Internal Medicine Personal Statement

When I think of medicine I think of diversity. The medical field contains a multiplicity of individuals, culture, and exchange; exposure to the Guatemalan culture offers a plethora of experience that allows me to build on personal growth, educational enhancements, and the opportunity to make a difference. The availability of this program through the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine is a blessing as well as a prayer answered for the prospect to experience the world beyond the borders of the United Stares.

Limping out of the court with a twisted ankle, I winced in pain. As the main player of the university Table-Tennis team, I was determined not to let my team’s effort go in vain. The final match was two days away and I decided to focus on my strengths- my backhand chop, as opposed to only concentrating on my opponent’s weakness. As I was getting my foot examined, my coach remarked, “The pain of regret is greater than the fear of failure”. This thought comes back to me today as I prepare to apply for my Internal Medicine Residency in the United States.

Through my exposure to the various branches of medicine during my rotations in medical school, I found that I was drawn toward Internal Medicine. The variety of clinical encounters, procedures, and degrees of illness make internal medicine extremely appealing to me. During this period, I was mastered in taking patient history and conducting thorough physical examination. I actively involved myself in interacting and educating patients and their families about their diseases by willingly staying extra

Over the years of medical practice, I always enjoyed my role as an internist, in every level of my capacity. The broad scope of the field increased my interest and curiosity, and I feel myself more motivated and responsible for learning the art of diagnosis, evaluation and management of the patients in the most effective ways to make their lives better. This strong desire encourages me to choose the field of internal medicine as my career, with the vision to empower the ailing with knowledge and serve deprives in the community. The field of medicine demands devoted study life and endless practice to be a good clinician. The clinical evidences and guidelines are continuously changing for the betterment of patient care and to decrease the morbidity and mortality.

During my internship, I had a patient newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He and his family came from a rural area and did not have enough knowledge about the disease. Seeing that, I took the time to educate them about his condition and the details of his care.A year later I received a phone call from this patient’s family thanking me for what I did, and consulting me for a minor illness that he encountered at that time. Although they knew I was a junior doctor, they have valued my opinion. I felt appreciated and exhilarated to experience such a satisfying moment. Learning medicine in Sudan was challenging, being in a country with a culturally diverse population and limited resources doctors are confronted countless times by the lack of diagnostics, medications and even hospital beds. Therefore, patient care necessitates sharp physicians who rely on their fierce clinical sense. Throughout the years I realized how important it is for a physician to build such a firm clinical background. It is stunning how minor changes in clinical signs and symptoms could lead to different interpretations from one patient to another. Every case was challenging and mysterious, nonetheless I incredibly enjoyed the intellectual stimuli and the excitement of solving clinical puzzles and interacting with patients. Additionally, I believe I have an inquisitive nature, and I resolved to take on the intellectual challenges offered. This along with my intense passion will guide me to

This interest evolved into a career goal as I recognized the role of internist as a detective, academic, team player, and compassionate physician. During my rotation in internal medicine and clerkship in cardiology, nephrology, and intensive care unit. I was impressed by the knowledge, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice of physicians trained in internal medicine. I discovered tremendous satisfaction in being with patients at the bedside, the challenge of managing multiple problems and keeping up with watch individual’s health maintenance, and privilege of participating in long-term care. During these rotations I discovered a love for teaching whether clarifying a test result for a patient pointing out interesting physical exam finding or discussing the art of case presentations with junior medical students, I find great satisfaction in sharing knowledge with

It is the intellectual challenge every day and the opportunity to provide continuous care for the patients that make internal medicine extremely appealing to me. I believe that with the knowledge that internal medicine residency would provide me with; I could address the patient’s emotional needs as well as their medical needs. I have been inspired by my attending during my rotations. I rotated for two months with him, during which I realized that in spite of the limited time he had, he always took the time to explain and give support to his patients. He had to manage inpatients as well as ICU patients simultaneously, but he always knew how to manage the patients and support their families in addition to teaching us.

Picture opening up a box with over 1000 pieces belonging to a jigsaw puzzle, emptying the contents out on to a tabletop, and then being tasked with putting those pieces together to ultimately create a beautiful picture of the human anatomy. One can imagine the eye for detail, patience and thoroughness that would be required to complete such a task. As with any puzzle it is critical that the wider picture is envisioned at all times, as focusing on only one piece would effectively hinder any progress towards completion.

I participated in numerous and varied electives to gain a wide appreciation for the scope and practice of medicine. I learned countless lessons from physicians, nurses, midlevel providers and ancillary staff, while caring for hundreds of patients gaining a level of autonomy. The importance of a focused history and physical – to not be afraid of the myriad of details and at the same time to not loose sight of the bigger picture – how to present cases, and how to formulate a high-quality differential diagnosis with appropriate testing measures were all emphasized. These experiences showed me that being an effective Internist involves not only the treatment of those severely ill, but also the need for comprehensive treatment of the patient and their families. I was genuinely inspired to be a part of the IM team and my goal of becoming an Internist was

As I began my medical education my interests had piqued; however, my true passion was ignited when I discovered the stimulating environment of internal medicine. Foremost, with the aid of an exceptional physician preceptor, I discovered that managing a wide variety of pathologies within a varied population is the ideal way to develop a broad clinical knowledge. Additionally, I found that I enjoyed the ‘hands-on’ component that comes with the privilege of performing procedures and resuscitation. Finally, I discovered that managing patients holistically, through collaboration and coordination, is the best way to facilitate excellent patient outcomes. It was after these discoveries that I decided to further my pursuit of a career in internal medicine.

The intricacies of the human body, especially related to acute and chronic illnesses, is something that has intrigued me for as long as I can remember. My older brother is a physician, and I have spent countless hours over the years discussing the challenges and intricacies of his interdisciplinary career. It was during this time that my desire and drive to become a physician flourished, and as my academic, professional, and personal endeavors continued, my intrigue with internal medicine continued to expound.

Adversity has only improved my tenacity, focus, endurance, and problem solving abilities. Various circumstances have affected my academic performance negatively, but I use that as motivation to continually improve myself. I want to be a part of the solution to the family physician shortage and serve the community in the most effective way. My drive to improve the lives of others will help propel me through the difficulties of medical school and beyond. The personal experience I have with my immersion in the field of primary care gives me unique characteristics that will translate into creating a successful physician that focuses on building meaningful relationships with patients. I continually witness how my grandfather is positively impacting the community through medicine and it is my goal to be granted an opportunity to do the same. My belief in lifelong learning and continual self-improvement consistently drives me towards the study of medicine. Because of my life experiences, I now have the balance, endurance, clarity, and tenacity needed to be a successful medical

I envision myself working in an academic setting while practicing internal medicine. I have always been interested in relating the body systems to each other and treating illness in the context of the person. Through my experiences, I have found that I also enjoy mentoring others about their health, although I am always excited to teach my trainees about medical terms or topics we encounter while in the emergency department. However, I am also thoroughly interested in conducting clinical research that seeks to continuously improve the quality of care that is provided. Therefore, I look forward to working with patients and other health professionals while allotting equal time to teaching and conducting research.

Over the last six years of my medical education, I realized Internal Medicine is the field that fulfills my professional expectations. I believe that reaching any success should be based on the balance between an extraordinary education, mentorship and practice. This combination explains why I visualized myself doing a Residency Program in the United States. Having experienced a few months in the American education system, I am confident I want to complete my residency training in the United States, the quality of education and the respectable standard of trained physicians are impressive and very noticeable. I wish to adopt this pathway as a tool to enrich my training with the highest standards of pedagogy.

Going into rotation as a third year medical student, there were several factors that inspire me to pursue a residency in internal medicine. During my Internal Medicine rotation, I was taught the pathophysiology, diagnoses and treatments for each patient. I was exposed to the detailed thought process of treating patient’s comorbidities.