Sample Personal Statement – Health Sciences

Northwestern Health Sciences Integrated Program

I strongly believe that the development of ethical, innovative, and accessible healthcare delivery
is reliant on the involvement and collaboration of diverse minds. As a female navigating a male-
dominated and academically rigorous space, I am uniquely positioned to introduce a fresh
perspective on prioritizing humanity and compassion in shaping the future of healthcare.
Embarking on my graduate studies within a program dedicated to intellectual diversity, such as
the Health Sciences Integrated Program (HSIP) at Northwestern Medicine, I will be equipped
with the expertise necessary to effect tangible and lasting change for individuals within and
beyond my lifetime.
I have aimed to promote the diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented groups through
my extracurriculars. As Captain of the Varsity Women’s Tennis Team, my primary objective has
been to foster a healthy environment that upholds accountability while ensuring that all team
members feel respected. In an ethnically, sexually, and racially diverse team with a white male
coach, unacceptable discriminatory remarks have been made. Following those moments, as the
main source of contact between the coach and the team, I have prioritized conversations with the
affected players, listened to how they would prefer to move forward, and either facilitated
inclusive discussions with my coach or spoke directly with him individually. Without these
direct discussions, we would not have been able to reach the conference championships twice as
a united team. As an extension to my athletics commitment, I am a member of Athletes for
Diversity and Inclusion where we organized and recruited speakers for bimonthly Diversity
Awareness Program events with 60+ attendees each. As Swarthmore is one of the most diverse
academic institutions in the country, it is imperative that we nurture a culture that champions
both free expression and diverse viewpoints, particularly during this crucial phase in intellectual
development. Prior to Swarthmore, I served as President of the Engineering Projects in
Community Service club where I formed six diverse teams and led several projects including
designing and constructing a medical device to assist a young girl with disabilities. These
experiences taught me that even at a young age in my academic career, I am capable of making
meaningful contributions to my community.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the crucial and timely need to make relevant medical data
accessible to and digestible by those in all walks of life. The distinctive emphasis of the Health
Sciences Integrated PhD Health & Biomedical Informatics (HBMI) track on the comprehensive
training of well-rounded informaticians underscores the program’s commitment to fostering the
diverse skill set and expertise necessary for success in the ever-evolving biomedical and
healthcare domains. I eagerly anticipate championing diverse voices at Northwestern Medicine,
with a strong ambition to formulate equitable healthcare delivery. Furthermore, HSIP’s and
HBMI’s dedication to cultivating an inclusive environment conducive to interdisciplinary
engagement makes it the optimal setting for completing a doctorate in Health & Biomedical
Informatics.