Balance. Achieving balance has always been a central focus of my life.

As a competitive gymnast for 16 years, balance was essential in the most literal sense. But, balance is much more than performing on a high beam under pressure. I learned this lesson when I threw a poorly executed back handspring and landed in a heap next to the beam with a torn labrum in my right shoulder. After countless scans and doctor visits, my shoulder was deemed no longer fit for highlevel competitive gymnastics. This untimely end to my gymnastics career forced me to consider a new path without gymnastics. My orthopedic surgeon sparked my interest in medicine, and acceptance into the South Carolina Governors School for Science and Mathematics started me on a new educational journey. During the summer of my junior I was a research assistant at the Medical University of South Carolina, studying the hemocapatability of a small diameter vascular graft. I thought had found my niche. However, it was during my senior year of high school in Dr. Bills biology class when I realized my view had been too narrow. We studied Darwin and evolution and I was hooked. It was the most difficult class that I had ever taken, but I thrived on the challenge. This class changed my perspective on human growth and development. Eventually, at Emory University, I pursued a degree in Anthropology and Human biology. With balance in mind, I sought a more complete understanding of human health. I aimed to focus my social science degree in Anthropology through a hard science and medical lens. While taking a course in medical anthropology class, I learned that there is more than one answer to many medical challenges. For example, I evaluated the value of culture in medical treatment plans. Reading Arthur Klienman led to the strong conclusion that in order to help as many patients as possible, understanding their background is essential to creating doctor-patient trust. The idea that medicine isnt perfect was not new to me, as a gymnast one constantly tries to achieve perfection, but that comes with time and practice. Just as this awareness helped me succeed as a gymnast, learning as much as I could about medicine and practicing what I learned only drove me to forward. My journey to approach medicine from a balanced perspective continued as I traveled to Italy to participate in a summer abroad program through Emory University. I performed clinical rotations and shadowed open-heart surgeries at the University of Siena hospital. The goal of saving lives was the same, although the Italian medical system offered a very different approach. For example, patients had much longer hospital stays due to the nationalized health care system, and due to cultural differences quitting smoking was never discussed with patients. On the other hand, their obesity rates were nowhere near as much of a concern. Understanding these differences between our system and the Italian system helped me develop a clearer picture of what an ideal health care system would look like. My pre-existing opinions were challenged and my belief that that while there may not be one right answer to healthcare, a balance of ideas will lead us to new innovative approaches. Most recently, while enrolled in a course on evolutionary medicine I examined the past for answers to current medical challenges. I learned that adding an evolutionary perspective to medicine is essential for understanding how our genetics, epigenetics, and environment interact to produce the health issues we face today. For example, my examination of the dietary and exercise habits of our ancestors indicated that lifestyle changes might reduce the prevalence of chronic disease. My respect for the complexity of medicine has continued to grow. Equipped with as many solid ideas as possible, I will be able to make well-balanced medical decisions A minor in predictive health offered me an innovative view of health care that is committed to a personalized and balanced approach to health. Understanding past health history

and assessing risks can help a doctor and patient create an environment that promotes physical well-being. It is an integration of knowledge from many backgrounds, culminating in the best course of action for changes in diet, exercise and mental health practices. This type of approach is centered in the balance I strive for. While pursuing a degree in anthropology and gaining a training in predictive health, I realized individualized care, respect, and reliability are fundamental to being a successful doctor. This understanding combined with the personal experience of being an athlete and a patient have made me consider a different approach to medicine. The potential to discover new avenues to health drives my desire to create an open-minded and well-balanced patient experience throughout my career. My well-rounded and diverse background has prepared me to withstand the challenges ahead. By applying knowledge, determination, compassion, and enthusiasm, I feel confident that I can become the well-balanced physician I have always strived to be. !