written to justify my interest to study healthcare administration

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Eshetu D. Dana.
UMUC-Health Care Administration
Why I Want to Earn a Graduate Degree in Health Care Administration
To begin with introducing myself and informing some parts of my demographic
status, my name is Dana, Eshetu D. I am 37 years old and have several educational
background as well as work experiences that motivated me to earn graduate degree in
health care administration.
Regarding my birthplace, I was born in one of the ancient countries of the world,
Ethiopia, located in the horn of Africa. Areka is a village located in southern Ethiopia,
Woliata, that I was born in and grew up. I had been living there until I moved to the USA
in 2009. Living in two different countries, economically and technologically developed,
the USA, and the other, non-developed country, Ethiopia, offered me an opportunity and
exposure to understand socio-economical, political, cultural diversity and other health
care related issues. “Who we are and what we do?” are very important questions that the
constitution of World health Organization tries to answer (WHO). Interest and intention
to answer such questions is one of my plan to earn graduate degree in health care
administration. It has value to assist myself, my family as well as all other community
members in a given society to apply risk minimization and adjustment ( Berlowitz, 2003).

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As a former nursing student, it is very important to define the term health and
health care; however, conceptual and operational meaning of the definition can be
interpreted in varies ways in different societies. As a graduate student of health care
administration, it is crucial to recognize such definition and its meaning.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) health is defined as follow,
“A state of being complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity”. This definition invites health care professionals and all
other individuals to investigate direct as well as indirect relationship between actual
health status of individuals and social determinants of health. It also motivates us to
recognize medical prognosis and diagnosis so as to manage health care problems. Thus,
health care administration is expected to offer specific knowledge and skill that assist to
solve health care problems. Utilization of all needed resources and implementation of
research based information are also expected in graduate study’s of Health Care
Administration. This is another reason why I wanted to earn graduate degree in health
care administration.
In addition, it is very interesting to be well oriented through scientific education
so as to prevent disease. The best strategy to maintain good health status is using
preventive mechanism (Luke, 2004).
In fact, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes social
determinants of health care under five divisions: Biological and genetic, Individual
behavior, Social environment, Physical environment and health service. Generally,
Scientists recognize the above factors to make analysis of cause and effect that aids to

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treat health care issues targeting on social determinants and factors that can affect health,
as a cause for health problems. For example, a common trend or behavior of several
individuals in all over the world, smoking tobacco (CDC-1991-2015) Graduate degree in
Health Care Administration is very important to equip students with knowledge and skill.
It is also important to bring behavioral change through education. This is also among
reasons that I wanted to earn graduate degree in health care administration.
Regarding my educational background and job experiences, I have enrolled in and
studied different disciplines. I also worked in several fields: teaching, hotel and tourism
service and management, nursing and political science. I have also experience to operate
private business.
I had been teaching in Ethiopia in different levels of education (primary to college
levels) and, that offered me a knowledge to understand students’ behavior. It also
developed my skill to conduct research as well as to comprehend pedagogical procedures
of teaching learning process. Such experience of life encouraged and motivated me to
earn graduate degree in Health care Administration. I am also interested in mental health
counseling.

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References
Berlowitz, D., and A. K. Rosen. 2003. "Risk Adjustment for Studying Long-Term Care."
In Risk Adjustment for Measuring Health Care Outcomes, 3d ed., edited by L. I.
Iezzoni, 383-99. Chicago: Health Administration Press.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. National Health Expenditure Data: NHE
tables. https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-
Trends-and-
Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.html.
Published December 3, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in the prevalence of tobacco use:
National YRBS: 1991–2015.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/trends/2015_us_tobacco_trend_yr
bs.pdf. Updated June 9, 2016. Accessed June 14, 2016.
Constitutions of World Health Organization. In: World health Organization. Retrieved
from http://www.who.int/about/what-we-do/en/
Luke, R. D., Walston, S. L., & Plummer, P. M. (2004). Healthcare strategy: In pursuit of
competitive advantage. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. http://www.theglobalfund.org.

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