A female dentist originally from India, I have lived in XXXX, Ohio, for the past three years. In March 2013, I earned my MBA in Health care Management at XXXX University. I intend to use the many tools and resources I have acquired throughout my MBA studies to make my mark in life in oral health care for the indigent back home in India.
Back in India, my career in dentistry started with a bit of inspiration from a dentist who is my best friend's father. I went with him to the clinic, where I became much better aware of how many people suffer from dental problems. Nothing makes me happier than working as part of a professional team, sharing our responsibilities and triumphs in the service of our patients. I became increasingly inspired to begin a career in dental surgery. So, I completed my degree in dentistry at the Lenora Institute of Dental Sciences in India.
My father always taught me that the greatest joy and happiness come in our service to others and that we must always do our best with what we have. As a medical officer, he conducted medical camps such as blood donation, vaccination camps, and dental checkup camps, distributing medicine to malaria patients. Sometimes, he would bring me along. My father will always be my hero, and, like him, I want to do everything I can to help the poor, those in greatest need of oral health care who can least afford it.
My experience in the United States has been fantastic, and I have completely adjusted to the culture. As my second language was English, I could do so quickly. I am enjoying a whole immersion experience in American culture and customs and, most importantly, in the American dentistry practice. At the same time that I was earning my Master's, I also worked for a community center, Cancer Patient Services (CPS), which is a branch of the American Cancer Society whose mission is to provide services to those who have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as providing support for their families, providing a variety of services all at no cost. My work at the center expresses my central goal in life, professional service to those who most need my help. My primary function with CPS is to educate patients and their families about oral cancer; I also promote our organization at social events, selling tickets, helping with set-up and tear-down, coordinating participants, working at the booths, handing out our brochures, and informing the public of the services that we offer.
It is deeply tragic that, on top of losing the loved one to oral cancer, many families also bear considerable costs that they cannot afford, even going into debt, the effects of which can be multigenerational, on top of the emotional agony and coercion involved. I want to dedicate my life as a dentist to the early detection of oral cancer because it is our best weapon, offering the best opportunity for long-term survival. During my master's studies, I worked as a Graduate Research Assistant for 20 hours a week. I supported several research projects and conducted analytical testing that included product stability. This allowed me to learn many new things about health care and develop my research skills as a co-author of three peer-reviewed journal publications.
Throughout my academic life, I have immersed myself in dentistry. As a part of my undergraduate program, I served in an internship position at St. Joseph dental college for one year. Then, I worked as a junior lecturer in the Department of Pedodontics at the XXXX Institute of Dental Sciences for eight months. I guided undergraduates in pre-clinical exercises and clinical procedures. I also worked as an associate dentist under a private practitioner for a year and a half. This last experience was invaluable as I came to a much greater appreciation of the numerous factors and details involved in the day-to-day operation of a successful dental clinic. This experience also helped to inspire me to pursue an MBA in Health care Management. I am now a certified Healthcare provider according to the American Heart Association curriculum for the BLS (CPR & AED).
Among the highlights of my career in dentistry thus far has been the opportunity to give presentations abroad and in my home country. I was also awarded the Best Outgoing Student Award from the LIDS. I received a runner-up award at the National Technology & Social Science Conference in Las Vegas in 2012. I was also selected as Best Student Employee in 2012 at XXXX University.
I gravitate magnetically towards service to the poor, those with scant resources, many of whom are afraid of going to the dentist and not being able to afford it. I have the skills, elevated level of curiosity, and motivation combined with my research experiences to enable me to excel in your program and distinguish myself as part of your academic community. I hope to be accepted to your DDS program because this is the best way to advance my chosen lifetime career goal, making the most significant contribution possible to our dentistry practice.
I thank you for consideration of my application to your program.