Integrated Mathematical Oncology Personal Statement

Skipping through the corridors of the Chapel Hill laboratories at a young age, I peered through doors and windows mesmerized by researchers articulate and skillful completion of innovative experiments. Growing up my parents, who are professors in Cancer Center, exposed me to a background of thinking forward and observing intricate details. With this upbringing, I gained a curiosity in research and later leading to an interest in ecology of cancer.
This interest lead to an internship in the High School Internship Program in
Integrated Mathematical Oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center. This internship provided me the experience of interacting and acquiring research skills and knowledge from faculty in the mathematical oncology department. As a person who is keen to pursue the medical career, I believe it is important to have a research background because it gives the critical thinking skills necessary to formulate decisions. This internship peaked my interest in pursuing a medical career in the future possibly specializing in oncology.

Cancer develops its own ecosystem within itself, where it metastasizes and transports itself throughout the body.

This uncontrolled growth of cancer led me to my summer project of treating Multiple Myeloma (MM) using Adaptive Therapy with online simulations with existent data. MM is an incurable plasma cell cancer. Usually, MM patients respond well to initial therapy. However, since there is no cure, evolutionary resistant phenotypes emerge causing tumor relapse. This relapse, if not treated, causes malignant cells to proliferate and metastasize. Adaptive Therapy is to moderate the evolutionary competition between chemoresistant and chemosensitive cells maintaining and moderating the tumor burden with various doses of chemotherapy and keep the chemoresistant population down into a quiescent state. This project was a gateway to peaking my interest in the field of

oncology.
Moreover, I believe I am a caring and compassionate which are attributes that are a vital component of medical professional. As an active member of the community, I volunteered in the Moffitt hospital for two summers. I assisted clinical coordinators in the gastrointestinal clinic by helping patients meet with doctors. Before this service, cancer seemed like an abstract concept because I had no immediate family dealing with this devastating disease. Watching and talking to patients, created a more personal connection and the reality of cancer. Wanting to assist them more, lead me thinking of perusing a career in oncology.
During that summer, I also participated in the volunteer program called Arts in Medicine. This program was a therapeutic artistic outlet that patients were encouraged to participate in to heal the body internally. Volunteering in this program, gave me an opportunity to be a calming a presence in an emotional setting. This program required characteristics of understanding and empathy, which are essential attributes to a person embarking on the medical career path. Furthermore, this program taught me that cancer disturbs a person lifestyle not only physically but also emotionally.
My interest in the medical field has been influenced by my upbringing in scientific environment and oncology experience. These suitable qualities for a medical career I have gained through my experience, have enlightened and interested me to be an active member community and actively participate in the field of medicine both in clinic and research aspects.