is AI used in writing in this text? My History
I was born into a middle-class family in Iran and grew up immersed in Iranian traditions and culture in Shiraz, a historical and fragrant city. Before starting school, my loved ones instilled in me the values of independence and pursuing my dreams. However, my school experience was different as I was often reminded that “You are a girl!”.
Throughout my education, I developed a habit of disregarding classmates who didn’t perform as well as I did. I attended special schools for high achievers and ended up competing against my closest friends, transforming our relationships into rivalries. As a result, I spent many years without a best friend, isolating myself from male relationships, obsessively adhering to the hijab, and ignoring friends who didn’t attend highly-ranked universities or pursue top majors. However, certain events shifted my perspective. 
Through some experiences, I met people from diverse backgrounds with different academic goals and career paths. Listening to their stories, dreams, and aspirations helped me see the value in each person as a unique individual.  One of those experiences was attending the Iran Public Health Summer School (IPHS) where I became familiar with the field of public health. I learned about essential public health principles and core values like health justice and equity. After graduating from dentistry, I began working in a semi-deprived city. I quickly realized that I didn’t want to confine myself to working solely in a private office as a dentist. I wanted to make a significant impact on the community. After witnessing health disparities in my community for two years, I believed that public health knowledge would enable me to serve people more effectively. I wanted to work in an interdisciplinary environment with different professionals to improve the living standards of the people I served on a larger scale, just as I had faced the excitement of working with diverse groups of people in the past. 
Shortly after graduating, I took up a research assistant position and joined a research group. After a while, I founded the Endodontics group and became its leader and central coordinator. The group collaborated with faculty members from different universities. This experience provided me with opportunities to enhance my communication and leadership skills. I was responsible for organizing meetings, ensuring progress, and overseeing the quality and timeliness of work. Students contributed by completing smaller yet time-consuming tasks, while graduated dentists wrote drafts of articles and reviewed students’ work for accuracy. Professors provided guidance and feedback on the projects. Teaching and coaching students in research taught me the value of empathy and building strong relationships. I began to understand the challenges students faced and the need for compassion. 
In April 2019, I volunteered to design educational programs for a health start-up consultancy company. This experience allowed me to combine my skills, experiences, knowledge, and interests. As a research mentor, I knew how to teach, and my passion for creating something new and creative led me to design a course on start-up principles taught through mini-games. Working there and connecting with various professionals provided me with a holistic view of health, business, and technology. I ventured outside my field and gained insight into novel aspects of health, such as the modern use of artificial intelligence for diagnosis. I also explored the financial and ethical aspects of doing business in the health sector. 
During my time as a dentistry student, I witnessed health inequities while volunteering for underserved communities and conducting oral health surveillance for children in underprivileged areas. However, when I started working as a general dentist in a semi-deprived urban area, I truly faced the reality of public health injustice. For example, I encountered patients who couldn’t afford treatment for acute dental pain and requested tooth extractions, as well as those seeking expensive cosmetic treatments they didn’t need. I also came across young patients in their twenties who had lost all their teeth due to a lack of proper education and unhealthy behaviors. These situations were often exacerbated by the parents’ economic challenges and illiteracy. 
I also encountered patients who discovered their chronic systemic diseases, such as high blood pressure, during dental visits. I understood that people’s health issues extended beyond oral health, and other measures were needed to improve their living standards. Additionally, I faced challenges when interacting with other healthcare sectors. For example, I referred a 5-year-old patient with acute cellulitis to a nearby hospital, but they declined to admit the patient as they didn’t have an Oral Maxillofacial surgeon available to prescribe the injectable antibiotics required. As a result, I had to refer the patient to a hospital two hours away. These instances made me more aware of the gaps within the healthcare system. Overall, my experiences have reinforced my desire to make a difference in people’s lives. I’ve come to realize that dental visits alone are not enough to achieve this.
Leadership preferences
My MBTI type is ISTJ(based on the leadership preference self-assessment test). As an introvert, I prefer to take some time to think before expressing my suggestions. I lean towards practical actions to demonstrate my values rather than verbalizing them. I am detail-oriented and tend to examine every aspect of the tasks or projects I am working on. However, it is also a place where I can become overly involved and micromanage every single thing. I prefer to confirm facts with others and rely on logic and critical thinking rather than my emotions. At times, I may unintentionally overlook people’s feelings because I prioritize thinking over feelings, but I am actively working on this. I enjoy analyzing the pros and cons of various options when making decisions. I naturally stick to plans and have a strong inclination towards being disciplined in order to complete tasks before the deadline. Moreover, I am currently practicing trusting others when working in a team, which has helped me to overcome micromanagement tendencies and effectively delegate tasks. For instance, previously, I did not work in groups but now I have to collaborate in multiple groups. I believe that developing team charters has been beneficial, as it allows us to address our concerns from the start. This has served as a relief, as I can communicate how important details are to me while also learning more about my teammates’ skills and backgrounds. Understanding others has enabled me to form friendships and build trust. Additionally, I enjoy inspiring people. I recognize and value individual excellence. I now feel more comfortable than before, allowing me to celebrate our achievements together.
Leadership practices
In conclusion, from the Big Five test(Wolfe, 2019) and the activities in the class, while I acknowledge that my level of openness to experience may be somewhat low, I am committed to working on it and cultivating more courage in an ever-changing environment. As a public health leader, I recognize the importance of adaptability and overcoming new challenges, as demonstrated by the recent pandemic. In my leadership role, I believe that creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their opinions is crucial. This fosters innovation within my team and leads to the formation of effective policies. I value conscientiousness and recognize its importance in my role as a manager, but I understand the need to balance this trait with coaching and helping others reach their potential. Although I prioritize data and facts, I am aware of the necessity to appreciate people and concepts. I strive to be mindful of not hurting others’ feelings and to value their perspectives. In moments of emotional negativity, I rely on my extraversion to find the silver lining and inspire others to learn and grow amidst adversity. 
In my future leadership endeavors, I aspire to utilize a transformational leadership style (Burns, 1978; Bass, 1985). Through my experience as a research assistant, I have learned the importance of considering individual needs, motivating and inspiring my team. However, I recognize that there is always more to learn, especially in terms of creating space for others to act and be creative while maintaining discipline. I have also unknowingly deployed the adaptive leadership model in situations where projects did not proceed as anticipated, finding applicable solutions to ensure progress. However, I acknowledge that I lean more toward managerial traits rather than those of a natural leader. Nevertheless, I am here with the intention of developing and enhancing my leadership skills, and I am committed to growing in this aspect of my professional journey. Overall, my journey as a public health leader is one of continuous growth and improvement. 
My leadership skills, values, and morals
I believe in all core values of public health, as they are crucial for my future framework. Inclusiveness and engagement are important to me, which is why I aspire to make changes in oral health care accessibility and affordability for individuals with low income. Additionally, I consider health justice and equity to be crucial values for anyone working in public health. A public health leader should be able to build an efficient team and work interdisciplinary, establishing cooperation and trust among group members. 
In terms of my own vision, I value courage and ambition. In my opinion, taking risks necessitates having an ambitious plan, and one cannot take risks without sufficient courage. For example, if Mary Montegue had not been courageous and willing to take risks, millions of people would have lost their lives, and vaccination would not have been introduced to the world at the time(Johnson, 2022). Similarly, if Frances Oldham Kelsey had not had the courage to confront the pharmaceutical company or express her opinion, millions of disabled children would have been affected by her decision(Johnson, 2022). I have also learned to appreciate my team’s support for my ideas and values by reading her story (Johnson, 2022). 
As a dentist, I have learned the importance of “do no harm” to my patients (non-maleficence) and prioritizing their needs by providing the best treatment options possible (beneficence)(Code of Ethics, n.d.). Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their treatment with full consent, ensuring patient autonomy and fairness. Being honest with patients (veracity) is another core principle I adhere to(Code of Ethics, n.d.). On the other hand, as a healthcare professional, I recognize that I also have certain rights that should be met in certain situations(Code of Ethics, n.d.). However, I believe that any relationship is a two-way street, with both sides having rights and values that should be considered. This has been one of the most valuable lessons I have learned during my time as a dentist. 
I strive to create a sense of belonging and make individuals realize their value within a team. Personal fulfillment, growth, and learning driven by curiosity are important to me. Moreover, being considered an accountable person, whether as a leader or a teammate, holds great significance. 
In evaluating the efficacy of tasks, I measure achievements as well as the losses incurred. This is precisely how the ethical analysis of a public health leader should be conducted. It is important to measure effectiveness, morality, lawfulness, expenses, costs, accountability, transparency, etc., when taking steps for the benefit of the people.(Upshaw,n.d.)
My Leadership Philosophy 
I aspire to be a leader who embodies integrity and promotes inclusivity in oral health. As a public health leader, I firmly believe that everyone deserves access to appropriate and affordable dental and oral services, including preventive and treatment measures. To become a better leader in this regard, I recognize the need to familiarize myself with the various processes and politics involved in the insurance industry. During my time as a master’s student, I am determined to acquire the necessary skills in negotiation. I believe that transforming dental treatment from a luxury, expensive service to an affordable and accessible option for people from all walks of life is essential. By gaining a deeper understanding of the insurance industry and developing negotiation skills, I aim to advocate for policies and practices that support the provision of affordable oral health services. A key aspect of my leadership approach will be to foster inclusivity, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds are not left behind in accessing the oral care they need. As a leader in the field of oral health, my commitment to integrity and inclusion will guide my decision-making and actions. I want to break down barriers and create a system that values and prioritizes the oral health of all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Together, we can create a society where oral health is seen as a fundamental right rather than a luxury, ensuring that everyone can maintain good oral health and overall well-being. 
However, one thing that I am working to change within myself is my tendency to be a perfectionist. I have come to realize that this trait can sometimes hinder progress and prevent me from taking risks or embracing innovative solutions. In order to be a more effective leader, I am actively working to shift my mindset and embrace a growth-oriented approach that values progress over the pursuit of perfection.
Becoming a better leader 
As mentioned, I have a tendency to be a perfectionist, which can sometimes lead to frustration. However, this drive to give my best effort has helped me overcome challenges that others may struggle with. While I don’t want to completely eliminate this trait, I recognize the need to balance it in order to maintain energy levels for all the tasks I have to complete. It is also important for me to avoid spending excessive amounts of time on less important tasks just to ensure they are done perfectly. I have noticed that when striving for perfection, my self-confidence can diminish. To address this, I am making a conscious effort to acknowledge and appreciate both my strengths and weaknesses equally. I am placing more value on my positive qualities to preserve my self-confidence. These cycles of perfectionism, self-doubt, and recognition are recurring patterns that I aim to break. To that end, I have decided to work on overcoming my perfectionist tendencies through therapy sessions. The reason behind this change is that I believe being a perfectionist leader is unrealistic. I understand that I cannot expect others to deliver tasks flawlessly, nor should I impose unnecessary pressure on them. Therefore, this change holds significant importance to me.