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Why do you want to be a physician? 

There are two main people in my life that sparked and shaped my desire to study medicine. The first person is my grandfather, who passed away from late-stage pancreatic cancer when I was 10 years old. I thus became motivated to either pursue cancer research or become a cancer doctor in the future. When I was in high school, I had an opportunity to shadow a cardiologist in my hometown of Shanghai, China. This physician inspired me to pursue medicine because I saw the impact he was able to make for his patients and their families on a daily basis. Due to the limited educational opportunity that I had, I made the decision to come to the U.S. to pursue my long-time dream in medicine.

What did you do during your gap year?

I joined the National Health Corps, at which I did one year of service in a community health clinic located in an underserved neighborhood in Philadelphia. I screened patients for their insurance eligibility for Medicaid and Obama Care and applied health insurance on their behalf. During my gap years, I also took the MCAT exam and completed my AMCAS application. While waiting for my interviews, I worked under the Health Federation of Philadelphia as a Patient Navigator to help patients navigate the healthcare system and connect them to the medical services that they needed.

How did you get there from ��������?

Coming to �������� as an international student, I found it to be crucial to hone my communication skills, deepen my understanding about the US healthcare system, and gain experience outside the classroom. I think the one-year service experience that I had not only helped me gain acceptance to medical school, but also helped me become more informed about current healthcare challenges, especially within underserved communities.