I think I answered the question correctly. I explicity stated "The aspect of dentistry I least like is the unequal access to proper dental care" in my answer, so I hope the adcoms dont get confused by this answer. My actual answer was something like this. Its a bit long and since my stats are not that good, the adcom will probably not even get this far in my application...oh well:
The aspect of dentistry that interests me the most is the autonomy and flexibility that the profession offers. Being a self-employed dentist, I would be able to have a flexible work schedule, which would allow me to focus more on my personal life and hobbies. Having the time and financial resources for my family, and for my hobbies such as traveling are all very important to me. Furthermore, being self-employed would allow me the time and flexibility to achieve my public health goals, in hopes of targeting the aspect of dentistry I least like.
The societal and governmental perception of oral health as non-important concerns me. Since dental care is often perceived as a luxury, it often stands in the shadow of other health services. As a result, governments tend to not prioritize funding in their health policies for equal access to public dental care. Thus, dental access is primarily defined across the socio-economic spectrum. People at the higher end of the spectrum receive the best access, whereas people at the lower end receive the least access. This is particularly prevalent in the developing world, which usually consists of the extreme case of income stratification. For example, in Guatemala, the services of a qualified dentist are not affordable in poor, rural areas and they thus look towards a cheaper alternative. These people rely on a practicantes, which is a layperson specializing in simple extractions. However, this is not the path that leads to proper oral health for the underprivileged. Working with international organizations, I hope to shorten the gap in dental access and reinforce the importance of proper oral health. Basic oral health care is not a privilege, but a right and should be equally accessible regardless of socio-economic status. I hope to achieve this by not only lending my dental skills in underprivileged communities, but to work with health policy officials to broaden their definition of health care to better include oral health in their policies.
If accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, I hope to be an active member in the Office of International Relations. I know that the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Oral Infectious Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania will provide me with the skills and opportunities necessary to achieve my goals, and I look forward to working alongside faculty and students that share my interests of providing better oral health to everyone.
