SOP Sample for MS in Public Health Nutrition - India

Coming from a family where nutrition played a major role in improving the medical conditions of my close ones, I have always aimed to make a difference in the lives of people around me. In the last two years, I have been fortunate to work in specialized institutions, multispecialty hospitals and non-profit organizations across North India. This diverse experience helped me understand the healthcare system and how it influences the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals. My goal is to work towards the betterment of medically underserved and poverty-stricken communities. I believe that a Master's in Public Health will add invaluably towards reaching my goal, equipping me with the knowledge and guidance that the University of _____________ can provide.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Life Sciences with biotechnology as my major, gaining a great set of laboratory skills along with theoretical knowledge of the various subjects taught. My fascination with human physiology and my personal experience of following a balanced diet with an exercise regime piqued my interest in the nutritional sciences and how it affects the human body. Hence, I decided to pursue my Master's in Nutritional Sciences to advance my formal education. During my graduate study, I enhanced my research skills while working on a project "Nutritional composition and organoleptic properties of papads developed from Vigna mungo, Durum Wheat, and Lepidium sativum". I got an opportunity to write a review paper on "Therapeutic applications of Fenugreek seed" which I presented at a National Conference held at my university. All this exposure allowed me to pursue my interests and make a career in the related field.

Right after my Master's degree, I was accepted into a research-based Post-Graduate Certificate Course in Clinical Nutrition (PGCC) at [INSTITUTION], [CITY], India. During my PGCC, I worked on a project titled "Association of body composition and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with cirrhosis". It was an enriching experience and gave me valuable insights into the intricacies of nutritional management of various medical conditions, clinical research, and clinical data management. An abstract titled "Sarcopenia in cirrhosis is tantamount to sepsis and mortality in the Intensive Care Unit" based on this project was also accepted for poster presentation in [CONFERENCE NAME] meeting, 2020.

I was fortunate to intern at a non-profit organisation based out of [CITY], India which focuses on empowering underprivileged communities to achieve basic education and medical support. During the pandemic, I was actively involved in the distribution of dry rations and arrangement of food drives, organising medical camps, and setting up educational seminars and activities. Considering the impact of COVID in the country, I decided to take up the position of Research Scientist at [LABORATORY NAME] in a Government Medical College in a remote area in Haryana, India which was set up to tackle the second wave in the country. My primary responsibility was to process and analyze the COVID samples using RT-PCR. To be a part of a team that directly dealt with the pandemic crisis and witnessing all the health challenges faced by these people motivated me to educate myself in a course that specializes in health care across demographics and genders.

I have recently joined as a Research Fellow in an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funded project entitled "Characterization of body composition in patients with NAFLD and its association with the known risk factors in lean and obese NAFLD". I am involved in the assessment of body composition using anthropometric measurements, bio-impedance assay (BIA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and computed tomography (CT) images. I counsel these patients for lifestyle modifications to help them reduce the disease severity and in some cases even disease reversal.

I am passionate about working towards the betterment of communities in terms of availability of medical facilities. After working in such a diverse environment, I found myself wanting to get an advanced education where I can make a greater difference in the lives of people. I want to work towards introducing various policies and programs to make a meaningful contribution to the society. I believe this program would help me develop and implement health policies customized to particular scenarios and unique situations. In the long term, I plan to return to my home country with adequate knowledge and skill set and work for economically deprived societies with underlying health conditions and nutritional deficiencies. With this aim, I wish to pursue a Master's in Public Health. Further, I believe my previous education and work experience in the nutrition domain would work as an asset in helping me understand the Public Health program more efficiently.

Thank you for considering my application.

Yours sincerely,

[NAME] Email ID: [EMAIL] Contact number: [PHONE]