I constantly read journals in medicine and health to stay abreast with recent technological developments. I participated in all medical camps and health awareness programs sponsored by our college. As an NSS (National Service Scheme) volunteer, I participated in awareness rallies and immunization programs and educated people regarding sanitation measures, contraception, STDs, etc. The interaction with humble people in rural areas helped cultivate my compassion for my patients, most of whom were suffering from chronic, congenital, or infectious diseases; I worked to identify genes associated with the disease in question. I realized that education and promulgating information concerning the relationship between infectious diseases and our genetic codes place some at greater risk than others; programs could help encourage healthier lifestyle choices among the individuals in question. Thus, I began to engage with public health issues, bioinformatics, drug design, vaccine creation, health statistics, and disease surveillance.
Completing my MPH Degree at XXXX University (20XX) provided me with rigorous coursework, extensive field experience, a solid foundation in population health principles, epidemiological methods and biostatistics, and expertise in study design. I learned how to examine disease patterns, disease prevention, and wellness.
As a clinical statistician at InVentiv Health Clinical, I efficiently communicated real-world issues and strategies to all internal stakeholders. I worked on projects, applying and boosting traditional propensity scores to assess the risk of angioedema associated with angiotensin-converting, enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta-blockers using an extensive US health claims database. My research was presented at the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology. Another study I worked on analyzed the risk factors of healthy volunteers using data captured for a Phase 1 clinical research unit. I played an essential role in constructing Sentinel, a novel visualization dashboard that displays patient journey maps of healthy volunteers. I was also most thankful for evaluating the FDA’s mini sentinel cohort identification tool - developed through the Dissentingly initiative for application in active disease surveillance - by determining the incidence of hepatic decompensation, a clinical out. This clinical outcome occurs in the natural history of the disease or during the treatment of hepatitis C infection.
In my current role at XXXX Pharmaceuticals in City, State, I provide epidemiology expertise and mentorship, collaborating with agencies to design and implement epidemiological projects that project that epidemiological projects. I play a critical role in pharmacoepidemiology studies' design and implementation, satisfying post-marketing regulatory commitments. I perform an independent analysis of real-world data, including critical appraisal and in-depth scientific literature reviews provide. The data generated from these claims databases offers valuable insights into patient selection for clinical trials and highlights the importance of real-world evidence to support clinical trial design. I have also assisted in writing protocols, statistical analysis plans, and publishing scientific articles. For instance, I explored the incidence of venous thromboembolism in treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis. I spent a lot of time examining the biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a real-world setting. This work was published in an RMD journal.
Early this year, I heard about the coronavirus pandemic while presenting an abstract at a conference on statistical practice in California. About 15 members of my extended family in India became infected with the virus during the same month. Everyone in my family was coping with great strain and anxiety, with the inundation of COVID-19 news a constant reminder of sadness and grief. I decided to give back to the community where I have my deepest roots and started volunteering under the direction of my community medicine professor, meeting with district epidemiologists in India to build a COVID-19 dashboard that identifies hotspots in Warangal and surrounding areas. I also participated in various webinars to better understand the COVID-19 spread. In my current position at XXXX Pharmaceuticals, we use the Optum EHR database to understand the feasibility of a study in pursuing the incidence of QT prolongation in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The desire and passion to pursue a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Public Health h been enhanced further by the pandemic, such a graphic demonstration of the need and urgency that exists, not just for the present but even more importantly for the future.
COVID-19 has helped sharpen my mind and made me more adept at handling critical and emergency issues. I look forward to further furthering research on infectious diseases, how programs project they affect large population programs, and the best ways to educate people on the best ways to avoid or prevent contagion or occurrence of the disease in question. I am also particularly interested in infections transmitted through blood, such as HIV and Hepatitis B. I have witnessed doctors becoming infected with dreadful diseases and deaths due to accidental needle pricks.
I hope to earn a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from XXXX University because it offers state-of-the-art facilities and ample research opportunities. I believe my solid foundation in medical terminology, thoroughgoing awareness of HIPAA guidelines, sound knowledge of computer applications for public health, and experience in dealing with public health issues help make me a strong candidate for your program.
I crave the rigors of your distinguished program at XXXX University; I am confident that my skills, experience, and hardworking nature, driven forward by my intense sense of purpose, will enable me to excel if selected. I look forward to lifelong learning and research in Epidemiology and Public Health based on the foundation programs I will acquire in one of the leading Ph.D. Programs in Epidemiology in the world.
Thank you for considering my application.
PHD Public Health and Epidemiology Personal Purpose