Committed to caring for and empowering the underserved and disadvantaged, I value Pritzker’s emphasis on diversity as it trains the next generation of leaders in medicine and research. Born to a struggling immigrant family in a violence-ridden neighborhood in Chicago, I have faced many challenges just to survive. As a man of color, I have had to overcome many barriers throughout my life. Though difficult, these formative life experiences, nevertheless, have given me a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by those from immigrant, Black, Brown, low socioeconomic status, or uninsured backgrounds, and I aspire to utilize my background and knowledge of these factors as I care for underserved populations. As an underrepresented minority in medicine, I find purpose in sharing my story and advocating for marginalized communities. In fact, I look forward to the opportunity to share my perspectives and passions with my classmates and mentors at Pritzker, especially while discussing health disparities and compassionately caring for underserved populations through student-run free …show more content…
Through the scientific investigation track of the Scholarship and Discovery curriculum, I plan to continue my research on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) under the guidance of UChicago’s chief pulmonologist Dr. Gökhan Mutlu who has already mentored me for two summers hitherto. Hoping to incorporate a clinical component into my basic science research, I welcome the opportunity to utilize my background and life experiences from Chicago into meaningful investigation that can help patients with organ fibrosis. These incredible research experiences will allow me to serve many patients suffering from IPF, make a lasting contribution to biomedicine, equip me with the tools and skills needed to pioneer research throughout my lifetime, and better prepare myself for a future career in academic