As a sophomore in college, participating in the student research opportunity program at
the University of Illinois at Chicago will not only open doors for me to have exposure to the
medical field but UIC is my dream medical school and located where I want to have a career.
This program gives me the opportunity to experience challenging science research. I found that
97% of students who participated in the program have continued their studies or earned a BA/BS
degree. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University. This
opportunity can also better assist me in finding my medical calling and allows me to network
with faculty and peers for medical based experiences. I want to participate in this research
program to be instructed to prepare for higher learning study. The SROP program will also be
beneficial to me because of the educational enrichment activities and the emphasis on test taking
skills, such as attentiveness and critical analysis. These skills along with the science foundation I
will gain can help me do my best on the MCAT to be admitted into medical school. I will leave
understanding the true meaning of a research program and I’ll be closer to achieving my ultimate
goal of becoming a pediatric psychiatrist.
Participation in SROP at UIC will provide a foundational experience in which I will be
able to learn novel laboratory techniques and refine essential analytical skills pertinent to my
ultimate career goal. SROP will also give me the opportunity to experience the research
methodology behind the science reported in my textbooks, which will in turn enhance my
understanding of the material I shall encounter in future lecture courses and performance in lab
courses.
While researching the UIC database under academic departments, I found four programs
particularly interesting: (1) pediatrics, (2) psychiatry, (3) anatomy and cell biology and (4)
neurology. As it is my goal to become a pediatric psychiatrist, I recognize how these four
research areas interrelate. I am particularly interested in maintaining and improving the mental
health of children, which is descriptive of a division of psychiatry that meets pediatrics. The
treatment of child psychiatric patients also requires knowledge of pediatric anatomy and
neurobiology. Thus, work in any of the four programs will directly impact my professional
aspirations.
It is my plan to attend UIC medical college because it is a component of the University of
Illinois, which is classified as a research one institution. Attendance will allow me to grow as a
professional, affording me the opportunity to hone my laboratory techniques, critical analysis
skills and medical knowledge. I currently expect my initial medical education to lead to a
residency in psychiatry. While consulting UIC’s website, I identified four areas of research that
interested me. The most interesting to me is the pediatric research.
I am very effective when it comes to mediating and solving problems, a skill directly
applicable to the study of science. One experience exemplary of this skill occurred last semester
when I joined my school’s Students Advocating for Youth club, an organization that mentors
younger children.
I was chosen to mentor, Scott, a seven-year old boy full of life. The first thing he told me
when we were introducing ourselves was that he loves to read. The agenda in this club was to
become your mentee’s friend while promoting education. I asked Scott what his favorite book
was and he quickly grabbed “The Hungry Caterpillar.” I was excited because it was one of my
childhood favorites too. I asked him to read excerpts to me but his enthusiasm turned into a
panic. He started reading and I noticed how he skipped over sentences and lost his place. He
became frustrated. I later learned he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder at
age three.
I also worked with an autistic child who distanced himself from social interactions. I
found that working with children like these really excited me and sparked within me a strong
desire to one day be able to develop solutions that will help children like these to smoothly adjust
to their individual challenges.
One program that aligns with my interests is housed at the UIC College of Medicine,
Institute for Juvenile Research entitled, “Medication for Autism Spectrum Disorders.” In this
study, researchers want to find medication for children with autism. They address how
psychological factors help but there is no medication for the core symptom - social interaction
difficulty. This program integrates pediatrics and psychiatry.
The mission to “uphold the rights of all children to high quality health care and to
promote lifelong learning” parallels my professional aspirations. I’ve promoted literacy and
learning in children ages three through twelve.
I can learn a great deal from Professor and head of Pediatrics, Usha Raj M.D. and Anujuli
S. Nayak. With their guidance, I can grow as a scientist and learn strategies in promoting the
psychological health in children that will be beneficial to my professional practice.
Another research program I found was in the department of psychiatry. The heading
“meeting the mental health needs” also grasped my attention. This program will expose me to
basic neuro biology, health sciences, and cognitive neuro science.
The UIC Department of Psychiatry houses psychiatric programs solely for DCFS
children. This piqued my interest because I have a friend who is a product of the DCFS system.
Listening to some of his experiences further motivates me to want to provide mental healthcare
to children. For cultivation and nurturing received during the formative years results in
productive and happy adults.
The program, Pediatric Brain Research and Intervention is very interesting in so far as
these researchers are pursuing how pharmacological cognitive and psychotherapeutic
intervention can influence the pediatric human brain along with the ventral and dorsal brain
systems. This program integrates drug reactivity, neuro-anatomy, and social dynamics. Last
semester in my general biology course, I observed the ventral and dorsal areas of model
organisms’ brains. This program of research on the pediatric brain coincides with my career goal
to gain greater understanding of the pediatric mind. I would like to meet Rachel Jacobs, Ph.D.,
research assistant professor of psychology, because she is engaged in active research on the
human mind, seeking ways to meet the mental needs of a continuum of mental patients.
I am registered to take anatomy for the fall of 2013 and am currently taking Genetics. I
have already completed general biology one and two. My completed courses provide a strong
foundation for work in the UIC Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology program in cellular
and systems neurosciences which is another area that interested me. One study involved control
of behavior. Maria Irene Givogri is a research assistant professor in this department who can
provide a meaningful research experience directly applicable to my career goals.
Lastly, looking on the neurology’s site I found that Dr. Laura Pedelty, Ph.D., M.D. is
chief of the neurobehavioral section of neurology and a member of vascular neurology (stroke).
The death of my father strongly influenced my desired career path. Nine years ago he passed
away from a stress-induced stroke; this led me to want to learn more about how the brain
operates and how to alleviate stress, so that one day I may potentially help others to avoid these
problems. Dr. Pedelty’s background on research pertaining to stroke aligns with my interests,
and an experience with her will allow me to potentially probe the relationship between stroke
and stress, two factors that lead directly to my father’s death. The area of neurology also interests
me because, almost three years ago now my mother had to go into spinal nerve surgery. The
possible outcomes were my mother not being able to walk again or improving. These
possibilities took a toll on all of my family and self-emotional states of mind. Having someone to
talk to was very beneficial, exemplifying psychiatrists are very helpful.
I am proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, and EXCEL. I have also been exposed
to working in a laboratory environment in which I had to demonstrate critical analysis, and
precise measurement of solutions and data. These prerequisite skills coupled with the
foundational laboratory experiences will help me to integrate into SROP and amass a skill set
that will benefit me in my practice as a pediatric psychiatrist.