Name: Elena Singh
Year: 4th
Major: Biological Sciences
Position: Media Coordinator
Biography: I am ethnically Indian but I was born in Russia, and at the tender age of 7, I immigrated to the US. I am an aspiring physician interested in pursuing a career in the field of Neurology and have always been passionate about learning more about the healthcare field. Through the Diversity in Medicine course, I have had the opportunity to explore my passion and interest in healthcare while becoming better educated on disparities present within healthcare and its impact on vulnerable populations. As a member of DIM I hope to bring my knowledge about the world as well as my experience as an immigrant to shed light on various aspects of medical disparities from my personal experiences in other countries. Aside from being a coordinator at DIM, I am Vice President of Girls in STEM Club which is a club that is dedicated to creating more opportunities and providing support to young girls who are interested in pursuing STEM careers but lack the support and understanding needed to do so. In addition, I am a member of the Anteater Health Ambassadors which is a group formed by the University that works to help educate and share updated information and resources about COVID-19 with the student body and general public. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, binge watching shows, and exploring different cuisines.
What Diversity Means to Me: To me, diversity means celebrating and acknowledging each other’s differences while coming together to cultivate an environment of inclusivity and support as we work towards a common goal. Diversity challenges us to educate ourselves and each other on various cultures, perspectives; it opens up the opportunity to exchange ideas and to grow individually and cultivate our world view. Most of all, diversity means to understand the unique challenges different communities face in order to better support vulnerable populations. Understanding diversity is critical as a future healthcare provider in order to meet the needs of various patient populations and to provide high quality care that respects and understands all individuals regardless of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.
What I Gained From the Class: DIM was truly one of my favorite classes because it opened up my eyes to the various forms of disparities present within healthcare and the impact it has had on different populations. Through this course, I learned about the various problems surrounding healthcare and equity and the importance of cultural competence and compassion when addressing these issues. These disparities in healthcare are not due to a single factor, but rather a combination of various factors such as socioeconomic status, educational levels, racial bias, and many more that impact vulnerable populations. This course developed my knowledge about each of these complex issues and instilled a passion for lifelong advocacy as a future healthcare professional.