A Career In Medicine: A Personal Statement

I come from a country that has always been declared as an emergency response country with high levels of disease transmission, poverty, and undernourishment. At a young age I have witnessed first-hand the impact of low quality healthcare, when I lost several family members and family friends in Sudan due to preventable diseases like malaria and typhoid and chronic diseases like diabetes. Moving back to the United States as a child made me aware of my privilege at a young age and I became passionate about helping those who do not have the same opportunities as me. As a result of my personal experiences, I aspired to pursue a career in medicine because I wanted to be part of improving the health of others, especially those who have the least access to it. Once at UNC-Chapel Hill I learned more about public health and the great work involved in this field. I became interested in the Nutrition program specifically, because it perfectly combines my areas of interests: the study of sciences, the behavioral aspects of eating, and epidemiology of human disease with community service and social justice.

During my family trip to Sudan in the summer of 2015, I had the opportunity to visit Al Silah Al Tibi, a government funded hospital serving predominately low-socioeconomic populations. Upon arriving there, I was appalled at the outdated equipment, closely spaced beds, and lack of ventilation which all created a suitable environment for disease transmission. I could not help but compare this hospital to Royal Care, a private hospital in the capital with gated security and a strong reputation for providing quality care. However, as foreshadowed by the name of this hospital, this “royal” care was expensive and out of reach for most of Sudan’s middle and bottom socioeconomic class. This is the first time I realized how one’s social status can impact their