Page 18 - MSM Bloomberg Scholarship

Bloomberg Scholarship Impact

Making Student Dreams A Reality

Adonias Lemma professionally, and per- alized or misrepresented
for their health concerns,
sonally? It will help me
Atlanta, GA academically by taking driving them to not seek
2nd-year M.D. student off a huge burden of my medical help as needed.

What first interested you in shoulders financially and This can be corrected by
your program of study or medicine? allow me to focus on my increasing the number of
Seeing my uncle dying from pan- education. black doctors.
creatic cancer at the age of eight Since my family is not
due to being an immigrant and not well off, I have worked Do you volunteer with
being able to receive adequate treat- since the age of 16 to any organizations? Please
ment due to financial and immigra- save money and pay money for my provide details. Yes, I volunteer at
tion status. It inspired me to never college education and my profes- the Grace Village Medical Clinic
let another child have to experience sional school education. With this in Clarkston, GA. It is a Christian
something like that. scholarship, I will be able to con- clinic that provides health services
tribute to the education of future to patients that are without health
Why did you choose Morehouse physicians earlier in my career and insurance or have a low income,
School of Medicine? MSM resonated advocate for the need for more making them unable to afford
with my personal convictions that black physicians as a result. health insurance. It primarily serves
healthcare is a right, not a privilege. the refugee community.
This was evident in the institution’s What is your take on the na-
mission of advancing health equity tionwide shortage of Black doc- What advice would you give to
for all, particularly members of un- tors? There is a real need for Black someone who is thinking of apply-
derserved and/or underrepresented doctors. I am saying this as a Black ing to MSM? This a great school!
communities. medical student who has rarely If you are passionate about serving
I wanted to attend a medical seen a Black physician outside of those that are neglected in our so-
school that truly aligned with my the primary care field There needs ciety for various reasons, this is the
beliefs and gave me the ability to to be more diversity. It’s important place for you.
put into practice the things, I want- because having people from the If you could say or do one thing
ed to see in the world same community treating you is to thank the Bloomberg Philanthro-
paramount in patients being com- pies’ Greenwood Initiative, what
Has the financial burden of pliant with treatments, understand- would it be? Thank you for this
medical school made you think ing the health risks associated with scholarship and investing in my fu-
about pursuing a higher-paying certain habits, and being willing to ture as a physician. I am so grateful
position, rather than working in even come and see the doctor. and cannot express in words the
primary care or serving the under- Certain health problems are at- level of relief you have brought into
served? Not necessarily. Regardless tributed to certain groups of people my life and that of my family with
of the position, I did not enter this that have been historically margin- this financial contribution.
profession for the money. I am in
it to help people, something I am Having people from the same community
reminded of every time I volun- treating you is paramount in patients being
teer at free clinics and other events “ compliant with treatments, understanding
sponsored by MSM. the health risks associated with certain

Please share how scholarship habits, and being willing to even come and
support helps you — academically, see the doctor.