Part A.

The School of Medicine regards the diversity of an entering class as an important factor in serving
the educational mission of the school. Please write about things in your background that have been
important to your development or that have been challenging to you on your path to a career in
medicine. These could include your socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
sexual identity, and work or life experiences. Explain how these have influenced your goals and
preparation for a career in medicine. 

Part B. Please write about the “fit” between your experiences and goals and the University of
Colorado School of Medicine. If you are a reapplicant, please include information on how your
application has changed. Please answer both parts in this single essay. Limit the essay to 1500
characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

Growing up as a minority in Corpus Christi, TX where Asians constitute only 1.8% of the population and
Hispanics over 60% helped me become more familiar with the Hispanic culture and to be more open minded to
other cultures. Through this experience, I learned to take into account the unique traits of Mexican culture, customs.
and diet to provide culturally sensitive medical care to those I serve. Being part of a heavily Hispanic community
also helped me become aware of the health-related risks, specifically diabetes and obesity. To address these health
risks, a group of students and I started a non-profit organization to work collaboratively with schools to bring
awareness and prevention of these risks and to promote a healthier lifestyle. We did this by implementing an
exercise and dietary program along with an annual 5K run to incentivize students to become more active and eat
healthier. Having the freedom to focus on my interests and passion for promoting health initiatives throughout the
community coincides with CU Denver’s extensive elective courses program. With more than 50 different elective
courses available to medical school students immediately, I would thrive in an environment that allows me to pursue
my passion of improving community healthcare in underserved areas in both the local community and abroad.

While on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic, I served an indigent patient group which
consisted of a population that had little access to healthcare because of their location in rural areas. The impact that
our services made on this community left an indelible impression on me and made me realize how privileged I am
for having access to quality medical care. Through assessing symptoms, collecting vitals and evaluating patient
history, I was able to work closely with local physicians in helping diagnose and properly dispense medication to
treat illnesses. By spending time with patients and understanding their sufferings, I developed better patient-
care interactions and became a better communicator. I also became more familiar with the common afflictions
and pattern of symptoms associated with diseases that plague the Dominican Republic. Establishing clinics in
underserved, rural areas, and seeing the extent our services benefitted the community was extremely gratifying.
These experiences helped cultivate my passion for the medical field and reflect my ability to work well with both
doctors and patients. By working as an assistant to primary care physicians in rural communities, I hope to continue
my work of helping in underserved, rural areas of Colorado