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.
The shortage of clinical anatomists has left populations at the community, local,
national, and global levels to deal with the current clinical health challenges our world
encounters. Even though the origins of clinical anatomy can be traced back over a few
decades, we have still not been able to immediately solve the recent clinical health threats
that have been emerging. With the advancement of technology, mass transportation has
allowed the transmission of disease at exceptional rates. Understanding the science and
art of clinical anatomy in all aspects – gross, histologic, development, and neurologic –
will allow me to provide anatomic solutions to the clinical problems and observations in
both a research and healthcare setting. 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.
Considering the prevalence of infectious disease in communities around the globe
that affect the human body, I began researching with professors who were studying in
these fields of microbial and infectious diseases. My experience in stem cell and
microbial evolution research has strengthened my desire to investigate the origins of
infectious diseases. My research with Dr. Maria Pallavicini allowed me to conduct
embryonic stem cell behavior in healthy and diseased states, primarily breast cancer.
Similarly, my research in microbial evolution with Dr. Miriam Barlow allowed me to
understand the evolution of antibiotic resistance that is presented by the healthcare and
agricultural industries. This research experience has given me the opportunity to work
proficiently in laboratory settings, excel in computational research, and perform cutting
edge experimental tasks. Furthermore, the challenge of determining and identifying new
strains makes exploring the mechanisms of bacteria and viruses very rewarding.
Understanding the pathogenesis of viruses and bacteria that are affected by social factors
is crucial in determining the spread of disease in populations. This gratification has
driven me to pursue clinical anatomy as a means to coalesce my diverse interests in
healthcare, clinical anatomy, microbial evolution and research.
Coming from a rigorous molecular immunology and virology background, I find
the clinical anatomy program as a helping hand to understanding the insight into the
various mechanisms of the human body. Dr. Quinn’s courses in medical gross anatomy
and clinical rotations in surgery, radiology and pathology provide comprehensive
understanding of anatomical concepts and advanced practical clinical applications.
Furthermore, Dr. Nichols instruction in clinical embryology in which the general
development of each system in the human body is discussed is also appealing. I find this
type of research and instruction to be compelling since it reveals the true factors which
cause the spread of the disease. This level of understanding allows the development of
effective plans to be implemented to curb and eventually prevent the spread of
incapacitating and fatal diseases throughout the human body. I have personally evaluated
numerous clinical anatomy programs in order to assess their balance between academic
curriculum and applied research. Throughout all of these programs, none seem to fit my
personal criteria as thoroughly as Creighton University.
Besides pursuing a double major, I am an active member and leader in the on
campus professional co-ed pre-health organization at UC Merced, Delta Epsilon Mu. 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.
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.
While I have decided to pursue a medical degree upon earning a Master’s in Clinical
Anatomy, an MS will enable me to focus on gross, histologic, development, and
neurologic aspects as applied to clinical anatomy. The comprehensive clinical anatomy
curriculum at Creighton University will provide me a second-to-none foundation for
either field of study, given its reputation and strengths in anatomical methodology.
Attending the Clinical Anatomy program at Creighton University will allow me to
receive a thorough understanding of clinical anatomy with the significant exposure and
hands-on experience. 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.
My intentions are to approach healthcare from an anatomical standpoint. It is
interesting to see how researchers and scientists make connections between various levels
of the geographic continuum - local, state, national and global - with the entire spectrum
of chronic and acute diseases. The opportunity to be trained in the clinical anatomy
program at Creighton University will equip and empower me to make meaningful
contributions to the field of clinical anatomy. In the future, I want to be in a position
where I can combine my knowledge and skills obtained from my clinical anatomy and
medical school education into microbial research to help improve and expand healthcare.
My matriculation into graduate school at Creighton University will be my first step in
reaching this goal.