Diversity Essay Feedback

[UnbudgingIdiot]

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Hi all, I am currently filling out my diversity essay and was wondering if I am approaching it correctly.

For this question from Jefferson's medical school, I believe it is basically asking you what makes YOU unique:

1. Sidney Kimmel Medical College defines diversity as the richness in human differences. How will your own experiences allow you to contribute to the diversity of the student body and to provide equitable and inclusive care to your future patients?

I wanted to talk about how I witnessed internet access changed healthcare in India since I lived there as a kid and then when i visited again 15 years later (First gen immigrant). And build upon how new technology can have a significant impact on healthcare. But the experiences I have to support this are:

1. Currently writing an educational perspective on how AI is affecting medical teaching with a doctor (I did not list this in my primary)
2. In my gap year research, I'm doing data analysis for an AI program to detect heart murmurs (I'm not doing any of the coding, just using MATLAB for the analysis)

So I feel like I can talk about how I have knowledge in the AI space and about seeing how the internet changed healthcare, AI will as well. But my reservations with this are that I feel like these are not strong enough examples, as I have not done any real coding, and also, it sounds a bit gimmicky.

I could talk about my extensive experience working with underserved populations as a cardio MA and running free cardio clinics, but I already talked about those experiences in my primary statement, so I wanted to touch on something different.

So I am wondering, should I talk about my interest in AI/technology for my diversity essay, or should I further develop and talk about a different aspect of my work with underserved populations and understanding their needs?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi all, I am currently filling out my diversity essay and was wondering if I am approaching it correctly.

For this question from Jefferson's medical school, I believe it is basically asking you what makes YOU unique:

1. Sidney Kimmel Medical College defines diversity as the richness in human differences. How will your own experiences allow you to contribute to the diversity of the student body and to provide equitable and inclusive care to your future patients?

I wanted to talk about how I witnessed internet access changed healthcare in India since I lived there as a kid and then when i visited again 15 years later (First gen immigrant). And build upon how new technology can have a significant impact on healthcare. But the experiences I have to support this are:

1. Currently writing an educational perspective on how AI is affecting medical teaching with a doctor (I did not list this in my primary)
2. In my gap year research, I'm doing data analysis for an AI program to detect heart murmurs (I'm not doing any of the coding, just using MATLAB for the analysis)

So I feel like I can talk about how I have knowledge in the AI space and about seeing how the internet changed healthcare, AI will as well. But my reservations with this are that I feel like these are not strong enough examples, as I have not done any real coding, and also, it sounds a bit gimmicky.

I could talk about my extensive experience working with underserved populations as a cardio MA and running free cardio clinics, but I already talked about those experiences in my primary statement, so I wanted to touch on something different.

So I am wondering, should I talk about my interest in AI/technology for my diversity essay, or should I further develop and talk about a different aspect of my work with underserved populations and understanding their needs?

Thanks in advance!!

Background

Diversity & Inclusion

www.jefferson.edu

On first blush, I say thumbs down. If "what makes you cool" is that you can talk about AI changing healthcare like the internet did, it makes me think you don't do anything fun, or you can't connect with people completely different from you (education, life experience, etc.).

Maybe that's something you're really passionate or curious about (different essay prompts), but your answer... well, it will make you unique(ly tone deaf about "diversity").

 

[UnbudgingIdiot]

I was under the impression that the diversity question is asking what unique perspectives you bring to the medical school/class. So, wouldn't talking about my experience in technology in healthcare be a good example? Or am I thinking about this question wrong? My whole PS talks about connecting with patients from diverse backgrounds, so I was thinking of talking about something else.

 

[polymerization]

Yeah, if you zoom out enough, diversity can just mean "I have different thoughts and experiences than other people," which is self-evident, somewhat obvious, and not necessarily helpful in determining what makes you as a person different from everyone else. There's nothing physically precluding any one physician from speaking directly to any one patient, so just "connecting" isn't specific enough.

Now, the idea that you split your childhood between two extremely different countries is a lot more compelling. There are a lot of patients who approach the American healthcare system in genuine fear for their health, safety, and future here. Extra points if you got into assisting in refugee health evaluations in clinic and can connect how your experience led you to see that patient population's needs more clearly.

In other words, diversity isn't just who you are or what happened to you, but how those factors impact the lens you see reality through. What makes a diverse perspective truly diverse is how much it strays from what "the average medical student" would or could say about a situation, assuming the dominant majority: White, upper-middle class, male, heterosexual, and broadly well-educated. The downside to that life (and where you have an advantage) is in discussing the challenges you faced that someone born into the majority will never have to.