UCSF Supplimental

[sollyjoon]

Human Condition??? what is that suppose to mean?

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[googleit]

I thought the same thing when I was looking at the application. My answer is still blank. Out of all the supplemental questions I've answers, UCSF's are the hardest

 

[sdn1977]

I thought the same thing when I was looking at the application. My answer is still blank. Out of all the supplemental questions I've answers, UCSF's are the hardest

Well - what do you expect? They want those who will take the education which is offered & take it to wherever the individual's situation will lead them.

Now THINK! What does "human condition" mean? Sure - look it up on Wikipedia & you'll find all sorts of "out there" meanings. But, in reality - it comes down to your grandmother, who might be an immigrant, who is now diagnosed with cancer. She now has to undergo tests, scans, treatments (which impinge on her image of herself - again - the human condition), her own mortality, her assumptions of how she expected to live & die (probably not here in the US). Yet - she might have very little language, perhaps very little support, tremendous fear & here - an ingnorance (not intentionally) of her cultural mores which might influence how she perceives here quality of life & her view of death.

Now - THINK, yet again. What does the human condition mean in Africa - where much of Bill Gate's money is being spent on malaria research? How does that relate to your own perception of what your human condition is (hmmm - I'm thinking a 20-something, who has tuitiion & living expenses paid by mom & dad & who has a job for "extras" - sorry - this indeed won't relate to all - but - the reality is - malaria is not endemic here).

So - now back to malaria - or we could talk about the endemics of menigitis on those who travel in the winter in the Middle East on their religious treks.

Or - we could talk about the Asian cultures in many parts of "third world" Asia - who live with their animals (a major source of Avial flu aroudn the world).

I, in no way mean to "pick out" these cultures - they just readily come to mind & they are not at all "less than" nor valuable for their "exansiveness" (sp?) to ours.

But - we are a global society - particularly SF - thus - UCSF takes its role very, very seriously as a major player in what you can do to decrease the incidence of disease & or spread of disease via drugs, immunizations, prophylatic measures, etc.......all to improve the .....human condition - the experience of living where we are, no matter who we are or where we reside. It might involve encouraging prophylactic malaria mediactions, it might involve travel to work in those areas for awhile, it might involve helping immigrants understand thre reasons for takining INH prophylactically. We have a global responsibilty & those of us who are UCSF grads take it very, very seriously!

Think outside of your own "box" (a crazy & overused saying!). But, really - what can you impact on the human condition as a pharmacist. If, your answer is to fill pyxis, make 100+K, fill more rxs/hr than the very best pharmacist....hmmm - UCSF doesn't really care about all that. They are looking for those persons who can & might change a situation. It could be big - look at some of the alumni - or it could be small. But - it needs to be beyond "yourself".

Do you get that?

 

[sollyjoon]

So for instance, I can talk about a patient who was diagnosed with a disorder/illness and how it effected her human being (body, mind, spirt)? does this full under the category of human condition?

 

[DieHardRX]

SDN1997

Thanks a bunch

That is deep and touching

 

[sdn1977]

So for instance, I can talk about a patient who was diagnosed with a disorder/illness and how it effected her human being (body, mind, spirt)? does this full under the category of human condition?

Ok - first, you need to get clear the difference between "affect" and "effect". I think you're using "effected" incorrectly, altho there is some kind of writing guru on here.

To "affect" something is to make it change or influence it. To "effect" something is the formal way of saying to make it happen. Its confusing because either way you use it, it may cause or influence the end result.

That being said - your patient's diagnosis is not an example of the human condition - it is an example of an "individual's" condition.

We can speak as pharmacists to each particular instance of misappropiratness of antibiotic usage, but to "effect" a substantial change, we need to become proactive in being vocal in our professional organizations and world-wide organizations to help make prescribing habits fit within the framework of what drugs will do, what they are capable of doing - both good & bad (resistance) and keeping them for use within the conditions and situations in which they fit the best.

Now...you have a patient with a condition - you don't mention what kind. If that condition & your patient's situation makes you aware of a more global issue - lets say - she seroconverted to TB positive while away during her first year of pharmacy school. Then - yes...that now makes you aware of a more global issue of medical need. Your friend may have done nothing more than gone away to college & roomed with 4 or 5 other very nice girls, one of which might have been an immigrant from another country - or who knows - one of which might have lived here all her life, but a relative moved in with her family & has just emigrated & seroconverted her & now your patient.

You're now very, very aware of how easily & innocently some diseases are spread. Each & every roommate was nice, healthy, considerate - nothing which would indicate to you might be spreading a dangerouse & communicable disease.

But, it happens & we need to be aware - not to ostracize, but to educate & treat. We nearly eradicated TB in this country at the beginning of the 20th century. We now have an upsurge - due to immigration. It doesn't make immigration a bad thing - it just makes us become more aware of issues we previously took for granted.

So - take a "broader" view of a particular disease or condition. Translate that into a more globla view then bring it back to your local circumstance. It could be TB, it could be MS, epilepisy, rheumatoid arthritis - all of these can be used as examples of a broader situation.

I know its hard to do, but really, this is what UCSF is looking for - those people who can see "beyond" the obvious - what is out there yet one more step???

Sorry about the "affect" & "effect" - I'm not sure myself sometimes how to use them, but if you do use them - be very, very sure you're using the right word. Otherwise, use a different word.

 

[cal687]

Ok - first, you need to get clear the difference between "affect" and "effect". I think you're using "effected" incorrectly, altho there is some kind of writing guru on here.

To "affect" something is to make it change or influence it. To "effect" something is the formal way of saying to make it happen. Its confusing because either way you use it, it may cause or influence the end result.

...

Sorry about the "affect" & "effect" - I'm not sure myself sometimes how to use them, but if you do use them - be very, very sure you're using the right word. Otherwise, use a different word.

I always thought "affect" was the verb meaning to cause a change, and "effect" was the noun meaning the results caused by a change. I might be wrong though.

In any case, thanks for the excellent advice for UCSF, sdn1977. I have been trying to brainstorm for that essay for awhile and was sort of stuck until I read this post. Now maybe I can brainstorm in the right direction...