Investigator Personal Statement

Becoming physician-investigator is my primary career choice. In many respects, this role also reflects my other professional goals. Physicians practice the art and science of medicine to diagnose and treat human disease. Biomedical investigators identify and study relevant clinical questions to improve the processes of medical practice. And educators commit themselves to teach and guide their students toward success. As a physician-investigator, I see myself integrating all three. I want to strengthen my clinical experience and understanding of healthcare, work to master the skills of nanomedicine research, and enhance my professional skills to become an evidence-based M.D.-Ph.D. applicant.

Growing up in a low-income community within New York City, education was not a priority. I could not afford to attend an educational institution that could prepare for my future. I did not have the resources I needed to succeed in the competitive field of science. In addition, my health condition, growth hormone syndrome, made
Sunasee’s laboratory, where I worked on the synthesis and characterization of anionic and cationic surface modified cellulose nanocrystals for biomedical applications. During this project, I grew to love the process of identifying a research problem, the exchange of ideas, and the commitment to developing biomaterials with potential medical application. As a result, I discovered my desire for pursuing more committed biomedical research. I continued to research via an honors thesis project, which was aimed to successfully graft poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (MPC) onto CNCs, a polymer known for its ability to improve blood compatibility due to a phosphorylcholine group that can mimic the phospholipid polar groups contained within cell membranes. These opportunities gave me the foundation to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. and continue research training in the areas of biomaterials, drug delivery and tissue