Professional Summary
Personal Statement
The word "besa" in the Albanian language can be roughly translated to mean "promise" or "word of honor," however like most untranslatable words its meaning is best conveyed through stories. One such story my grandparents passed down to me was of Albanians during World War II who sheltered Jews to shield them from persecution. "Besa" represented an unwavering commitment to protection and hospitality extended even to strangers - an unwritten pledge to embrace others regardless of their background. Beyond its historical significance, "besa" also permeates daily life. Throughout medical school, I have discerned parallels between the cultural values I learned from my grandparents and the practice of internal medicine. As I embark on my future career, I seek to form meaningful, longitudinal patient relationships rooted in the same principles that "besa" embodies.