Serving Rural Oklahoma by Griffyn

Serving Rural Oklahoma by Griffyn - August 2020 Scholarship Essay

Hi, my name is Griffyn Stoodley, and I would like to become an osteopathic doctor. I strongly believe in the osteopathic philosophy of treating a patient as a whole person, instead of individual symptoms. Osteopathic doctors do not simply treat a cough with cough syrup, but rather look a little deeper into a patient's life to find the root of the problem. I believe that not only would my home state of Oklahoma benefit from more physicians like this, but our entire country would as well. Doctors who are trained to look deeper into patients' lives are better equipped to treat patients. More physicians like this will have a positive effect on the health and happiness of the general public.

I plan to do this by first going to a university to study BioMedical Sciences. My dream university is one where I will be challenged and surrounded by people who will push me to do my best. My peers would be just as passionate about medicine as I am. The program would have an emphasis on learning rather than on test scores. I would learn concepts in this program that would not only prepare me for medical school but also for my career as a doctor.

After I have become a doctor, I will work in rural and underserved communities in Oklahoma. In 2019, Oklahoma ranked 47th nationwide for infant mortality rates. This can be greatly attributed to the fact that 60 out of 77 counties in Oklahoma are considered medically underserved. My friends, family, and peers deserve better care than they currently have access to, and I intend to change those statistics for the better. Please know that an investment in my education will not only benefit my family and I, but many people in underserved communities.