Statement of purpose

My initial interest in caring for people came from my experience throughout my high school years as a volunteer

medical assistant in the student clinic where I trained and had responsibility for looking after sick students. As an

interpersonal and kinesthetic person, I perceived that I was comfortable working with people and able to relate to them.

From this moment on, I realized that a healthcare profession would be ideal and would allow me to follow in my father’s

footsteps. My father’s work as an electro-cardio specialist for over 30 years gave me a great opportunity to understand

different roles in the healthcare sector. Even though there are a lot of different careers dedicated to caring for people, I

recognized respiratory therapy as a high-need field where I would be challenged to save lives, and knew respiratory

therapy was the course for me.

Josh Smith Personal Statement

After graduating with Second Class Honors from Hartford Univeristy, I worked at Hartford Medical Hospital for

three years, a hospital considered to be one of the most advanced medical centers in the United States. In these

years, I invested myself in deepening my expertise by earning certificates and licenses related to my field and also to

critical care. My license in Fundamental Critical Care is unique in the United States, and connected my interests in

respiratory therapy with intensive care practice. Moreover, my work within elite teams in multiple intensive care units

allowed me critical experience in treating a variety of cases including ECMO patients, HFOV patients, trauma patients,

and patients in prone positions. My critical thinking and effective time management was enhanced by working in

emergency rooms.

Furthermore, working in a field hospital near the border with Yemen for two months was an incredible experience for me,

exposing me to field hospital conditions and medevac transport protocols.

Also while at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, I contributed as a volunteer educator in Respiratory Care Week in

my commitment to public health, educating both my medical peers and people in my community. Teaching trainees as a

preceptor increased my confidence as an educator and shifted my focus to becoming a medical educator. To achieve this

goal, I decided to pursue a master's degree in respiratory therapy. Earning a master’s degree will provide me the best

opportunity to obtain an academic position in my community, where I can actively contribute to students in their education.

In addition, my graduate qualifications will allow me to help increase the number of respiratory therapy students and

stabilize medical universities that offered respiratory therapy programs in the past, but where departments have closed

entirely due to an enormous lack of respiratory therapy teaching assistants.

My admission to the Master of Health in Respiratory Therapy program at Georgia State University will not only

empower me to be the best medical educator possible, but will ensure that respiratory therapy education can continue in

my country. I am attracted to Georgia State University's prestige and reputation for providing a high-quality education to

your students, for including interesting topics in the respiratory therapy master's degree program, and for providing a

stimulating environment that ensures any student will succeed in their academic challenges. I am very enthusiastic about

these coming years, because I believe I can take on challenges and know I have the motivation and determination to

Josh SMith Personal Statement

Waleed Asiri Personal Statement

accomplish my desired goals. I look forward to making contributions as a member of the Georgia State University

community, where it will be a pleasure to stand with my colleagues already there.