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"How has your journey with CF shaped the problems you want to solve and the impact you hope to have on others?"

Turning Experience into Impact: Improving Healthcare Through Accuracy and Advocacy

My journey with Cystic Fibrosis has deeply shaped the problems I want to solve and the impact I hope to have on others. Because I was misdiagnosed for many years and only received a correct diagnosis after a severe health crisis, I developed a strong awareness of how critical accurate diagnosis, communication, and timely care truly are. I experienced firsthand how symptoms can be overlooked or misinterpreted, and how this can delay proper treatment and significantly affect a patient's health and quality of life. Those experiences made me more observant of how healthcare systems rely heavily on accurate information, and how even small documentation errors can lead to major consequences for patients. I also learned how frustrating it is for patients and families to live without clear answers, constantly moving between treatments that do not address the real problem. As a result, I am drawn to Health Information Management and medical coding because these fields are essential in ensuring that patient data is accurate, organized, and properly communicated across the healthcare system. I want to help reduce errors in documentation and support a system where diagnoses, treatments, and medical histories are clearly and correctly recorded. I understand now that behind every code and every record is a real person whose care depends on that information being correct. This motivates me to pursue a career where I can contribute to improving the quality and reliability of healthcare data. I also want to better understand how healthcare systems can be improved from the inside, especially in areas where miscommunication can affect patient outcomes. My experience with Cystic Fibrosis has also shaped the type of impact I want to have on others, especially patients living with chronic or complex conditions. I know what it feels like to live for years without clear answers, and how exhausting and discouraging that uncertainty can be. Because of this, I want to help create a healthcare environment where patients feel seen, heard, and properly understood from the beginning. I want to be part of improving systems that support earlier diagnosis, better coordination of care, and more patient-centered communication. I also want to bring empathy into the technical side of healthcare, reminding others that every record represents a human life. Overall, my goal is to use my education and future career in healthcare to strengthen the accuracy and effectiveness of medical information systems. In doing so, I hope to contribute to a healthcare environment where patients receive timely diagnoses, appropriate treatment, and better overall care. Most importantly, I want my work to help ensure that others do not experience the same long period of uncertainty that I went through, and instead receive the clarity and support they deserve. This purpose continues to motivate me every day in my education and future career path.