Health disparities in PS

[AggieJohn]

First, please don't just say "send your ps to one of the people in mustangsally's post," because I intend on doing that once I have a completed rough draft 😛

My question is, I am filling out the TMDSAS and it says to describe my philosophy of the medical profession, and I was wondering... I took a minority health class where we discussed racial health disparities all semester. It had an impact on me. Should I mention how I feel about this? I feel like putting something to the tune of "I feel everyone should have equal access to healthcare regardless of race," but I don't know if a) thats too political, and b) I'm not an expert. The last thing I want to portray is that I am very knowledgable on the subject. I got an A in the class, but not being a minority myself and the class being a while ago, I am not up on the information. Is there a chance they might want to make my entire interview about this? Should I mention it at all?


Also, I plan on being a clinician. Do my opinions on this subject really matter, as I am at a more base level than an administrative/policy making level?
Thanks 🙂

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[ChymeChancellor]

First, please don't just say "send your ps to one of the people in mustangsally's post," because I intend on doing that once I have a completed rough draft 😛

My question is, I am filling out the TMDSAS and it says to describe my philosophy of the medical profession, and I was wondering... I took a minority health class where we discussed racial health disparities all semester. It had an impact on me. Should I mention how I feel about this? I feel like putting something to the tune of "I feel everyone should have equal access to healthcare regardless of race," but I don't know if a) thats too political, and b) I'm not an expert. The last thing I want to portray is that I am very knowledgable on the subject. I got an A in the class, but not being a minority myself and the class being a while ago, I am not up on the information. Is there a chance they might want to make my entire interview about this? Should I mention it at all?


Also, I plan on being a clinician. Do my opinions on this subject really matter, as I am at a more base level than an administrative/policy making level?
Thanks 🙂

I say go for it. No one is going to tear you down because of your effort for all races to have equal access to healthcare. I'm not too sure about this question as I am not using TMDSAS but you might want to address other mainstream issues i guess. And why are they asking you you're philosophy of the medical profession. For me that seems a little weird. Isn't it basically to heal sick people??? 😛 I know it's more than that but it seems like an obvious answer.

 

[PariPari]

Also, I plan on being a clinician. Do my opinions on this subject really matter, as I am at a more base level than an administrative/policy making level?
Thanks 🙂

Clinicians have the biggest impact on alleviating disparaties than policy wonks.
B/C if there aren't clinicians willing to practice in "health deserts" or provide care to ppl on medicaid/care then it won't really matter.
ETA: there are other disparaties besides access to care like how we treat patients...ie a fat person w/ disdain b/c they should know better, berate a smoker who won't quit, dismiss somebody's claims b/c we think they're frivilous,etc

But what exactly other than this class has impacted you to want to work to reduce health disparaties? Have you had any first hand experience w/ them? (just asking b/c it might be more powerful to explain how seeing it first hand vs reading about it in class) imho

 

[AggieJohn]

No one is going to tear you down because of your effort for all races to have equal access to healthcare.

True.

I'm not too sure about this question as I am not using TMDSAS but you might want to address other mainstream issues i guess. And why are they asking you you're philosophy of the medical profession. For me that seems a little weird. Isn't it basically to heal sick people??? 😛 I know it's more than that but it seems like an obvious answer.

It is one paragraph of 10. I wrote about why I felt being a physician is a good fit for me, my goals, and my philosophy. I wish I had a great story, like a friend dying in my arms driving me to become a doctor (not that a friend dying would be great at all), but I don't. Somehow, I did manage to write the required length.

 

[PariPari]

True.


It is one paragraph of 10. I wrote about why I felt being a physician is a good fit for me, my goals, and my philosophy. I wish I had a great story, like a friend dying in my arms driving me to become a doctor (not that a friend dying would be great at all), but I don't. Somehow, I did manage to write the required length.

i think you might have a good story, it just might not be a dramatic, pull yourself up by the bootstrap type of story-don't discount your motivations/experiences

 

[AggieJohn]

On a side note... does anyone know how, using MS word, to set the left-right width at 80 characters and the page length at 62 lines?

 

[AggieJohn]

i think you might have a good story, it just might not be a dramatic, pull yourself up by the bootstrap type of story-don't discount your motivations/experiences

Thanks, I am working on that type of story 🙂

 

[DrBowtie]

I think it depends on the context of how you slip it in.

 

[beanbean]

Don't add something to a PS just because you think it makes you look good. If this is an important issue for you and is part of the reason you wish to attend medical school, which it sounds like it is, then by all means include it. However, be prepared to answer questions regarding your this issue in any interviews you may have.

BTW try to expalin why you feel there is inequality in healthcare across racial and /or socioeconomic lines rather than just say the problem exists. You don't need to write a thesis, but particular examples especially ones you may have been exposed to while shadowing, etc will make your statement much stronger. Making blanket statement about racism and healthcare could have a negative effect on your PS, but a well-thought paragraph on the availablity and access to healthcare would be excellent.

In your secondary applications there will probably be a more specific questions regarding what healthcare issues are important to you. This will be another place to discuss how you wish to make an impact in this area as a clinician.

If you have a chance to do some volunteer work in a lower income or minority based healthcare area, do so. This would be great to talk about in interviews and will allow you to help out a deserving population.

 

[Anastasis]

First, please don't just say "send your ps to one of the people in mustangsally's post," because I intend on doing that once I have a completed rough draft 😛

My question is, I am filling out the TMDSAS and it says to describe my philosophy of the medical profession, and I was wondering... I took a minority health class where we discussed racial health disparities all semester. It had an impact on me. Should I mention how I feel about this? I feel like putting something to the tune of "I feel everyone should have equal access to healthcare regardless of race," but I don't know if a) thats too political, and b) I'm not an expert. The last thing I want to portray is that I am very knowledgable on the subject. I got an A in the class, but not being a minority myself and the class being a while ago, I am not up on the information. Is there a chance they might want to make my entire interview about this? Should I mention it at all?


Also, I plan on being a clinician. Do my opinions on this subject really matter, as I am at a more base level than an administrative/policy making level?
Thanks 🙂

Totally mention how this classes affected you and what you learned. It helped you form your philosophy of medicine right? I think believing that people should have equal access to medicine is something few people would disagree with.

(FYI, I put that I believe people should have access to health care regardless of income or race so I may be a bit biased.)

 

[Anastasis]

On a side note... does anyone know how, using MS word, to set the left-right width at 80 characters and the page length at 62 lines?

No idea, but if you figure it out, let me know!

 

[Gentle]

Clinicians have the biggest impact on alleviating disparaties than policy wonks.
B/C if there aren't clinicians willing to practice in "health deserts" or provide care to ppl on medicaid/care then it won't really matter.
ETA: there are other disparaties besides access to care like how we treat patients...ie a fat person w/ disdain b/c they should know better, berate a smoker who won't quit, dismiss somebody's claims b/c we think they're frivilous,etc

But what exactly other than this class has impacted you to want to work to reduce health disparaties? Have you had any first hand experience w/ them? (just asking b/c it might be more powerful to explain how seeing it first hand vs reading about it in class) imho

Ditto

-Gentle-