In China Spring, Texas, a young man lay unconscious on the ground after being involved in a car accident where he struck an electrical pole and was ejected from the car. Only a few miles away, a young girl contemplates taking her own life as she listens to her two young daughters over in the next room. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Burundi, a sick boy lay on a makeshift cot while his mother prays that the one medical provider available for hundreds of miles will make his way to their village before its too late. These three instances are an infinitesimal account of the issues occurring throughout the world at any given moment. Even though the first two situations are a direct part of my life, the third and more distant situation still continues to stimulate my need to provide service for the health and benefit of others. I have always felt attached and compelled by the feelings and health of others, therefore these very real situations of disparity and inequity have always concerned me.
When I was one, in the midst of a dreadful fight, my dad walked out on my mom, and the two of them made decisions that would continue to affect us all. It was on this same night that my dad had an awful accident that would change our lives forever, and two weeks later, my mom was left standing alone with two young girls and no idea of what their future would hold. We never had it easy growing up, and despite my mom’s efforts to hide our struggling to get by, I knew to always be appreciative of the things we did have. I began noticing all the people around me who continuously tried to hide the hurt they were feeling in the same ways my mom always did. This realization sparked an interest in me that will never be extinguished, and I have since made it my goal to assist others in any positive manner possible. In fact, it was this realization that inspired me to pursue a career where I could dedicate my life to the service of others. The service and personal fulfillment that I am longing for lie in the field of medicine.
With a newfound passion for the medical field, and an urge to assist and provide service to others, I decided to pursue a degree in biology while minoring in chemistry. The University of Southern Mississippi offered me many opportunities to gain leadership experience while being close to my husband who was stationed near there with the United States Navy. Not only was I elected to represent The College of Science and Technology in The Student Government Association, but I was also afforded the privilege of serving as President of the Biology Club. Both of these wonderful opportunities have provided me with invaluable leadership skills as well as a chance to become more involved with our community and staff. I have made it to the final step in my college career and am currently attending the prestigious Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at The University of Texas Medical Branch, and following my completion, I will be a licensed physician assistant qualified to practice medicine.
Throughout my life, I have made an effort to be well rounded, while finding new outlets through which to improve my personal life as well as the lives of others. I have found that through service, I am able to fulfill parts of my life that I never knew were lacking. Volunteering with The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has been another life-changing experience. We work hard to provide military families and widowed spouses financial help when they can not make ends meet. This service has humbled me beyond words and reinforced my continued desire to be of service to others.
Upon graduation, my mission is to improve the health and lives of others, which will reciprocally enhance the quality of my own. Now, I realize that I will not be able to touch every life I encounter to the degree I would like; however, I will use the leadership skills I have gained to help contribute to the success and productivity of the field of medicine. As the world population increases, there will continue to be an influx of patients, and as a physician assistant, I hope to be able to improve access to medical care irrespective of socio economical constraints. My desire to contribute to medical public health extends beyond the sick boy from Burundi, but it encompasses all patients who have experienced disparity and inequity from the medical field. This aspiration, to pursue a life in medicine, developed from my concern and sympathy of others. I further recognize that it is this compassion that reinforces my belief that I will be an effective physician assistant who is able to communicate with patients efficiently. Thus, I am hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to positively affect the lives of those who experience medical inequality as well as any patients whom I may have the opportunity to provide service to.
Amidst providing services at reduced or no cost to under deserved areas within the United States, I hope to be given the opportunity to travel to underprivileged countries. This prospect will afford me the privilege of providing medical attention as well as education to these citizens who are plagued by medical disparity. By equipping these areas with the knowledge and understanding of common diseases and conditions, they will undoubtedly have a greater chance at combating these problems when the need arises. Access to healthcare is a luxury that not everyone is afforded, yet it is essential to the success and future of our people. With today’s knowledge and the tremendous amount of avid volunteers, it is possible to provide all citizens more stable and healthy lives.
This degree and career are only the beginning of my long list of goals, but it is with these skills that I wish to pursue the rest of my dreams. My future within the medical field is beyond even my own comprehension. It is the life experiences and the misfortune that I faced as a child that stimulated my desire to help others. While, my passion is to provide medical attention to those who, like myself, have experienced medical inequity, I am likewise aware of the vast opportunities available. Therefore, I am hopeful that I will also have the opportunity to contribute to the immense medical discrepancies that have yet to be discovered. In fact, the undeniable presence of chronic diseases further inspire my need to be of service not only to patients, but also to provide and contribute my knowledge and dedication to the field of medicine. In the end, I anticipate that my contributions to the medical field will be founded on the empathy and concern that I have always felt towards others. I will work hard to provide the most compassionate and understanding care to all of the patients whom I encounter, and I will never stop learning, as the field of medicine is an ever-evolving field and there is always something waiting to be discovered.

Essay: Neuroprosthesis

Many medical devices and treatments have attracted controversy for the unfamiliar territory that is breached, but devices aimed at the treatment of children and adults affected by brain disorders and injuries have increased public controversy immensely. Disorders and injuries that impact the formation and recollection of short-term memories are vast, and there is currently no effective treatment to combat or reduce these long-term effects on memory. Severe brain injuries, various illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, and conditions involving epilepsy are of serious concern because of the memory loss that is often attributed to their occurrences. Recently, however, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, otherwise known as DARPA, has headed the advancement of research for new inventive ways to prevent, treat and cure brain disorders. This initiative has produced a compelling device that has the potential to treat individuals affected by memory loss from traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Recently, a specialized neurological device, known as a neuroprosthesis, was introduced and is expected to be successful in restoring memory function.
A neuroprosthesis is a wireless medical device that is implanted via a minimally invasive procedure into the brain that targets the entorhinal cortex of the brain to sensor and modulate neural activity. The entorhinal cortex is an essential pathway to the hippocampus, which is responsible for the formation and storage of memories. As every visual and sensory experience occurs, they are sent through the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus to form memories that can later be recalled. It is this memory forming process that is disrupted by certain disorders and injuries, but with continued support and further advancements in neuroprosthetics, the future for restoring memory function appears very promising.
The Program in Memory Restoration at UCLA, which is being funded by DARPA, is leading the way with this innovative device. Currently, UCLA’s collaborative teams are in the second of their four-year effort towards the creation and implantation of the first neuroprosthetic device. Extensive research is being conducted on the stimulation and activity of both single neurons and neuron populations to define the most effective way to interfere with electrical stimulation and restore memory function. Next, researchers from UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, with the help of engineers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Stanford University, will develop the device models. Ultimately, the implanted neuroprosthesis will communicate with an outside device in close proximity and record neuron activity to stimulate neurons in order to restore memory function.
Millions of people are affected by brain disorders and illnesses in the United States alone. Among these, are children, adults, military members and civilians. Although, this neuroprosthetic initiative is somewhat controversial for its implantation within the brain, the suffering individuals are the ones at the center of these efforts. The inability to recall memories is one of the ultimate losses that can occur as a result of a brain disorder or injury. Without the ability to discern people or events, an individual essentially loses their independence. Therefore, with the prospect of this new neuroprosthesis, and the efforts put forth by UCLA and DARPA, individuals affected by memory function deficits will regain their freedom and the ability to recall their precious memories.


Works Cited:

Irwin, K. 2014. UCLA to develop 'brain prosthesis' to help brain-injured patients recover memory [Internet]. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Newsroom. [cited 2016 May 3]. Available from: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-to-develop-brain-prosthesis-to-help-brain-injured-patients-recover-memory.