My path in Rheumatology by Isabel

My path in Rheumatology by Isabel - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

“Isabel, remember this when you are a doctor.” My mom would say this all the time, reminding me of why I want to go into the medical field. Whether it was because I waited two hours past our appointment, or how I would feel defeated when I walked out of an appointment feeling unheard, my mom would remind me that it does not always have to be like this. I could be the doctor who changes everything for someone by listening, understanding, and improving the clutter of medicine as a whole.
I was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that attacks cells, even the good ones, when I was just 9 years old. After countless doctors, I decided I wanted to do better than the doctors before me. When I am a pediatric rheumatologist, I envision getting at eye level with my patients and talking to them, asking them what they need, and truly listening to their concerns. My goal is to come up with the most effective method to treat and fix their illness while allowing my patients to still live the way that makes them feel most like themselves. I want to take care of the person rather than the disease, meaning to treat the whole body. With my first-hand knowledge of medication side effects and new research, along with my new knowledge from schooling. More than anything, I want my patients to trust me, feel safe, and be empowered to conquer their disease.
I am committed to the University of Cincinnati for their College of Medicine, majoring in biomedical sciences. This will allow me to work directly with patients while contributing to research, hopefully finding a possible cure for this incurable disease. I am eager to learn about the human body, the specifics of taking care of patients, and more about the medical community. This is very intriguing to me and I hope to learn much more about it. I am excited to make this new step in my life and I am looking forward to making waves in the rheumatological, research, and lupus community.