MLIS Medical Informatics Wheelchair Access Personal Help

Innovative medical informatics: A digital representation of healthcare professionals around a wheelchair emphasizes accessibility and personalized assistance in a modern clinical setting.

I have chosen to dedicate my professional life to Library Science out of a deep love for my community, particularly at the local level. The public deserves easy access not only to information but also to guidance and support in accessing and understanding that information. I am committed to a lifetime of service as both a librarian and an advocate, striving for the broadest access possible.

My second passion is health care, and I aspire to make a significant professional impact by making health care information and personal data available at the library.

I volunteered at the ____ Public Library in East Hartford, CT from October 2005 through June 2006. This was my first 'work experience,' transforming me from a dedicated library user as a child to a library professional in training. Seven years later, I returned as a volunteer and currently serve at the ____ Public Library, assisting seniors and teaching computer information classes. I also help with social events like the annual gala and youth activities (story time, projects, homework tutoring).

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish in May 2013. As an Honors Program Scholar, I spent my last two undergraduate years on a full scholarship, benefiting from more advanced classes. I am confident that my formal education has provided me with a solid foundation to become an exceptional library science professional.

____ University is my top choice for graduate study, primarily because of your mission “on the front lines of social justice.” Being bilingual (Spanish & English), I realized early on that for social activism and change in America, Spanish was essential. I love speaking Spanish and even dream in the language.

Another key strength I bring to ____ is my expertise in information and operations within the health care setting. I have been at Manchester Memorial Hospital and the ____ Cancer Center for over four years, initially as a volunteer and later as a full-time employee and volunteer. Most of my volunteer work has been administrative, involving restocking, filing, and organizing—but I also interact directly with the public. The semester before graduating college, my supervisors at the hospital encouraged me to apply for a nutrition assistant position.

Since June 2013, I have been a Clinical Nutrition Assistant at ____ Hospital & ____ Hospital, providing administrative support as a liaison for physicians, dietitians, and food service staff. I transcribe patient orders and handle inquiries in our call center according to physicians' guidelines using health touch software. I use Meditech to verify patient diet orders, admissions, transfers, discharges, supplements, and tube feeding orders. I also visit patients in person, especially those unable to use or hear the phone. Additionally, I advocate for full access for everyone with disabilities.

I view public access as the most exciting challenge in our field. I plan to focus my research and activism on public access to health care information. Libraries, being separate from healthcare settings, should provide patients easy access to information in a familiar environment. Imagine, for instance, a homeless person looking for a job, staying in a shelter at night and spending the day at the library seeking employment. Free access to their health records in such a situation could indeed be crucial.

On a practical level, I am passionate about wheelchair access and assistance for patrons using wheelchairs, inspired by my volunteer work at ____ Health & Rehabilitation in East Hartford, CT. I helped transport residents in wheelchairs to social events within the building or to places like restaurants. I also assisted in planning and setting up social events. Having vast amounts of information readily available on a computer is of little use to patrons unable to access and understand that information. I advocate for full access across multiple fronts: bi-cultural, bilingual backgrounds, gender—equal rights of access for all. I aim to spend my life assisting and guiding patrons with projects, tasks, and research. I am a strong advocate for community engagement and learning, helping people become better informed about topics vital to their wellbeing and intellectual growth.

Multiculturalism is fundamentally important to my vision of the challenges we face as library professionals. As an E-Board member of the Spanish Club for three years and a member of the Japanese American Cultural Club in college, I have become increasingly immersed in celebrating diversity, viewing the library as the ideal focal point for this appreciation. I am deeply interested in minorities and identity. My capstone thesis on Superman as an icon focused on the duality of Superman & Clark Kent as influenced by the creators’ Jewish heritage and upbringing in America. I have been fascinated by Japanese culture since childhood, and visiting Japan has fueled my intrigue, staying with wonderful friends who showed me around and translated everything for me.

At the center of my world are community engagement, technology planning, and information/knowledge management. Thank you for considering my application to your distinguished MLIS program at ____ University.

MLIS Medical Informatics Wheelchair Access Personal Help