emulate

emulate [ v. EM-yuh'-leyt; adj. EM-yuh'-lit ]
[ adjective, transitive verb ]

MEANING :
1. (tr. v.) to imitate with an effort to excel or surpass or to strive to equal
2. (tr. v.) to successfully compete with or attain equality with
3. (adj.) desirous of excelling or equalling

USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
He joined medical college so that he could emulate his father who was a prominent doctor.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
Many people are determined that the United States should emulate the rest of the industrialized world and adopt a publicly subsidized system of universal coverage.