The prompts are "Prompt: Describe your career goals and motivation for wanting to obtain research experience. Be sure to include the area(s) of research interest or the
faculty member with whom you would like to work with during the program. Please note, this does not guarantee placement with that faculty member, but lets us know who you are interested in possibly working with." and "Why are you interested in this program?" Here's an example of my response to the prompt: "Why are you interested in this program.
My interest in the Jack Cary Eichenbaum Program stems from the program’s distinctive offer for clinical rotations in neonatology while providing a mentor for research. This unique combination builds a research-backed understanding of neonatology and a first-hand patient experience. This serves the importance of exploring neonatology and clinical research. While shadowing a family medicine physician in New York, I encountered a moment that would shape my interest in this field.
We entered a softly lit room where a mother and her husband sat. Her eyes were filled with sadness and anguish, and I soon learned that she had lost her newborn child to Edward’s Syndrome shortly after birth. Witnessing her struggle with depression, I felt the heaviness of the moment and the shadows of what could have been looming over her at every waking moment. This experience ignited a resounding urge to better understand syndromes such as Edward’s syndrome in a neonatology setting.
After that appointment, the physician and I discussed the complexities of neonatology. He highlighted how it is a layered field rich with challenges we have yet to understand fully.
This realization fostered my interest in neonatology, reinforcing my desire to contribute to clinical research in this vital area. After this experience, I actively pursued shadowing opportunities and was fortunate to shadow a pediatric neurosurgeon. The surgeon I accompanied had many neonatal patients, and those appointments provided some of the most valuable experiences. My interactions with the patients and their families inspired me to look beyond clinical exposure. I am driven to engage in research, aiming to deepen my understanding and contribute to the field of neonatology. The Jack Cary Eichenbaum Program offers me a priceless opportunity to engage in such research within an essential study area. Through this program, I would not only assist in ongoing projects but also have the chance to contribute my findings, allowing me to develop as a researcher and critical thinker.
Additionally, the chance to observe this field in a clinical setting and understand neonatology beyond a clinical and research setting will deepen my understanding and further solidify my patient care skills. I am eager to immerse myself in the program’s involved environment, where I can connect with experienced professionals, participate in hands-on research, and explore the intricate details of this field.
The challenges and learning experiences presented by the Jack Cary Eichenbaum Program will push me beyond my comfort zone, allowing me to grow academically and personally as a learner and researcher. I would be honored to participate in a program encouraging exploration and fostering education in such an important field.
