Can I mention historical issues?

[platypig]

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I spent some time working at an activism organization for minorities, especially women of color. I spoke to many women about the medical community and they seemed to be mistrustful because they still remembered the horrible things done throughout history to marginalized communities. Many brought up the Tuskegee airmen and the forced sterilization of minorities. This experience really educated me on public attitudes towards scientists and physicians. Later, we held an event with presentations regarding how to find medical professionals and encouraged everyone to seek help when necessary. I know we are not supposed to mention anything negative, especially anything negative about medicine, but would it be okay to mention this and talk about how I want to work towards easing tensions? I thought about wording it as "past events", but I am worried that in doing so I am making light of what really occurred.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Tenk]

“I helped ethnic minorities and women of color better seek access to healthcare.” Focus on the patients and you can’t go wrong.

 

[PharmaBr0]

Tuskegee airmen?

 

[LizzyM]

Tuskegee airmen?

A bit of confusion, perhaps, between the Tuskegee Airmen who served in WWII and the participants in the Tuskegee Study of Syphilis who were not permitted to serve in WWII.

 

[piii]

I think you should study a little more history lol

 

[right500]

Remember to focus on what you did vs. what you believe. You are expected to believe in racial equality and helping the downtrodden. They want to see your sense of initiative and (although a touch pithy) actions speak louder than words.

This topic should be relevant to the conversation (e.g. "What is something you are passionate about?") and you should be able to back up what you say. An interviewer may decide to take a confrontational stance to test you and your beliefs. What if they say: "Tell me about the Tuskegee airmen[sic]?", "Why was the Tuskegee study conducted?" "When did it end?" (this one is complicated), "Please discuss the historical role of forced sterilization in the mid-20th century worldwide?" (hint: it was shockingly common and popular), or "How will your relevant actions as a provider improve outcomes?" Atrocities are rarely conducted out of pure hate but instead through good intentions. They may ask: "Are you ready to stand up for your beliefs in opposition to popular programs?"

Fun fact: Robin Roberts (from Good Morning America) is the daughter of a Tuskegee airman.

Less fun fact: "collective guilt" is a very sensitive concept for some oppressed (often less visible) minorities. Do not assume you know something integral about the interviewer based on their outward appearance. A person might be fair skinned and speak with the local accent but they are a survivor of Srebrenica or they might be a well-to-do Asian immigrant but they had their parents tortured to death in front of them in Cambodia during the 70s. I have encountered people who intimate that the person they are speaking to is part of "the oppressors" and then get crushed by the interviewer's response as oppressed.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Many brought up the Tuskegee airmen and the forced sterilization of minorities

No

 

[Goro]

I spent some time working at an activism organization for minorities, especially women of color. I spoke to many women about the medical community and they seemed to be mistrustful because they still remembered the horrible things done throughout history to marginalized communities. Many brought up the Tuskegee airmen and the forced sterilization of minorities. This experience really educated me on public attitudes towards scientists and physicians. Later, we held an event with presentations regarding how to find medical professionals and encouraged everyone to seek help when necessary. I know we are not supposed to mention anything negative, especially anything negative about medicine, but would it be okay to mention this and talk about how I want to work towards easing tensions? I thought about wording it as "past events", but I am worried that in doing so I am making light of what really occurred.

Thanks for any advice!

The PS is not meant to be a history essay. Let your ECs speak for you, and the PS as to "Why Medicine?" and "Who am I?"

 

[platypig]

A bit of confusion, perhaps, between the Tuskegee Airmen who served in WWII and the participants in the Tuskegee Study of Syphilis who were not permitted to serve in WWII.

Thank you for educating me on this topic!

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Dont mention atrocities unless you and or family members have been affected by such.

 

[platypig]

The PS is not meant to be a history essay. Let your ECs speak for you, and the PS as to "Why Medicine?" and "Who am I?"

I did not mean to make it into a history lesson on my essay, especially as history is most certainly not my strong point. The organization is not focused on medicine, but due to speaking to many of the participants of the program and those in the neighborhood, we decided to hold this event. I was hoping to write that many were mistrustful due to what had historically occurred, which prompted the event. However, I understand now how that might be inappropriate. I appreciate your advice and will make some changes!

 

[platypig]

I think you should study a little more history lol

I do admit that I need to study some more history. I will be taking a course related to this topic next semester. I hope to be able to expand my knowledge base!

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I don't think that discussing your desire to address health disparities, particularly in light of historical events that have led minority groups to distrust the medical establishment, is necessarily a bad thing. There are definitely ways to talk about it well in an application, and I think lots of schools (especially those with public health/minority health programs or focuses) would eat it up. But you need to make sure you understand what you're talking about. I applaud you for your interest in this subject, but as evidenced by your confusion between the Tuskegee syphilis study and the Tuskegee airmen, you probably want to do a some more learning about these issues before you go citing them in your med school application. If you write about it in your application, you run a good chance of being asked about it in interviews, and you need to be able to talk about it. This is especially true if you're not a member of the minority groups you're working with (I get the sense from what you've written that you aren't, but I could be wrong).

Edit: I focused above on med school apps since that seems to be what you're asking about, but it also important beyond applications - if this is something you want to work to address in your career, then you need to understand what you're actually addressing, otherwise you won't have much success.

 

[Goro]

I do admit that I need to study some more history. I will be taking a course related to this topic next semester. I hope to be able to expand my knowledge base!

Read the book "Bad Blood"

 

[Goro]

And this one:

 

[Planes2Doc]

This may open a rancid can of worms for no reason. Keep it simple and focus on the people you were helping. Leave the historical essay for a history or other relevant college course.

 

[Moko]

You could always say that your organization was aimed at community outreach, and talk about how you dealt with the significant mistrust of the medical community particularly among minorities. No reason to bring in historical events, especially ones that you're not fully versed in.

 

[Hass_Love_Fitness]

I talked about the holocaust in one of my secondaries only because it related to one of EC’s.

 

[MyOdyssey]

OP

There's a wonderful film about the Tuskegee airmen (Lucasfilms) called "Red Tails" - named for the painted red tails of the Mustang fighter aircraft they flew during WW II.