I am Shamra Byrne, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from Sturgis, South Dakota. I am a biology major and hope to combine my degree with the knowledge I have gained through completing the UNC Business Essentials program to pursue a career in medical device sales. Throughout my life and especially my years at UNC-CH, I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful traditional healers and unconventional nutritionists. My interactions with these people and my own experiences have opened my eyes to a side of the American health care system which is one of disease management rather than true health care. Although I had initially entered UNC-CH on the pre-med track, this realization has caused my passion to shift from conventional medicine to alternative and holistic medicine, both of which are health care systems teaching true disease prevention rather than symptom suppression. For this reason, I have developed a great interest in educating others in complementary and integrative medicine. In the future, I hope to combine my interest in sales and my passion for educating people on natural health promotion into a viable career in medical device sales. Specifically, I hope to sell devices and software related to alternative medicine. Through the UNC Business Essentials program, I hope to develop and hone the skills necessary to effectively navigate the business world and communicate my passion for these products to business owners.
