Jorge's Pumas

They serve as pillars of wisdom and guidance while exhibiting communication adroitness with care teams and patients to engineer top-notch medical care. To maintain high standards, effective medical professionals are constantly taking in new information through continuing education, placing providers at the pinnacle of knowledge. Moreover, physicians require affective aptitude as they must convey empathy during patient interactions. All these attributes draw me to seek the personal challenge and resulting responsibilities that are demanded. I desire to become an important contribution to society in a field I am passionate

Throughout my experience as a surgical patient, I always noticed three things my medical team never failed to perform: inform, educate, and care for me. Through my frequent visits to the hospital I began to notice that these ideals were essential in every successful physician-patient relationship. As I progressed in my career as a student, I came to realize that the academic and extracurricular activities I was involved in were helping me perform those very qualities.

Contrary to the belief that medicine should be solely clinical in order to preserve professionalism, narrative medicine is rapidly growing in the medical world and opposes clinical medicine by incorporating feelings and connections. Narrative medicine is the idea that doctors should be empathetic and must learn their patient’s story to build bonds that assist in curing the patient of illness, while supporting them mentally and emotionally. Rita Charon, a distinguished physician and professor at Columbia University, states “narrative medicine proposes an ideal of care and provides the conceptual and practical mean to strive toward that idea” (Charon). Medicine is often a difficult puzzle to solve, but being a genuine, caring human being is not. In his heart gripping book, The Measure of Our Days, Jerome Groopman explores the patient physician relationship giving insightful knowledge on the decision making in diagnosis and in treatment of different patients, but more importantly being a benevolent person. One consistent piece in Groopman’s puzzle of medicine is compassion, as he promotes it in every aspect of his career because it helps the victims of illness and disease understand their ailments, accept their fate, all the while building trust with their physicians. In Groopman’s retelling of his and his patient’s intertwined quest for cures and treatments, he exhibits the necessity of narrative medicine’s transgression into medicine for both physicians and patients.

CCOM’s strong values and mission of the promotion of the practice of osteopathic medicine would provide me with the knowledge of the science of healthcare. But as we all know, knowledge is only part of what it takes to be a successful physician. I believe I can fill this gap because of my understanding of the art of healthcare. Knowing how to work with colleagues and patients is something that all physicians will be faced with. I believe being able to do this effectively has the ability to set you apart as a physician. Obstacles I've overcome in my life have laced me with compassion and a deep understanding of people and life's ups and downs. Being relatable when working with a diverse population of people is something that comes from experience

Pre-Med majors play a quintessential role in today’s society and in every community. In fact, society relies on doctors to help heal the sick. Without doctors, every community would struggle to find safe and effective treatment for their health concerns. As a Pre-Med student with a future career in medicine, I will have the opportunity to be a servant to other people. In fact, one of my passions is to help people overcome unhealthy habits and guide injured patients through recovery. In lieu of this, I believe that doctors have the capacity to change society for the better. Not only are doctors entrusted with helping patients heal, they give advice on how to live a healthier and happier life. Hopefully, the healthy lifestyle advice that doctors should give to their patients will be passed on for generations. In turn, this

As the daughter of a healthcare professional, medicine was a constant throughout my life; however, my understanding and motivation to pursue this career came from my experiences. As I explored medicine by shadowing various physicians, I realized that developing trusting relationships with patients was the first vital aspect of medicine. Whether traveling to rural Honduras on a medical brigade, volunteering at a clinic for the uninsured, or serving as a camp counselor for children with IBD, I realized everyone wanted to be cared for by a doctor whom they could trust to provide quality care. This trust begins with listening to health problems and the patient’s social issues to put the symptoms in the proper perspective. Establishing this patient

A career in medicine is not only a career in treating illness, but also a career in education and research. During the next year I plan to continue working with Dr. Alexander Morden in his medical practice as I have for the past year. Working with Dr. Morden has taught me more about the medical profession than any other experience that I have had. Through observation of physician patient interactions and performing my functional duties as a medical secretary, I am constantly exposed to new medical terminologies,treatment regimes, pharmacology, and most importantly, patients. I have also been introduced to the importance of medical billing, coding, and practice management. I intend to enhance my role at the office by training to become a medical

Formerly a student athlete, I am well accustomed to working as a member of a team and understanding that each individual has an important role to play when working towards a common goal. My background in public health has helped me discern that an individual’s health involves much more than their genetic and physiologic profile. Moreover, it has given me the skills necessary to reach not only my patients, but also the community as a whole. Furthermore, as a graduate of St. George’s University I’ve had the unique privilege to work alongside students and faculty from over 140 countries around the world. This experience has allowed me to cultivate a much broader worldview, and to develop the skills necessary to practice medicine in the ever diversifying communities of

As a member of the Texas D.O. pre-med organization at UT I was able to shadow a Dr. Georgeanne Freeman, DO, owner of the Downtown Doctors clinic. In the exam room I could immediately tell that Dr. Freeman had a close relationship with her patients. The first few minutes were spent talking about the patient's life, family, or hobbies. Easing medicine into the conversation made the patients feel more comfortable with the visit. This was the first time I witnessed the compassionate physician-patient relationship that I’ve envisioned myself sharing with my patients. What motivates me to become a D.O., is that the whole-person approach to medicine advocates D.O.’s to have interpersonal relationship with patients, which I witnessed with Dr. Freeman.

The Masters of Biomedical Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine will help me enhance my professional and scientific knowledge toward my preparation into medical school. This program will allow me to immerse myself in a patient-centered service learning to further prepare me to tackle future rigorous medical obstacles in medical school and as a future physician. I’m looking forward to working with a diverse group of individuals who also have the same aspirations and values. Taking an oath to help the health of a patient you encounter in need, is a selfless act I aspire to obtain. I have the love and empathy to care for another human being which has provided me with the passion and tenacity to have empiricism this far in my medical journey

While working in the lab, I, for the first time in my life, felt that my work and accomplishments were serving something larger than myself. When the time came to leave the lab I viewed the experience fondly, however, in the time since I have come to realize that as much as I enjoyed my experiences I what I really enjoy is the human side of medicine and the interaction with patients on a daily basis; I missed “Sue” and the reward that came from knowing who I was helping personally. For me the most important part of medicine is the people. At some point each of us made the decision that the need to heal patients and to help people was strong enough to decide to dedicate our lives to medicine. It’s what drives every physician, and researcher to keep working, even if a trial did not go the way they wanted or a patient is not responding to treatment. In English the original Hippocratic Oath reads in part “I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being”. When I first read this I was reminded why medicine is so unique and why I decided to go on this journey originally. It is this belief that continues to give me the strength to continue even when I am knocked down. It is what I see every time I shadow a doctor and how I try to model myself in my life. Because of these experiences, I have come to the absolute

This interest was inspired by my experiences over the summer. I have been shadowing an internal medicine doctor at her private practice in Irvine, as well as a gastroenterologist at a community clinic in Irvine. These opportunities deepened my understanding of a doctor’s various responsibilities – as a compassionate healthcare provider, and as a caring educator.

Various positions in the medical field desperately need reviving and filling, along with caring hearts to enable a new era of medicine. This permits a person to consider a great career that has numerous perks and a wonderful sense of giving back to the community. The rewards of being a part of the medical field go beyond a paycheck, and the inclination to help those who need medical attention. An opportunity to make a difference in a patient’s life comes in several forms and by various positions in the field. Amazing doctors, with great bedside manners, are always in high demand, and are crucial in selecting the correct treatment for a patient.

As a writer, I can offer a unique perspective. For example, when I plan stories, I must consider several factors such as culture and personality traits to design how the characters I create will realistically respond to various situations. These holistic thinking skills that I have developed over time coincide well with a physician’s treatment of the whole person. As a physician and writer, grasping this understanding of people’s psychological and social dimensions is critical to best care for them. In summary, interpreting medicine as an art of transforming empathy and science into healing is an outlook that I can contribute at GW.

Many institutions can provide a plethora of resources, exposure to various hospitals, and time with medical professionals. After all, these institutions are designed explicitly to create doctors of an acceptable caliber. Few institutions, however, seek to develop the healer in the doctor. Though medicine is a highly technical field with new procedures and medicine to be studied, it is a viscerally humane exercise. At the end of the day, medical professionals, especially D.O.s, must deal with the patient’s mind, body, and soul, together. This certainly cannot be done with a sterilized, objective mindset.