Medical Mentorship Personal Statement

My interest in medicine first stemmed from my freshman Biology class and my Nutrition class. I was intrigued by our studies of cells, genetics, and disease. Both courses incited a sense of awe and curiosity within me. Dissecting a frog, was the stepping-stone for my interest in medicine. Seeing the frog's heart made me wonder how the human heart worked. My research into the human heart inspired me to learn more about the medical field. I sought out volunteer opportunities that would give me insight into a doctor’s typical day. During my volunteer experience, I learned that as a doctor you experience many obstacles, including patient compliance and insurance approval issues. In my journey to pursue medicine, I learned that becoming a doctor means more than helping people, it means being the team leader, being compassionate, and most importantly being committed to the patient’s well being.

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.

As a recent graduate of the Johns Hopkins University and a new Research Technician at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, becoming more familiar with different healthcare settings and helping others in doing so have always been of my interest. From my experience of volunteering as a piano teacher for inner-city children in Baltimore, I have learnt that even a small commitment and emotional support can make a big difference in the daily lives and the happiness of those in need. I have briefly familiarized myself to the hospital environment by shadowing physicians and conducting biomedical research but have yet to translate my volunteering experiences and the lessons learnt from them to the healthcare setting. I am a friendly, optimistic,

Education has played a major role in my life. Growing up I was fortunate enough to have been taught and guided by some truly inspirational teachers, and I appreciate the effect they have had on my life and the choices I made subsequently. My passion for working with students extends from my desire to emulate these role models and inspire others the way I was. This passion for being an educator/mentor has resulted in me having gained a lot of experience in education that will help me in this role as a UW Academy TA.

“Never be a doctor if you’re going to have any loans to pay back.” “Don’t do this to yourself.” “You’ll never have a family if you go to medical school.” “The two worst jobs in America belong to physicians and teachers.” Without even soliciting their advice, physicians noticed my “Pre-medical Volunteer” nametag, and immediately approached me with words of discouragement. I participated in a volunteer summer internship at St. Mary Hospital in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, following my sophomore year of college, in an effort to gain more experience in the medical field and solidify my lifelong desire to become a physician. Throughout the eight weeks, I spent mandatory hours in both the Emergency Room and the Operating Room, made contacts with physicians in specific areas of interest, and spent time shadowing them. In addition, each of us in the program attended weekly business meetings in which administrators of the hospital and local physicians spoke to us about their particular positions and experiences. Unlike the many years of high school I spent volunteering at a hospital and a nursing home, where I was limited to carrying around food trays and refilling cups of water, I was able to gain hands-on and more intimate experience. Initially uneasy at the site of the blood gushing into plastic sheets draped around the orthopedic surgeon’s patient in the OR, it took only a few days to grow accustomed to the images on the television screen during a laparoscopic procedure and the

I am hoping that I get exposed to what a doctor does and (1) see that it's not like the TV shows and (2) hope that I have conversations with the doctors that could provide me with an insight into what it really is to practice medicine. I want to see if I am really prepared to pursue a field of medicine in the future and am hoping the experience at the Houston Methodist hospital will help guide my desire. From what I have gathered from my family doctors, it involves a lot of hard work, determination and long hours. I want to be able to challenge myself and see if I am ready for this profession or not? I believe that my time volunteering should give me a good sense of how things are run

Visiting a hospital and seeing what the children need or playing with them makes them very happy. Volunteering at a hospital lets me see the hospital from an insider's perspective. I am considering a career in a health-related field, volunteering at a hospital provides me with the chance to work with medical professionals and see what their jobs are like in the real world. My first day at the children's hospital was very warm and accepting. I was very anxious to meet the

The experience taught me to work hard to achieve my goal of becoming a doctor and helping as many people as I can. It taught me not to waste my time. All of my dedication has pushed me to be the best person I can be so in the future I can feel confident about all of my choices. Volunteering at Children’s Hospital offered me an experience that pushed me to strive for no less than excellence. By volunteering, I watched my dreams and ambitions get closer, and although the process is a slow and difficult one, every second of it was worth it because I was able to watch everything I value become

Volunteering at Texas Health Presbyterian Plano is my way of giving back to the community while developing critical social skills, and gaining important medical field exposure along the way. It’s an opportunity to change a person’s life, including my own. I volunteered at two hospitals last summer and I’m well acquainted with what volunteering entails and would more than love to do it again. Through this hospital volunteer program, I hope to discover my own passions and talents, while also developing skills that I will utilize throughout my entire high school and college experience.

My passion for medicine is something deeper than a mere interest in learning the extraordinary functions of the human body. I am completely fascinated to learn gross anatomy, histology, pathology, and the complete medical school curriculum. However, I am more captivated by how the knowledge I will gain in medical school will allow me to perform the lifesaving procedures that physicians are able execute. Although, medicine is not always ideally as I have written, I believe that as a physician I would use my knowledge and my experiences to provide the best holistic care to my patients. My culture, my experiences, and my education will bring a different perspective to the medical field. I aspire to have the ability and knowledge to save a child that might not live, to save a woman that suffers a heart stroke, and to even provide the necessary treatment for a child with a mere cold. Additionally, participating in the Loma Linda Gateway to the Health

For as long as I could remember, I have seen my father rushing to the hospital in a white coat, answering pagers in the middle of important family conversations and attending night calls even in the most terrible weather. I had always wondered; what could be so important that it belittles every other responsibility in his life. It was only after many years of anguish and protests that it finally made sense to me. This defining moment of realization occurred when I first met a patient in his office. I saw how the gratitude in the patient’s eyes can provide a sense of fulfillment that triumphs all other feelings in the universe. It was human life that was most important. Being a doctor does not make you a mere healer but also gives you the responsibility of a caregiver. I had never felt more proud of my father and that was the day I felt the urge to relive this feeling many times over. It was there in that moment that I decided to pursue a career in medicine.

During my junior year, connections through Sports Medicine exposed me to the hospital environment. After volunteering for a few hospital events, I decided to apply for a permanent volunteer position at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. I now work on a Med/Surg nursing unit weekly, and I love giving back to my community in this way. The Sports Medicine Program is the educational opportunity that enabled me to explore and expand my passion for serving others, and led me toward pursuing a career in

I began volunteering at the Hospital for Special Surgery, to get an overview of what is is like to work at a hospital. Volunteering at a hospital was an eye opening experience, because I got to encounter how physicians, and medical staff communicate, and listen to their patients. These two skills are essential to understand patient needs, and therefore make the right decisions in diagnosing diseases. My role at the hospital was to provide snacks, beverages, and aid kits to patients, families, and medical staff. I have witnessed families that stayed up long nights, because they had loved ones undergo surgery. Any person that has a loved one undergo surgery becomes worried and scared, because of the uncertainty that lies ahead. However, the imperative skills that I have learned and exceeded on was my communication skills. Communicating with these families, and patients was exceedingly important, because you have to place yourself in their shoes to understand the situation they are in. I met young patients, as young as 5 years old, that were in the hospital for days recovering from surgery, or undergoing

I would like to enter the Anatomy & Physiology Mentorship program because I am interested in entering the medical field when I attend college, and I also want to go to medical school after obtaining a degree in college. Entering the medical field and becoming a medical professional for me is an excellent opportunity to help the people in need and those who require care and safety above anything else. Joining the mentorship program will let me experience firsthand the challenges, opportunities, and skills that are necessary to become a medical professional. From the mentorship program, I hope to gain medical experience that will strengthen my understanding of the medical environment. I also want to gain an insight into how medical professionals behave and

No longer was I a little girl playing dress up with my mom, I got to meet with patients and read clinical charts. The internship showed me a glimpse of my future. Waking up 6 hours before I normally would in the summer and spending 12 or more hours in the hospital each day seemed daunting, but instead increased my determination to be a physician. It showed me the physical demands of the jobs in the health care field, with long hours and extensive walking from floor to floor, but helped me become more mentally prepared for the future. After I saw the joy in some patients’ faces when told they were cured, I was convinced beyond a doubt of my career choice.