Internal Medicine Personal Statement

“Letto diciassette!” I froze at the sound of “bed seventeen,” and watched with horror as the Italian nurse ran into my grandmother’s hospital room. The monitors were beeping out of control, yet my heart seemed to be beating even faster and louder. I stood at the end of the dimly lit hall, shaking and unable to move. A health care provider spotted me standing there, desperate, alone, and vulnerable, and made her way over to comfort me. The feelings I experienced next were what I remember most when I look back on that dark and gloomy day in Italy. ***The feelings of hope, reassurance and genuine kindness. The feeling that a missing piece of my heart had been put back where it belonged. That is what I remember most and that is the role I want

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.

I am drawn to family medicine by this same appreciation for humanism that is evident to me among practitioners in this field. I am similarly motivated and excited by the intellectual challenges, scope, and meaningfulness offered by a career in family medicine. I strive to join a residency program that will provide rigorous clinical training among a diverse patient population while offering extensive resident responsibility for patient care. I believe that a family medicine residency program will inspire me to excel and arm me with the tools I need to achieve my future goals. Upon completion of residency, I aim to devote myself to serving the underserved while dedicating time to conducting research and participating in community and medical

I envision the next ten years to be a time of intense personal growth. I will be building upon my strengths and improving my weaknesses. I hope to be fulfilling my goals and crossing things off of my bucket list. I hope to have the financial security to be able to help my mother retire, and help my younger brother to finish graduate school. I hope to be involved within my community, whether through volunteer work or a community-based organization. As for my career, I see myself working as a primary care physician. I am drawn to the long-term comprehensive care aspect of Internal Medicine and the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population in a variety of settings. This role aligns with my personal values in regards to health maintenance.

I come from a small rural town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. My hometown is split down the middle by a set of railroad tracks. On the north side, one can find pristine neighborhoods, newer schools, most doctors’ offices, and the only hospital in town. The south side of the town stands as a stark contrast. On the south side, you no longer find the wealthy neighborhoods but rather dilapidated and condemned homes and housing projects. One seems to find abandoned buildings on every corner, many inhabited by those that have lost their homes. Limited help is coming for those who need it, mostly through churches and volunteer programs targeting the underserved. Many doctors, dentists, and nurses are giving their time and resources to help

It is a fact that we have a longer life expectancy than ever before. This has been achieved through years of thorough research, technological development, and most importantly resilient individuals. Doctors are constantly faced with different enigmas with no right or wrong answer. What first attracted me toward medicine was the desire to help and support, in particular, disadvantaged people. Coming from a country with an underdeveloped health care system has made me realised the impact it has on people’s life.

Beyond the immediate exposure of healthcare best practices and how to address each situation with its own urgency; it has molded me to develop the skills necessary to balance a busy schedule to meet deadlines. Keck Medicine of USC has taught me to only accept the highest standards while being forthcoming and endearing with research for any project. Entering into healthcare from a completely different career path has been nothing short of challenging. This change of career required me to refocus my efforts and abilities to become a team player within an office setting and learn a new dialect only known within the health care community. All the skills and knowledge I have obtained required a great amount of perseverance and dedication outside the workspace to become a successful employee. I have no doubt that the dedication my career has bestowed me with, can also be applied to my education and will help me succeed within the USC environment. With this is mind, I have come to the conclusion that I am prepared to commence my graduate education at USC in pursuit of a Master’s Degree.

My passion for medicine continues to grow with each patient that I’ve had the privilege of caring for through shadowing, volunteering and my job as a CNA. Being my grandma’s translator has inspired me to pursue a career as a physician assistant, and beyond becoming a physician assistant, I aspire to practice in underserved populations so that everyone has an equal opportunity to access the health care they need.

Looking back at my years in school and my educational teachings, I see them as stepping stones that led me to where I’m today. From grade school to high school, we were slowly taught the knowledge necessary to later transfer into a college level classroom. Then once in college, our courses would act as stepping stones leading us to our chosen career path. For me personally, that will be the medical field. Specifically in Neonatal/Pediatric Nursing.

I had my first contact with the specialty (internal medicine) during the Propaedeutic and Internal medicine rotations as part of the curriculum of third year of Medical School.

Ever since I was a child, when people asked me which profession interested me most, I used to say “I would like to be a detective”. I would say that because I knew my inherent ability to solve complex problems. Internal medicine is a complex broad field and the spectrum of diseases seen in this specialty fascinated me.

Many years ago, my mom brought home a personal computer to help my sister with her computer science course. One day, the computer crashed and stopped working. I have always been a curious person and love solving problems, so naturally I wanted to know what exactly went wrong. Having no previous experience with computers, this was a new challenge, and I was excited about it. I spent hours trying to figure out the problem and to rule out the possibilities; I was focused and determined and wouldn't budge from my place until it was fixed. Finally, I managed to fix the problem. I find internal medicine not too different from my experience with computers. Internists are exposed to a diversity of patients with problems ranging from simple to complex, which requires the same qualities like focus, dedication and determination to solve these problems. No other specialty offers such a vast array of learning opportunities and challenges; the learning process

In addition to scholastic achievement, well rounded physicians have plenty of life experiences. They have fought through tragedies, yet find reasons to smile. They demonstrate success and leadership in spite of past failures. Their story may not be glamorous, but they consistently overcome obstacles that would stifle others. Their drive and determination defines who they are. The physician that emphasizes the well being of others over personal gain, that is the physician I plan to be. My path towards becoming a physician has been difficult in order to shape me into a more complete person. These past experiences allow me to sympathize, empathize, and more supportive of patients in the primary care setting. I feel the need to use my personal

On many occasions my personal goals have come before my professional aspirations. A career in the medical field has always been something I have looked forward to. As a child I wanted and dreamed of being a doctor, however due to the choices I made in life and the priorities that I had not thought of, I have come to realize that my childhood dream may not come true. Yet, I was able to compromise and make short and long term goals that will lead me into a career in the medical field. My long term goal is to enter the medical field world and be a respected contributor to it. I want to be able to help others in the time of need. In

I have taken stock of myself, considering my skills, experiences, and goals. I have looked to family and friends, some of whom are doctors, for advice. Because of this self-examination, I have decided to pursue a career in health care. The process has been difficult at times but always illuminating. Throughout it all, I have never lost confidence - the confidence that I will actively absorb all available medical knowledge, forge friendships with fellow students, and emerge from my training as a skilful and caring physician.