Pathopharmacology Personal Statement

My work experience over the last three years has led me to a thorough revision of my professional identity and aspirations. This fundamental revision, in term, has resulted in a crucial decision to change my career path and pursue a graduate degree in public health.

I was only 15 years old when I went to a medical university. While I was studying there I became so interested in pathophysiology, pharmacology, internal medicine, psychiatry and psychology that after graduation I was eager to expand my knowledge in all those areas and find a job that would allow me to apply all that knowledge in practice. Therefore, I completed my internship in internal medicine, spent a year as a teaching assistant in pathophysiology and obtained degree in psychiatry. During the first few years as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist in a general hospital I was satisfied with my job because it provided me with a great opportunity to use and expand my knowledge of psychiatry and internal medicine. At the same time, I continued my professional development in the field of psychotherapy. I believed that appropriate use of psychopharmacology and the ability to apply a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques would allow me to provide the most effective care for the patients with comorbid medical conditions, especially in a general medical outpatient setting.

In comparison with other programmes, it provides a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge of epidemiological and statistical methods and methods for outcome assessment of public health interventions and policy. These skills, combined with my previous experience, will allow me to promote evidence-based approach to public health policy in my country and contribute to the development of new national guidelines, policies and effective strategies to respond to mental health needs that will be based on strong evidence and best