Statement of Purpose

The United States has the most affluent and sophisticated medical community in the world, yet large population differences in healthcare outcomes among racial/ethnic populations remain an imposing challenge for the twenty-first century.” Circulation December 6, 2006.

These population differences, which are as a result of migration and the ethnic diversity of Americans, affect the mechanisms and the outcomes of disease processes. Current knowledge about most pulmonary and critical diseases is derived almost exclusively from studies in populations of European origin. As the pathophysiologic basis of disease is being defined by genetics and molecular biology, these differences become relevant in the study of disease processes, therapeutic outcomes and health-care delivery models. It is a complex and confounding challenge that must be recognized and appropriately differentiated.

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 This was the opening paragraph of my statement of purpose during my fellowship application for Pulmonary-Critical care medicine.  Ironically, the problem statement remains relevant in 2020. Based on my years of clinical experience, I am passionate and feel obligated to add to the body of evidence to improve outcomes for minority patients with pulmonary diseases through clinical research and trials.

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My patient population is predominantly black with various pulmonary morbidities. Many of these patients also experience some or all aspects of health care and social disparities, which impacts the quality of their care and medical outcomes.  My participation and enrollment of minority patients in these targeted clinical and device trials will facilitate a more thorough understanding of the effectiveness and mechanism of action of therapeutics and devices in a predominantly black patient population, given their known pathophysiological variances.

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This clinical research will also enable a more focused study and understanding of those social and economic barriers that must be more effectively managed to enable long term quality of life for these patients.