I am very excited to continue my career in the health sector in Canada. I am thoroughly impressed with the value that MSCCH-FCM can add to my background. The program components, especially Public Health Science, Patient-Related Health Care, and Research Issues in Family medicine/Primary Care are truly the areas in which I would like to grow further. Though I bring extensive experience and knowledge in public health and research from back home, Afghanistan, and from Canadian institutions, I believe that this program will further broaden my knowledge and experience.
From the very beginning of my career, I was interested to pursue primary care because I believed that patient’s care starts and finishes in the family doctor’s and general practitioners’ offices. Family doctors are the ones who direct and lead the care of patients in the circle of care. Strengthening this field would have significant effects on the overall health level of patients.
I also understood the importance of leadership in this field therefore, while in medical school I have actively sought out opportunities to strengthen this skill. I was the class representative and participant of the Youth Association helped students with academic concerns. At the same time as I polished my clinical skills, my leadership skills were also strengthened during the Promote Women Leadership Development Certificate where we as a team worked on First Aid projects in local schools and universities.
In my one-year internship, I further engaged in numerous specialties across urban and rural educational hospitals with an emphasis on the importance of continuity of care and resourcefulness. I was able to hone my skills as a new physician then. Then, I worked as a general practitioner physician with a local community health center, managed more than 20 patients daily. Since I was working directly with patients, I was always thinking that how patient care can be streamlined and centralized, how preventative measures can be taken, how community and behavioural interventions can be implemented and so on.
Therefore, I started working as a volunteer research coordinator with an Afghanistan Rehabilitation Program (AREP), a non-profit organization, where I was working closely with other health care workers to increase awareness about infectious disease and promote healthy lifestyle. This role provided me with the opportunity to build my health research and data analysis skills, project management skills, collaboration with doctors, and other allied health professionals and patients.
I then subsequently immigrated to Canada to further pursue my passion. Having been exposed to both the clinical research and clinical aspects of medicine, I decided to transition to the field of clinical research to help in understanding the early cause of disease and identify effective methods of prevention and treatment. To further my experiences in the Canadian health system, I completed International Trained Medical Doctors Bridging Program at Ryerson University. I was offered a practicum at St. Michael Hospital as a research assistant with a project focused on understanding the unique needs of the LGBTS2 community and women here in Toronto in regard to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
As a scholar in the field of family medicine, I would like to assist to improve the sustainability of the health care system through improved health care. During my physician assistant role, I realized the longitudinal relationships that many family physicians have with their patients and how it is of pivotal importance in the early diagnosis and prevention of illnesses. Knowing a patient for a long time and personnel level provides the opportunity for a family doctor to be aware of obstacles unique to their patients, therefore it is easy to convince their patients how to overcome these obstacles.
For instance, Dr. Mensinkai advised one of her over-weight patients who had a busy career and no time for a structured exercise, to use stairs instead of elevator for work. Within months, this patient lost 10% of the weight. On a system level, my experience in Ajax made me further realize the importance of preventive medicine and lifestyle intervention for chronic disease and psychiatric illnesses in the Canadian health system and of the roles of family physicians.
In my recent role as community health advisor, where I’m heavily involved in the education of immigrants about physical, mental, and social health, the program put together to improve wellbeing and ensure equal access to healthcare services. The goal is to look at the health of the community as a whole, seek to identify specific health issues and trends with this population and work with stakeholders to find lasting solutions to these concerns and motivate the community to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease.
I have a strong passion for research in preventive medicine and the care of the underserved population. In today’s evidence-based medicine, clinical research has taken center part in the management of the patients. Healthcare professionals agree that lifestyle intervention is the key to preventing the chronic medical condition, however, what kind of intervention is more helpful? Is a personalized intervention more effective or a general approach to all patients regardless of their health condition is more beneficial? What is the main obstacle when it comes to simple lifestyle changing behaviours?
The MSCCH-FCM program will allow me to further develop my leadership, public health and clinical research skills. I’m also inspired by the program’s flexibility and opportunity to study with other students from diverse backgrounds and experienced professors. On top of all, the strongest features of MSCCh that it separates from other programs is the placement, which will provide opportunities for me to gain relevant practical experience in health care settings.
I would like to thank you for reviewing my application and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualification further. Should you require more information, please let me know.
