life,liberty,pursuit of higher edu
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I want to pursue a DO/MD MPH to practice emergency medicine with an emphasis on patient education. As undocumented immigrants, my family experienced firsthand the shortcomings of health care system in the United States. Demands of survival, limited access to resources, and chronic stress resulted in worsening health for my father. Progressively, diabetes and hypertension lead to cardiovascular disease. One morning he became profoundly diaphoretic and dyspneic. I recognized these as signs of a heart attack and rushed him to the emergency room. Test results later confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack. Prior to the ordeal, my family had not accessed any primary or acute medical care.
As his advocate, interpreter, and daughter, I explained that my father could not access health insurance due to his status and requested a regiment of anticoagulants that did not require weekly blood tests. I translated medical terms in Hindi so he could understand his course of care. While many barriers existed--cost, distance, and language--with the support of the medical team and social services he was approved for Maryland emergency Medicaid. In November 2015, my father collapsed at home. I initiated CPR and he was taken to the emergency room. As we were updated with a grim prognosis, I kept my father’s wishes in mind. I drew strength from the invaluable experience I gained while working in the emergency room and the ICU.
Overcoming fears and accessing emergency services encouraged me to continue to work with patients in difficult settings. I wish to eradicate cultural, socioeconomic, and educational barriers faced by underserved communities. Prevailing against these systemic barriers will require exceptional clinical and problem solving skills. After caring for critically ill patients and personally facing difficulties accessing health services, I understand that collaboration of health services is vital in overcoming challenges so that medicine can be of service to diverse patients and families in adverse conditions.
I became my family's primary bread winner after my father's sudden demise. Thus far, I have taken pride in my work as a clinical technician in the Medical ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital. However, as I excitingly accept my offer of admissions from Western University of Health Sciences, special masters program, I need your help. As a DACA recipient, I do not qualify for federal financial aid and traditional education bank loans. To alleviate the cost of tuition, I have applied to multiple scholarships for the first year of the program. And I am hoping to collect generous donations from friends and family for a living stipend. Through collaboration with educators and allies, I hope to create a refuge for my American Dream: life, liberty, and the pursuit of higher education. I sincerely appreciate your help.
Pratishtha Khanna
Masters of Sciences in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) Candidate, Class of 2020
Western University of Health Sciences, Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences
As his advocate, interpreter, and daughter, I explained that my father could not access health insurance due to his status and requested a regiment of anticoagulants that did not require weekly blood tests. I translated medical terms in Hindi so he could understand his course of care. While many barriers existed--cost, distance, and language--with the support of the medical team and social services he was approved for Maryland emergency Medicaid. In November 2015, my father collapsed at home. I initiated CPR and he was taken to the emergency room. As we were updated with a grim prognosis, I kept my father’s wishes in mind. I drew strength from the invaluable experience I gained while working in the emergency room and the ICU.
Overcoming fears and accessing emergency services encouraged me to continue to work with patients in difficult settings. I wish to eradicate cultural, socioeconomic, and educational barriers faced by underserved communities. Prevailing against these systemic barriers will require exceptional clinical and problem solving skills. After caring for critically ill patients and personally facing difficulties accessing health services, I understand that collaboration of health services is vital in overcoming challenges so that medicine can be of service to diverse patients and families in adverse conditions.
I became my family's primary bread winner after my father's sudden demise. Thus far, I have taken pride in my work as a clinical technician in the Medical ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital. However, as I excitingly accept my offer of admissions from Western University of Health Sciences, special masters program, I need your help. As a DACA recipient, I do not qualify for federal financial aid and traditional education bank loans. To alleviate the cost of tuition, I have applied to multiple scholarships for the first year of the program. And I am hoping to collect generous donations from friends and family for a living stipend. Through collaboration with educators and allies, I hope to create a refuge for my American Dream: life, liberty, and the pursuit of higher education. I sincerely appreciate your help.
Pratishtha Khanna
Masters of Sciences in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) Candidate, Class of 2020
Western University of Health Sciences, Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences
Organizer
Pratishtha Khanna
Organizer
Burtonsville, MD
