M. D Dual Degree Program: A Personal Statement

Every Tuesday in August 2013, I was the only visitor for Amaje, a teenager who just underwent leg amputation at Lister Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Over several weeks, I witnessed her losing her battle with an infection from the surgery with Amaje during my experience as a volunteer during the month of August 2013, led me the question my future plans and the difficulty people in her village have to get sufficient treatment. She is a victim of health care inequality. Despite these difficulties, I witnessed skilled physicians in this setting performing complex procedures in substandard conditions. The combination of my studies and real world experience strengthened my desire to practice medicine focused on treating underserved populations, nationally

From there, I will then obtain my Master’s and then pursuing a M.D./Ph.D dual degree program at a world-renowned medical school. My long term goal is to become an orthopedics’ physician while conducting research on common bone diseases in third world countries. My desire to perform medical public service developed from concern and sympathy for people in need of medical care, most specifically those with the least access. Participating in this program will give me the experience and edge I need to become one step closer to my research goals. I believe research is the pursuit of knowledge. As I approach the next step in my education, I look back and see several experiences that have led me to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery. These experiences have allowed me to develop certain traits that would make me a valuable member of an orthopedic

Whether repairing a fractured bone or replacing a worn-out joint, I would again initially consider the mechanisms involved in normal function, and then use my hands to fix things that were broken or create something entirely new. The end result, a return to normal or near-normal function and subsequent improvement in quality of life, would be extremely satisfying to the patient as well as to me. Years of involvement in team athletics have also contributed to shaping my career path. Engaging in softball and soccer throughout my life, has taught me many important lessons: the value of hard work, how to function well with others as part of a unit, and about making personal sacrifices for the greater good of the