Health Immersion Paper

Although I have had the goal of becoming a dermatologist in my head and heart since overcoming mental health issues caused by my skin condition, coming to consciousness as a Black man with a Black president and the Black Lives Matter movement pushes me to imagine new ways to combine healthcare with social activism. The Baltimore Health Immersion program’s learning aims speak to a style of health care that very intentionally looks at the patient as an individual and product of their conditions. I recognize the importance of healing the person as opposed to the illness alone, and I know this program would provide invaluable skills to develop this approach further. Additionally, the service-learning aspect of the program speaks to this commitment of a holistic approach to medicine that I want to ensure I incorporate into my care.

The health of a person is intimately tied to their lived experiences. Consequently, how a person describes or even performs symptoms may vary. Acknowledging this is important in improving health outcomes and describes the impetus for providing individualized care. This work in providing care that is cognizant of the person’s identity beyond that of a patient is reflected in the classes looking at psychology as it relates to health and the role of religion. The topic of health and faith is particularly relevant to my own upbringing watching my mom prefer to lie in discomfort as opposed to taking medicines because she related her faith in God to trusting prayer to heal her alone. This experience has served as a constant reminder that before, as and after they are patients, they are people. Building on this experience in a classroom setting would provide a more multifaceted understanding of the issue and prepare me for future interactions with people in a hospital