment of a patient. I feel that sincerity, compassion, and openness to others are vital to a physician's capacity to dissect, understand, and treat a patient's ailment. In addition to compassion, a doctor should possess an acute sense of observation. Since the sixth grade, I have written poetry as a means of revealing the subtleties of life that astound me. Whether I am standing at a noisy city intersection or watching the slow undulations of branches on a tree, I often subtract a minute detail from the outside world and internalize it into my own experience. With the same care that I write a forty-line poem, I want to pay attention to every symptom and concern that my patients may have in the future. Throughout my life I have encountered many difficult and frustrating situations. Yet, I have stayed optimistic and have pursued my dream of becoming a worthy physician.
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AMCAS Personal Statement
'We eat dog.' 'You what?!' 'Dog. It's a local delicacy.' Culinary habits aside, I was certain I was as much an oddity to South Koreans as they were to me. My blonde, six-foot frame towered over my darker, petite hosts. Despite the cultural differences, common goals for understanding carcinogenesis and improving patient's health overcame language barriers. Being a foreigner was nothing new. My parents, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia, moved from Canada to California when I was six years old. While most of my 7th-grade classmates would have their papers proofread by their parents, I was editing my mother's letters as well as completing my own homework. But my international background also created an awareness of the world beyond my little community, and I dreamed of exploring the East Coast of my adopted country. Armed with an athletic scholarship, I chose to study at the University of Massachusetts for its strong academic reputation and excellent tennis program. From my earliest childhood career ambitions, medicine was always a strong interest. As the tomboy who gathered frogs and lizards, more than one science teacher had labeled me as the class scientist because of my inquisitiveness about the fundamental workings that kept my pets alive and healthy, and the knowledge of what caused them to become sick. When I entered college, I sought to satisfy this curiosity by studying biochemistry. I engaged in research, finding my own answers to questions, sharpening my logical approach to problems and learning to critically analyze the work of others. As my work progressed, I was increasingly interested how research results applied to human health and treatment. I engaged physicians in long discussions that bridged the laboratory and the clinic, and as a result my interest heightened in the application of medicine rather than research alone. However, I did not limit myself to studying biochemistry. Since I have always been curious about people, whom I view to be more complex than a collection of chemical reactions, anthropology seemed like a natural adjunct to my scientific training. Immediately after graduation, I applied my training by joining a research team for a menopause study in Slovenia. As an interviewer/interpreter, I talked with women about their health and the issues of aging. These conversations sometimes extended to invitations for coffee or dinner; most women were eager to speak because people rarely asked about their health or answered their questions frankly. For a moment, I was a part of these women's lives, and I loved the human interaction. However, my role as a biological anthropologist was to observe, to gather data. Though I would relish assisting the people with whom I had such close contact, collecting information and understanding the situation are the first steps towards assistance. My first opportunity to integrate my anthropological and scientific training came with the Fulbright to Singapore and South Korea to study gastric cancer. Although overall incidence rates of gastric cancer are globally decreasing, certain Asian nations remain disproportionately affected by a cancer that is relatively rare in the West. The pertinence of the gastric cancer study to my host countries, combined with availability and ease of access to tissue samples, contributed to my decision to develop gene-expression profiles of gastric tumors. But beyond genetics, gastric cancer has a strong environmental component - epidemiological studies consistently show that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables correlate with declining Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer rates. As an American living and traveling in Southeast Asia, I saw how globalization and better refrigeration methods have diversified local food consumption, decreased spoilage, and expanded peoples access to a healthier diet. I realized that health is not simply about genetics and medical treatment, but includes social conditions and lifestyle choices. During the SARS crisis in Singapore, I was impressed how my physician colleagues compassionately addressed fears of the public, and placed themselves on the battle line of the epidemic both in research and in the clinic. SARS highlighted the increasing integration of the world, how illnesses in seemingly remote regions can affect people in the United States, and what it means to be a medical professional in an increasingly global society. The study and application of medical science now has a special appeal for me. I am particularly interested in oncology, infectious diseases, and public health, but I believe each persons quest for good health cannot be fragmented. Whether we eat dog or hot dogs, doctors need to combine knowledge of a patient's cultural background and social situation with medical science and compassion to plan truly effective treatments for our afflictions. Health is intimately linked to our quality of life, and a clear need will always exist for dedicated doctors who understand this relationship. I feel that my background has prepared me well for the rigors of medical school, and I am eager to undertake the challenges of modern medicine.
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Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life?
I resigned the title of artist until I discovered photography, an art that suited my aesthetic eye but inept hand. Initial reactions to the camera were always unique - some individuals embraced a moment of vanity, while others shied away. Despite fears of losing the natural candor of a moment, I learned to ask for permission before taking a person's picture, and to accept 'no' as an answer. Likewise, I was elated to gain the confidence of individuals who initially declined to be photographed. Some people speak about the camera as a shield but, for myself, the camera became a window to the world. Photography developed my awareness of uniqueness in people, and provided a medium to humanize and share my experiences abroad by showing the faces behind the stories.
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What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?
At the UMass International Student Orientation, more than one person walked to the desk and simply burst into tears, needing a hug and a reassuring word. For some of these students, this was the first time they were over 100 miles from home. Realizing that the greatest fear is the unknown, I was the senior student coordinator in charge of familiarizing the staff and students with the campus and local area as well as university culture. I organized and lead discussion sessions ranging from class registration to dating. My interaction with these students continued throughout the year through various advisory positions. Although I developed my ability to organize programs and manage people, my greatest asset from the program was friendships that spanned over continents and cultures.
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What has been the ONE most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful?
Every Saturday, soup kitchen volunteers and visitors cooked a hot lunch and ate together, clattering dishes and laughing. The conversations reflected the diverse experiences of altruistic students, the elderly wanting company at meals, as well as the homeless population that required this resource to survive. Over my 3-year involvement, I began to perceive the nuances in the kitchen camaraderie and the unstated purpose of bringing people together. Food was a universal need. I also learned to respond to more ambiguous situations like the requests of an alcoholic mother who needed money for diapers, but generally spent the cash on the bottle. Obvious solutions to social problems rarely exist, but within medicine I find a philosophy of altruism and commitment to affect change.
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What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important?
My most meaningful honor was the Fulbright. With resources and financial independence provided by the fellowship in Singapore and South Korea, I developed gene expression profiles of gastric tumors. I also informally explored social aspects of the disease through observations of dietary issues in different cultures and through conversations with physicians. But, more importantly, I became part of the Fulbright community. I joined the company of Jake, the salsa king who studied Buddhism, Joyce, the blonde Mandarin speaker that briefed Colin Powell on security issues, Ronald, the designer of the Singaporean transport system, and other extraordinary individuals. My conversations with other grantees developed relationships that expanded my understanding of the world.
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What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor
In August 2002 (60hr/week), I worked as a translator with two anthropology professors and one Slovenian Public health official (Maruska Vidovic). We gathered preliminary information about age and symptoms of menopause, the first published study of its kind to be conducted in Eastern Europe. Interviewing strangers about their health is a difficult task. I initially felt hesitant in asking very private, personal questions, but I loved the human interaction and was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic responses and elaborations. I discovered that many women rarely had the chance to speak about the aging changes in their bodies or have their questions answered so frankly. The interviews provided an opportunity to voice their concerns, sparking a community dialogue about women's health.
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Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth.
Annie, the 2000/2001 UMass Women's Tennis team captain, quit just before the spring break departure to Florida. The team members chose me to be their speaker in lieu of Annie to restart the dialogue between the coaches and the players. However, the more difficult challenge was to accept Annie as a team member again. My sympathy went out to her because we shared many experiences on the squad, hence I tried my best to resolve the team's bruised feelings. That season, with Annie back, we won the Atlantic 10 Championships, a first time achievement in program history. Through this experience, I realized that compassion is more effective at healing and resolving difficulties than sheer force. I can be a leader under difficult circumstances, and gain the trust of the people around me.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What experiences have led you to this goal?
I enter medical school in the hopes that I will not be an ordinary doctor. During my time abroad, I could see the universal importance of health issues. My conversations with locals confirmed how rapidly the infrastructure and the community quality of life could improve - international organizations were making a difference. I would like to continue addressing public health concerns in the developing world. My background is applicable to the public health field - I speak several different languages and I learned to adapt to unfamiliar situations during my travels. Also, my work with community service organizations on an administrative and direct action level developed my belief to affect change. With a medical background to compliment my current abilities, I can make a difference.
