I have served the community as a Public Health Investigator for the past ten years, including five years as a supervisor. This ‘boots on ground experience of working with those who are homeless, addicted, and psychologically disturbed have given me an insight into the many ways that well-intended policies implemented to assist them often fail to provide the anticipated results or to do so to the anticipated degree. It is clear that my frustrated cries of ‘Why didn’t they ….’ Or ‘Why don’t they…’ will not solve the problems I identified.  Consequently,y I now seek to equip myself with the knowledge and skills to enable me to shape effective policies to improve the lives of those who, for so many different reasons, have gone seriously awry.

My goal, having completed the program, is to hold a senior post in local government,t helping to formulate policies, measuring their effectiveness and making any necessary adjustments,s and doing the same in respect of current policies. I hope to create wide contacts with peers in other geographical areas to identify best practices and share information and expertise. In the longer term, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. and teach the specialty to share my genuine passion with a new generation of managers within the thing.

I was raised by parents who insisted on impeccable honesty, hard work,k and the importance of ‘making a difference rather than merely ‘making a living.’ I was born in Iran and raised there until 14, when my family moved to Germany. From age 15, I volunteered in various refugee camps as a translator and assisted inmates in making applications to stay. After arriving In the US in 1994, I worked for two years as a volunteer at XXXX’s hospital,l providing general assistance to the often distressed relatives of sick children in the Burns Unit or Oncology Department.

My initial work as a PHI related to the Public Health Department’s STD program. I was sufficiently effective in that role to be promoted to supervising PHI with the Tuberculosis Control Program and have served in this role for the last 5 years. With a bachelor's degree, I majored in Molecular, Cell,l and Developmental Biology and have been able to exploit this knowledge to some degree in this role. In my career to date, I have always striven to make improvements in procedures and policy implementation where I have been able to do so. For example, to keep LA residents safe, it is sometimes necessary to incarcerate non-compliant and highly infectious TB patients who may also have psychological issues and a tendency to violence. Initially, the Sheriffs would sometimes turn our patients away due to facility overcrowding,g and there was no alternative way of keeping the patient and society safe. It took almost a year to engage the right parties at the Sheriff’s Department and the Supervisor’s office. So far, I have helped to implement two small agreed policy changes that have made a substantial difference. Now the clients are housed as patient-inmates until the completion of therapy. We also now have the support of Sheriff’s deputies assigned to county hospitals where necessary. I liaised with the responsible sergeant,t and we agreed ond a directive adopted throughout the County under which we support relocating or re-detaining patients who seek to leave the hospital at an early stage of treatment.

I am very aware that technical knowledge is not in itself sufficient to change policies and attitudes. Specific characteristics are vital in those seeking to make fundamental, lasting,g and positive differences in any field but especially in areas where budgets are constantly under pressure, and the welfare of individuals is at stake. I realize that creativity, an analytical mind, determination,n and the ability to engage exceptionally well with others are essential in making the difference I seek to create.  I am convinced that I possess these vital characteristics and the necessary proven academic success and potential to excel within the program and in my career beyond it.

I have happily studied, worked, liaised,d, and socialized with people of different social and ethnic backgrounds. I get on quickly with others and have an empathetic attitude. I speak, read and write Persian, Armenian, German, and English,h in which I am fully fluent. I seek to be a well-rounded person and have many interests; I paint and write, am passionately interested in current affairs, read biographies and books on politics, and love swimming and dancing Salsa.

I am aware of the danger when undertaking a senior role, of possibly losing sight of every file or a case number; I am a natural person with unique problems. It would be my firm intention to ensure that I always have regular and direct contact with staff and clients affected by high level decision making and, where appropriate, to seek their input and feedback.

I can assure the reader that I will also apply myself with exceptional diligence and determination to excel within the program and in my future career.