urban underserved and neurology?

[amaranth]

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I just started on my personal statement for my application (I plan on submitting in June 2012) and I realized something. Two things that I'm really passionate about, helping underserved communities and neuroscience, seem sort of incompatible. I grew up in an underserved community in NYC and I'm currently finishing up my second year in rural Cambodia as a Peace Corps volunteer so I know that community service and development work will be in my future. But, I majoring in Neuroscience in undergrad and really love learning about the brain. I would love nothing more than to puzzle out brain disfunctions part-time and other part working in the community with the people.

Even writing that makes me feel like it could never happen. So, does this mean that sometime in the future I'll have to make a choice between the two or are neurologists also in dire need in urban underserved populations?

 

[IMSingular]

Even writing that makes me feel like it could never happen. So, does this mean that sometime in the future I'll have to make a choice between the two or are neurologists also in dire need in urban underserved populations?

My freind's wife was neurologist and she did residency in hospital that had mostly poor patients. This was in a hospital in poor neighborhood in Chicago. I actually visited that hospital when her husband was delivering lunch for her; she was a vegitarian. They do need neurolgist for sure. Underserved are not any different than others, and more likely they need more and diverse medical care but can't demand it through money. What kind of specialist you want to be and also serve underserved should be seperated. If you can go for it.👍

 

[theWUbear]

I just started on my personal statement for my application (I plan on submitting in June 2012) and I realized something. Two things that I'm really passionate about, helping underserved communities and neuroscience, seem sort of incompatible. I grew up in an underserved community in NYC and I'm currently finishing up my second year in rural Cambodia as a Peace Corps volunteer so I know that community service and development work will be in my future. But, I majoring in Neuroscience in undergrad and really love learning about the brain. I would love nothing more than to puzzle out brain disfunctions part-time and other part working in the community with the people.

Even writing that makes me feel like it could never happen. So, does this mean that sometime in the future I'll have to make a choice between the two or are neurologists also in dire need in urban underserved populations?

There are certainly neurologists that work with underserved patients in both in-patient and out-patient settings in urban hospitals. Whether or not neurology is high on the list of understaffed specialties I'm not sure, but I think that having the desire to work with underserved communities and having the academic interests such as neurology will not serve to be incompatible for you (especially when just explaining your interests as an applicant).

 

[Miss Alyssa]

I did neuro in undergrad too!

You can go into any speciality and be helpful to underserved populations. 80% of the patients at our hospital are un/underinsured. We have specialties from derm to plastics to urology to neuro... Poor people present with the same conditions that wealthy people present with and they need to be cared for. Conditions like stroke probably present at a higher rate in disadvantaged communities.

 

[dominicandoctor]

Underserved populations get neurological disorders too.

 

[theseeker4]

Underserved populations get neurological disorders too.

+1. There isn't a single specialty (including plastics) that would prevent you from donating your services as part of your practice to those unable to pay for care. You can serve the under served no matter what specialty you choose.

 

[gettheleadout]

+1. There isn't a single specialty (including plastics) that would prevent you from donating your services as part of your practice to those unable to pay for care. You can serve the under served no matter what specialty you choose.

Very well put. 👍