My work as a patient advocate with the ALS Association was one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. I was tasked with advocating for state support of our chapter services, as well as helping newly diagnosed patients access health care resources. My workplace was filled with people who had dedicated their lives to helping others, and it was a privilege to work alongside them.

As a fundamentally collaborative organization, I worked together with my colleagues on issues of patient advocacy, fundraising, and outreach. We are a small office, which fostered a tight-knit atmosphere. The experience taught me how to wear many hats, accomplish multiple projects simultaneously, and to know when to ask for help.

Even though I worked domestically, I applied (and saw in action) many of the principles of global health. We are a community-minded organization, tasked with preserving the health and well-being for a severely vulnerable population. I saw up close the impact of the social determinants of health, as families struggled with the financial burden of the disease. In addition to providing access to medical care, we also worked with patients to provide transportation, food, and social support. We believed in addressing the whole health of the patient, not just the biomedical aspects of disease.

I will carry my work at the ALS Association with me for my entire career. Seeing their struggles inspired me to work to create a health care system that begins, ends, and is centered around people with health care needs.

Furthermore, my work as a patient advocate helped me hone my communication skills. These were also strengthened in my work as an Engineering Ambassador, where I constantly interacted with diverse families and students. Overall, my work experience has led to me to more effective communicator, as well as a more passionate advocate.