About Aliya Woodard
Explore My Work
Welcome to my portfolio. I’m Aliya Woodard and I’m a Junior at Florida State University majoring in Biochemistry. I thrive on creative challenges and strong relationships. I enjoy reading and writing, especially since they’re one of my strongest suites. I plan to graduate in 2027 with my Bachelor’s Degree and continue my education in medical school. I am currently a CNA working towards my LPN license which I will receive no later than 2028. I have aspirations of working in Pediatrics ans a neurosurgeon and opening non-profit organizations across the world for children in need. Explore my work below, and contact me directly to learn more.
“Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself”
- Harvey Fierstein
Ethical Leadership
My personal mission is to always approach life with love, compassion, and unwavering dedication to make the world and my community a better place to live in. Through my journey in surgery and medicine, I strive to provide care to the best care of my ability to children who weren’t given the same oppportunities as me. I want to ensure that they grow up strong and healthy. However, my mission extends beyond the operating room. I want to bring kindness and warmth into every interaction I have, being a light to those around me and offering encouragement and joy to those who need it.
My Personal Mission
I am fully committed to constantly learning and growing, not just in my profession but in every aspect of my life. I will inspire and support others to become the best version of themselves, helping them unlock their full potential. In return, I will also push myself to never settle for people or situations that simply does not suit me. I will always seek knowledge, refining my skills, and embracing challenges and mistakes with resilience and grace.
My mission is to be a source of positivity and strength. Someone who advocates and always stands up for what can better themselves and society. Whether it’s through my career in medicine, mentorship, or simple acts of kindness, I will dedicate my life to making a difference in the lives I’ll encounter.
My Personal Vision
My personal vision is to live life to the fullest while making a meaningful impact in the field of pediatrics, with my ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric surgeon. I aspire to dedicate my career to healing and caring for children, making sure that they receive the best medical attention possible. My work will not only be about treating injuries and illnesses, but it’ll also be about providing reassurance and comfort to my young patients and their families during difficult itmes.
Over my career, I will always prioritize my loved ones, including my family and friends. I think that recognizing these strong and supportive relationships are the foundation of a fulfilling life. My vision includes using my skills, knowledge, and resources to help those in need, whether through medical care or mentorship. I also dream owning a business that aligns with my values. A practive that encourages growth, creating opportunities for others, and serving as a beacon of hope and excellence ein pediatric healthcare.
My Core Values
Love
Love will always be at the heart of everything I do. It fuels my passion for medicine, stregthens my relationships with friends and family, and drives me to care for others. Love is incredibly important to me because it reminds me to cherish every moment and always act with kindness and care.
Curiousity
The desire to constantly learn and grow is truly important, in both medicine and life. I will forever seek knowledge and ask questions, it’s always been a part of who I am. By staying curious, I can always be adaptable and innovative, ensuring that I provide the best care possible and continuously envolve as a person.
Compassion
True healing goes beyond medicine. It requires patience, understanding, and empathy. I always attempt to put myself in others’ shoes, trying to make sure that my words and actions will being comfort to people who need it. Compassion is what truly allows me to connect deeply with my community, peers, and soon… my patients.
Community
True success is not achieved alone, we are all interconnected. I believe in the power of building strong, supportive communities. Whether this is in my friendships, a workplace, or society as a whole. By creating cooperation and a sense of belonging, we can uplift and empower one another.
Empathy
Understanding the struggles and emotions of others is crucial to being an effective doctor, friend, spouse, and leader. I aim to listen to others with an open heart, providing support in a thoughful and considerate way. The ability to empathize allows me to create meaningful connections and positively impact the lives of others.
Integrity
Honesty and strong moral principles are the foundation of both my professional and personal life. I am committed to doing what is right , even if no one is watching. As a future pediatric surgeon, integrity will always be crucial in earning the trust of my patients and colleagues. Integrity will ensure that I uphold the highest ethical standards.
A PROFILE of An Ethical Leader
(My Mom! ~ Rose cates)
An ethical leader that I deeply admire is my mom. She embodies the values of resilience, honesty, and compassion. She always make decisions based on what is right rather than what is considered easy. She has consistently led by example my whole life, demostrating accountability and fairness in both her profession and personal life. Whether it’s in her career or as a parent, she upholds strong moral principles, inspiring me to be like her and ensure that my actions align with my values.
Exceeding her integrity, my mom has shaped me into the person I am today by bestowing me with courage and confidence. She has always encouraged me to stand up for what I believe in, even when I was faced with adversity. My mom’s ability to remain true to her morals, even in the toughest situations, has taught me the importance of ethical leadership. She has shown me that being a leader isn’t just about using your power to make decisions that benefit you, but about making the right decisions that benefit everyone. Through her persistent dedication to ethical behavior, she has heavily influenced my own approach to decision-making and leadership, inspiring me to always act with fairness, honestly, and kindness in all aspects of my life.
A reflection:the Ethics Used at SPCHS
Ethics play a huge role in my academic and personal life at Saint Petersburg Collegiate High School (SPCHS). I do my best to uphold all my values like responsibility, integrity, and respect in interactions with all my peers and teachers. These principles extend to my coursework too as acadmic honesty is a core value I follow. I always make sure that my work reflects my own efforts and knowledge rather than turning to taking shortcuts my whole life. My mother always told me, “shortcuts get you short cut.” I also prioritize fairness and open mindedness. Wether it’s collaborating in a group project or listening to different perspectives, it’s always important to listen and be fair. I make ethical decisions in my day-to-day life by considered how my actions could possibly affect others, choosing to be honest even when it could be hard, and treating people with kindness and respect.
These ethical principles will benefit me in the future by shaping me into a trustworthy and responsible person. In my professional and academic career, inegrity will help me maintain my credibility and earn the honest respect of my peers. Ethical decision-making will helep guide me in challenges, whether in a research setting, workplace environment, or leadership role. On a personal level, I practice ethics daily to help form strong relationships built on mutual respect and trust, which could be valuable throughout my life.
Code of ethics ~ pediatric surgery
As I plan to puruse a career in pediatrics, I recognize that this field comes with crucial ethical responsibilities that require a lot of careful thought, consideration, and application. Pediatricians have the profound duty of ensuring the well-being of children, who are one of thte most vunerable patients in the medicine industry. Since children cannot make medical decisions for themselves, ethical dilemmas are relatively big when truing to determine the best course of treatment while balancing the child’s best interest and parental authority. Issues like medical confidentiality, vaccine administration, informed consent, and the equitable distribution of healthcare resources are just a bit of the many ethical challenges in the career field of pediatrics.
One of the foundational ethical guidlines in pediatrics is the Code of Ethics from the AAP, it basically outlines the key principles that pediatricians should uphold. The AAP emphasizes the importance of nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice in medical practice (Hodes et al., 1975). Beneficence requires pediatricians to act in the best interests of their patients, while nonmaleficence ensures that they do no harm. Although autonomy is a core principle in medical ethics, pediatricians must carefully navigate this because minors have a limited decision-making capacity. This requires that healthcare providers to consider both the autonomy of the child and the parental wishes. The principle of justice makes sure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, receive fair and equal access to safe and proper medical care.
One common ethical dilemma in pediatrics is vaccine hesitancy. While the AAP strongly advocates for vaccinations to protect the children and community from diseases that are preventable. Some parents deny vaccinations for their children due to misinformation or personal beliefs. This could create a conflict between parental rights and the medical worker’s obligation to keep the health of the public safe. Pediatricians must apporach these situations with sensitivity and provide evidence based on their education while respecting the values of the family’s. However, in cases where a child’s life is at serious risk due to a parent’s denial of a necessary medical intervention, ethical and legal considerations may require the involvement of child protective services (CPS) to ensure the child receives the appropriate care (Sarin & Banerjee, 2024).
Looking on these ethical considerations, I see the responsibility and complexity that comes with being a pediatrician. Other than providing medical treatment, pediatricians must serve as advocates for their patients and they must often make difficult decisions that balance parental authority, medical ethics, and the best interests of the child. I am 100% committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in my future career and make sure that I apporach each case with professionalism, compassion, and a deep respect for my patients and their families.
References
Hodes, H. L., Brown, R. H., Holliday, M. A., James, L. S., Katcher, A. L., Katz, S. L., Sparling, D., Yaffe, S. J., & Kretchmer, N. (1975). AAP Code of Ethics for the use of fetuses and fetal material for research: Task Force on Pediatric Research, Informed Consent and Medical Ethics. Pediatrics, 56(2), 304–305.
Sarin, Y. K., & Banerjee, C. (2024, March). Ethical considerations in pediatric surgery. Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11014172/