STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

As I write this, thousands of miles away from my homeland of India, I think on the path that led me to
public health. I often wonder when people talk of healthcare disparities, if they can ever truly grasp what
it means, what crushing poverty entails, and even what a developing nation with its unsolved problems
looks like. I was born and raised in India where still many people are suffering from more than one
disease or the other, that are either unknown in United States or are highly preventable. The
government is putting in efforts to raise awareness but still many corners of the country are untouched.

Hailing from a doctor’s family (father an ENT surgeon and mother an Anaesthesiologist), I have seen
them spending their significant time and resources in their work. Their hard work and joy in doing this
helped me and early on I decided Dentistry would be my career choice because it takes me closer to
field activities. In dental school, alongside keeping abreast of my studies, I have engaged in number of
activities that gave me insight into the semirural, rural and small cities in developing India. Actively I
organised and participated in dental camps in public schools and rural areas and provide my service to
them. During my internship, I found certain sections of society are still lacking medical services.

Post completion of my Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University-
India in March 2014 with 66.93% I underwent a 3-month internship in rural services and a 9-month
training with Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital. Currently I am working as Assistant Dental
Surgeon with Sarvoday Dental Clinic-Mehsana since 1 November 2015. My responsibilities here include
counselling patients; preparing syllabus oriented charts and models for sessions; assisting senior
professors for various surgeries; and participating in various dental health screening and treatment
camps. My areas of expertise are - scaling, root planting, filling, permanent and deciduous extraction,
root canal treatment and alveoloplasty.

During my undergraduate studies I have completed a lot of projects and participated in

Seminars/Workshops like the International Winter Implant Symposium, Periodontics Pulse – a Scientific
Meet and Basics in Im-plantology. I have also - presented a poster on “Immediate Implant Placement”;
completed a certificate course in Essentials of Palliative Care conducted by the Indian Association of
Palliative Care; and obtained A+ grade in the Environment and Disaster Management Examination held
by the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University. A record breaking achievement of mine is active
participation in treating 15,000 patients in just 9 hours which is notified in the Guinness Book of World
Record.

Besides swimming, drawing, singing, reading books and travelling, my passion for dancing has led me to
a certification in Indian Classical Dance (Bharatnatyam). Alongside my studies I have successfully
organised field visits to rural and urban areas and won the First Prize in the Dental Quiz

It was during my field visits that I realised that public health is the most important aspect of medicine. It
can help, prevent and bring solution to health issues like no other field. Due to industrial revolution,
water resources and the environment have become polluted and the situation is dire. People can't fish
nor are they able to use clean water due to omnipresent oil polluting the water bodies, choking oxygen
and sunlight from sustaining ecosystem. Compounding the problems are elevated illiteracy rates,
general lack of preventive medicine and education which results in rampant increase in disease. This is
the result of poor policy and short sightedness. The health system needs serious reform and right
management. I am adamant that change must come. But introspection made me accept that I lacked the
qualification and expertise at this critical juncture. Discussions with my seniors and faculty members led
me to explore the option of pursuing a Graduate Program in Public Health from a country other than
India as not only will this will go a long way to help me grasp the proper concepts and bring sustainable
solutions but would also give me an international perspective of the public health scenario.
What better country than USA to pursue my studies as it is a global leader in health studies thanks to the
immense research and innovation being carried out in this sector? Moreover its warm and welcoming
approach to international students would ensure a multicultural diversity along with a platform for
exchanging best health practices. The most attractive feature about US education is the flexible
curriculum which enjoys international recognition.

My search for courses and institutions led me to the Masters in Public Health program offered at your
institution. The niche faculty-student ratio, small class sizes, state-of-art infrastructure, rich teaching and
learning resources and the strong student support are unique and outstanding features of your
institution.

The curriculum for the Masters in Public Health is structured to build knowledge, develop skills and
provide exposure to real work situations in public health. The courses are jointly offered by distinguished
faculty involved in public health, policy and health care management locally, nationally and
internationally. The pedagogy in each course is selected judiciously, with an emphasis on involving the
students in learning, and helping them to relate concepts and theories to real-world situations in public
health and its management. The program aims to develop students’ competencies in the core areas of
Biostatistics and Epidemiology; Environmental Health Sciences; Public Health Biology; Health
Management and Functional Management; Social and Behavioural Sciences; and Public Policy and
Ethics. The program aims at cultivating multi-disciplinary skills of systems management principles and
communication, which are important to the practice of public health. Special emphasis is placed on
practical training, whereby the students are required to conduct a significant practicum experience in
population-based health prior to graduation. A practicum experience involves a mentored hands-on
experience working and interacting with public health professionals. The final objective of the program is
to train leaders in public health who are armed with the skills to conduct research, bring about policy
change, and positively affect the health of populations.   

Post completion of my Masters in Public Health and gaining some practical skills I intend to join global
NGOs like UN Foundation, UNESCO etc. and then return to India and join the public health sector where
my international qualification and exposure will help me carve a bright career for myself in this emerging
and fast-growing sector.

Public health issues touch almost every family in my country. I know that if the health sector was better
funded, better equipped and better managed with clear and effective policies then suffering could be
avoided. Due to my love for public health, I strongly believe that I can contribute not only to my people
but also to people all over the world.

Through the above statement which describes in detail - my academic and professional performance till
date; my keen interest to pursue a Master’s in Public Health at your esteemed institution; and my post
study plans I request the Board of Graduate Studies to consider my application positively and grant me
the opportunity to be a part of your academic milieu. If given the chance, I assure you that my passion,
academic ability, cultural competency and community love will contribute to the student body and
graduate public health program.

JUHI SONI