PHD Social Work Gerontology Personal Purpose Statement

PHD Social Work Program Gerontology Purpose Statement Examples

I have reached a point in my professional journey where I feel I have fully explored the opportunities and challenges at my current academic level. Additionally, I have identified specific and growing concerns in areas of Social Work, particularly Gerontology, that require attention. It is my deepest desire to bring about sustainable change in these areas, but first, I need to deepen my understanding and appreciation of these and related issues, building a comprehensive foundation in Social Work. Pursuing a quality Ph.D. in Social Work is a logical step, and XXXX is a natural choice for my career and the communities I aim to serve.

XXXX is my sole choice for academic growth and doctoral research and comes highly recommended by respected individuals in the field. They have expressed their belief in the comprehensive and autonomous curriculum, as well as the ethical and value-driven environment of a faith-based institution. Moreover, I am impressed by the faculty’s reputation for teaching excellence and the resources available, particularly the Center for Aging.

XXXX’s ability to provide an unparalleled research and educational experience gives me confidence that I can achieve my goals and ambitions. Earning my Ph.D. from XXXX will thoroughly prepare me for a career in research and academia, ideally with the Catholic University of America, teaching Social Work/Gerontology. It will also expand my research on the causal relationships between nursing home residents' quality of care and organizational structure, MDS utilization, and the relationship between social workers and nursing units. I am eager to enhance my quantitative and conceptual skills in analyzing organizational structures.

In addition to these research and career goals, applying them is equally important, especially in addressing systemic barriers to equal opportunity, furthering social justice, and improving lives for all, particularly the elderly. I believe that my goals for quality nursing home care are highly attainable. Through active participation and collaboration with community members, leaders, social institutions, and government agencies, sustainable, positive systemic change is possible.

Given my professional expertise and dedication, it is no surprise that I am drawn to researching nursing home organizational structures and their impact on care quality. I am keen to explore the causal relationships between social workers and nursing unit managers, how this affects social worker longevity, and the impact of turnover rates in nursing homes. Additionally, I am interested in evaluating how nursing home organizational structures affect patient care quality and studying the use of the minimum data set (MDS) in Medicare reimbursement. Furthermore, current economic issues necessitate research into how financial crises influence placement decisions in nursing homes.

For over a decade, I have maintained a consistent focus in my professional, co-curricular, internships, and volunteer experiences. Starting with three years of direct patient care, I found an outlet for my desire to assist vulnerable patients while developing my maturity and interpersonal and team skills. I carried these skills to San Diego State University, where I spent three years in a lead student-mentoring role, further refining my interpersonal, interview, and assessment skills, as well as my ability to identify needs and find suitable resources for students.

After earning my graduate degree in Social Work, I accepted a position where I could apply my sixteen-month Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) internship experience. This internship exposed me to the technical aspects of a non-profit, including assessing training policies, data systems, and evaluating management decision-making. At BBBS, I engaged in community service activities, grant writing, accountability with an advisory board, fundraising, and working with community groups and businesses for recruitment and sponsorship.

Bringing this experience to my roles as a Social Work case manager and discharge planner in the Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care Unit, I faced unexpected challenges. Social services documentation was disorganized, quality of care complaints were rampant, and I had a caseload of over 100 residents. Coupled with a high turnover rate of social workers, with many staying less than three months, on-the-job training was non-existent. I took the initiative to enhance facility communication, log complaints, conduct follow-up investigations, and advocate for patients. This experience focused my passion on optimizing nursing home care quality and engaging in political actions affecting long-term care.

Overall, I would describe my academic, volunteer, and professional experiences as encompassing micro, mezzo, and macro levels of Social Work. Working with aging populations has allowed me to continuously refine my skills to operationalize my practice philosophy.

My early experiences in undergraduate research, literature reviews, surveys/interviews, data analysis, and writing were activities I thoroughly enjoyed, and I eagerly anticipated each new project. As an undergraduate, I was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, focusing my research on the Filipino-American elderly in San Diego and how their socialization influenced community health and social service choices.

During my second year of graduate education, I was selected as a Minority International Research Trainee and spent four months in Beijing, China, participating in cross-cultural research between US and Chinese preschools. I also researched the relationship between parental marital conflict and satisfaction and the emotional reputation of Chinese preschool children.

Additionally, I served as a Research Assistant with Privilege, Oppression, Diversity, and Social Justice (PODS) at the University of XXXX’s School of Social Work, where I performed data entry, survey matching, qualitative analysis, and facilitated focus groups. I plan to continue my research on nursing home organizational structures and their impact on the quality of patient care. I will focus on the relationship between social workers and nursing unit managers, social worker longevity and turnover rates, the effects of financial crises on nursing home placements, nursing home policies, and the quality of care, as well as the utilization of the Minimum Data Set for Medicare reimbursement.

PHD Social Work Gerontology Personal Purpose Statement