Raman Nazari
WRI 101, Truong
Fall 09
Graduate Program: Master’s of Clinical Anatomy at Creighton University
Essay Prompt: Write a short essay of approximately 500-1000 words describing your
short-term and long-term professional goals and how you think the educational program
for which you are applying might help you in attaining them. Describe your strengths and
abilities that will enhance you achieving your goals.
Being a part of the first four year graduating class at a 21st century research
institution has allowed me to strive and excel in areas such as education, research and
community service. Furthermore, as a member of an ethnic minority group, I have been
given ample opportunity at UC Merced to interact with many diverse cultures that share
similar visions, both locally and internationally. Having the privilege to study within the
Clinical Anatomy Master’s degree program at Creighton University will not only allow
me to develop the creative and effective skills necessary to learn the human anatomy in
preparation for medical school, but also for a career as a faculty member at a teaching
hospital.
Accordingly, maintaining such an aspiration is nothing without the background
expertise and skills that I have. I am quite confident in my abilities and understanding of
the biological and psychological sciences, primarily because I have spent the larger part
of my undergraduate years studying the latter. As a dedicated student, I have successfully
completed a double major within these two disciplines. Indeed, such a background will
surely act as a helping hand during my time as a student within the clinical anatomy
program. The understanding that I have gained through these disciplines, specifically the
insight into the various mechanisms of the human body, will enable me to perform at the
highest levels while expanding my knowledge from the instruction received through the
clinical anatomy program.
Besides pursuing a double major, I am an active member and leader in the on
campus pre-health organization at UC Merced, I have been able to share the insights I
have gained from prominent speakers with other pre-med students. Moreover, holding a
leadership position has enabled me to speak comfortably in front of large crowds and
helped me to gain greater expertise in the health field. Furthermore, joining the co-ed
Delta Epsilon Mu fraternity has not only allowed me to interact with other health
practitioners within our community, but also has provided me with a dynamic educational
appreciation for various health fields. And so, I continue to strive to achieve my dream of
educating underrepresented minorities as well as individuals living in rural areas about
the various health professions. My passion in helping others thoroughly intensified when
I was able to connect my current experiences at UC Merced with the field of medicine.
During my undergraduate career at UC Merced, I had the opportunity to shadow
an otolaryngologist named Dr. Nina Yoshpe in the operating room. After observing a few
dozen successful surgeries, I began to recognize the soothing smiles on the faces of
young children. Their relief and comfort from their pain was unmistakable. By witnessing
a patient’s illness and following their progress periodically after treatment, I was able to
observe an inside perspective of not only a patient's life, but also that of a physician.
Intrigued by this exposure to clinical medicine, I was able to see the impact of medicine
within people’s lives. Monitoring a patient over a period of time has given me a practical
reality of what physicians encounter every day and how they must use both problem
solving and tactical approaches when dealing with every new type of illness they come
across.
I have no doubt that the Master’s of Clinical Anatomy program will help me
establish a solid foundation within the basic sciences for the field of medicine. The
clinical anatomy program will give me the opportunity to explore the human body and
neuroanatomy, and provide me with hands on experience through the clinical rotations.
Ultimately, my goal is to become a medical doctor practicing within a subspecialty in the
field of surgery while teaching clinical anatomy in a university setting. Educating and
interacting with young adults provides a feeling of satisfaction in knowing that many
individuals can benefit from your direct teachings.
My long term goal of being a doctor has always been a prominent notion
within my family, as many members of my family are respected doctors themselves.
I learned many things from these relatives, and I have always been inspired by their
rewarding careers. However, the one aspect I really admired was the amount of
recognition and respect they received from their family and members of their
culture. After appreciating all the positive outputs they create within a community, I
decided to pursue the career of medicine and follow their footsteps. It was a choice I
decided to make because it was my dream—a dream that lies within reach and will
be fulfilled within the few years to come.
Attending the Clinical Anatomy program at Creighton University will allow me to
receive significant exposure and hands-on experience in regards to the human body.
Through the countless dissections, surgeries, autopsies and rotations, Creighton
University offers a one-of-a-kind program that no other institution can match. This
invaluable program will be a stepping stone for the two goals I wish to achieve
throughout my lifetime: to teach clinical anatomy in a university setting and to be offered
acceptance into a respected medical institution such as Creighton University. Thus,
having the motivation and enthusiasm of a lifelong learner, I will forever and always be a
student of medicine because quite frankly, the learning process never stops.
The diverse culture and education that I have encountered as an undergraduate at
UC Merced have helped me develop the skills and abilities needed to prepare for the
journey I am about to embark on. Obtaining my Master’s in Clinical Anatomy will
require dedication and a strong will, which is what I believe I will bring to the program.
My passion for helping others and giving back to the community will assure me a
lifelong career in doing what I love --- practicing medicine.
ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION FORM
1. How would you describe your experience in working on this assignment (Was it
difficult to begin? Did the ideas come easily or with difficulty? What obstacles did
you face in the process of writing? How long did it take you?)?
This assignment was not difficult to begin. The most difficult part was to get my point
across effectively without using to many words and being repetitive. This was the
assignment I looked most forward to of all the assignments. The two obstacles I faced
were using correct word choices and not being repetitive with thoughts. This paper took
me approximately 10-12 hours.
2. What do you see as the strengths of this paper?
After countless drafts, I feel that my personal statement is strong and supportive of my
accomplishments. It covers my education, skills, and experiences sufficiently and
effectively. I also reorganized several paragraphs in different spots throughout the paper
to make the essay more structured.
3. What do you see as areas for improvement in the paper?
As with any paper, there is always room for improvement. If I were to choose one
specific thing in my paper to revise or expand on, it would be the idea on giving back and
helping the community. I could possibly say that I want to bring health education to
individuals in a community and/or that I’ve experienced health in rural communities and
how I would change it if I could.
4. What did you learn (about yourself, the subject, writing, or reading) from doing
this assignment?
I learned that I have an extensive background with many accomplishments, yet it was
crucial to pinpoint only the one’s that would make me stand out the most. I was able to
narrow down a three page CV into just one page. I enjoyed the subject for this paper,
which gave me the motivation to continually draft multiple essays.