I am an Honors student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill completing my undergraduate degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. My focus is becoming a physician-scientist working specifically towards a career in an internal medicine subspecialty.Throughout my journey, I've developed a desire to leverage my evolving expertise to make a meaningful impact within underrepresented and vulnerable communities both domestically and internationally. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, and I am committed to applying skills and knowledge to bridge the gaps that lead to healthcare disparities.In addition to my medical interests, I am passionate about research and wish to integrate this into my professional career. My research interests include understanding the synergies within the musculoskeletal system, the use of genetics and biochemistry to stimulate drug discovery, the immune system and its failures which lead to autoimmune disorders, and understanding social determinants of health. As I move beyond the classroom this December, I am focusing capability development on four principles: 1) Ethical and Efficient Service — Provide services and assistance to my community in a sustainable and scalable manner to understand their specific needs.2) Innovation — Shorten the distance from the bench to bedside through research and being a vanguard in the basic sciences. 3) Communication — Serve a role greater than just myself by striving to educate others and connect great minds and hearts from across the globe.4) Empathetic Patient Care — Fostering a compassionate patient atmosphere to treat not just their diagnosable ailments but also participate in alleviating their social, mental, and emotional ailments.Besides my aspirations in medicine, I find fulfillment and balance in a variety of interests and hobbies. Despite a career-ending injury at 16 and incurring three years of rehab, I have continued to play soccer, a sport that has been a part of my life since I was three. Off the field, I am an amateur chess player and enjoy reading books in genres such as self-improvement, business, and philosophy. When I am not immersed in a book, I like listening to podcasts. I was raised a fisherman (catch and release only) and enjoy being pond-side or beachside with my dad during the warmer months. These pursuits outside of medicine contribute to my personal wellbeing and are passions I enjoy sharing with others.