Osteopathic Personal Statement

Describe the top three reasons you have chosen osteopathic medicine as your professional choice in becoming a physician (Please use your own description and not one that widely describes the profession).

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter in support of Johan Garel, PA-C and his desire to attend osteopathic medical school. Though many prospective students ask me to make this request on their behalf, I only recommend individuals whom I feel are highly motivated and well-suited for the program of their choice. I have had the pleasure of working with Johan Garel for more than a year in the emergency room. Johan is one of those individuals who is, clearly dedicated to the study and practice of the medicine. Therefore, I highly recommend that he be given the opportunity to attend your institution.

Hello Mr. Williams, my name is Paris Turner and I’ll be your osteopathic physician today. Some background information about me is that I went through four years of basic medical education and also a specific training on osteopathic manipulative treatment which was very hands on but overall you’ll stay in school for 11 to 18 years, in my case I stayed in school for 11 years at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, now it does seem like a long time to be in school, which it is but in the end it pays off because my salary is about 140,000 to 300,000 and if you didn’t know this information it is no surprise because not many people are familiar with what an osteopathic physician is able do but it’s just an off branch career

It was not until the last quarter of my fourth year at college that osteopathic medicine appeared on my radar again. At this time, I began to understand what it truly was. Volunteering at St. John’s gave me the opportunity to gain further exposure in the medical field. During my time at St. John’s, something always seemed missing while I observed allopathic physicians. The limited number of osteopaths at St. John’s did not make exposure to their style of medicine easy. However, with the help of Fr. Calin, the Spiritual Care manager, I was able to make contact with an osteopathic physician, Dr. Wolfsohn.

Through the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Mentor Program I was able to meet Dr. Phuc Huynh, DO, an osteopathic physician specializing in family medicine, who was excited to share his profession with me. Through Dr. Huynh’s mentorship, I was able to gain a higher understanding of the osteopathic profession and witness how it will allow me to practice compassionate, patient-centered medicine.

Discovering the practice of osteopathic medicine and how it aligns with my future professional goal as a physician of viewing patients from a comprehensive perspective was made possible through my interactions with representatives of this branch of medicine. I was first introduced to osteopathic medicine when I was a student research intern at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). As an intern, I had the opportunity to attend the 2015 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Graduate and Professional School Fair and speak with an AACOM representative as well as admission representatives of different osteopathic medical schools. After reading informational booklets from osteopathic medical programs and investigating the

My past experiences in Asian Pacific Health Corps serving those in the San Gabriel Valley and Kids Come First Community Health Center serving those in the Inland Empire have inspired me to become a physician who is dedicated in making a difference amongst medically underserved populations. These experiences have exposed me to the unique health issues those in Southern California are facing and introduced me to the diverse population I want to ultimately serve. I am excited at the potential to further develop this passion at a medical school committed to service, as I have seen medical students from WesternU-COMP volunteering their time to perform osteopathic manipulative treatments at APHC’s health fairs. I look forward to volunteering as a student leader in organizations at WesternU-COMP, such as Pomona Homeless Outreach Program, and encouraging my classmates to get involved with community service projects to extend their learning beyond the classroom. WesternU-COMP’s innovative curriculum, early clinical experiences, supportive environment, and state-of-the-art facilities will prepare me to be a well-rounded leader in the ever-evolving field of medicine. With a reputation of graduating students matching into their residencies of choice, I can be assured that WesternU-COMP will help me to reach my career

My decision to pursue medicine and more specifically osteopathy was made fairly recently as I began to learn about osteopathic medicine in the last two years of my undergraduate career. Studying exercise physiology through my undergraduate career exposed me to a variety of healthcare philosophies, all using different methods and having different outcomes, but rooted in the same goals of improving a person’s well being. Exploring the nuances of nutrition, fitness and the applications of exercise clearly defined the difference between medicine and health and also showed me that it was possible to bring the two closer together in order to improve overall wellness. This understanding deepened my interest in preventative healthcare and I began to explore specific fields like integrative medicine and corporate wellness.

tested and licensed through the same state licensing boards required to practice medicine in all

As of now, my mind is still open to considering the various specialties that medicine has to offer. It would be naïve of me to know the specialty I plan on obtaining before I have even begun my graduate medical education; however, I do have some ideas. I have a mild interest in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery.

Osteopathic medicine was first introduced by a doctor named Andre Taylor in Kirksville Missouri during the 1800’s because he noticed that the current medical practices were not promoting a healthy recovery. (“What is osteopathic,” 2017). Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the incorporation of every system in the body as well as focusing on the “preventive care and allowing the body to heal without overuse of medication” (“Two kinds of,” 2015). Osteopathic physicians (DO’s) use a holistic approach when they are interacting with their patient (“What is osteopathic,”2017). Furthermore, they look at the person as a whole and incorporate their unique background when treating the patient (“What is osteopathic,” 2017).

I learned about osteopathic medicine when my father had a stroke and lost his ability to speak and walk in last February. My father’s doctor introduced us to the "Omid Physical Rehabilitation Clinic" to work with the speech therapist. In the first of visit of rehab specialist doctor, I noticed that the way of his disease diagnosis was different from the other medical doctors. He used simple physical exercises/stretches, which made me ask him questions about those techniques. He explained about Osteopathic Manipulative treatment (OMT), which was the first time that I heard of it. To familiarize myself with this type of medicine, I asked to shadow in his clinic, which eventually inspired me to apply for osteopathic medicine. Throughout my observation, I learned about the philosophy of osteopathy including, holistic view of a patient.

Thank you for making time to speak with me yesterday during my interview at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. I truly enjoyed listening to a professor who is as invested in his school as you are and not only has an answer to the question “what brought you here?” but also “what keeps you here?” Your answer was a testament of the great community of professors and students at UNECOM. Doctors can best learn to provide patient-centered care by professors who provide student-centered teaching. Having professors who truly care about there students is rare to find, but after speaking to you in my interview, I could see your commitment to training quality doctors.

Osteopathic medicine is an embodiment of the philosophy that as unique individuals diagnosis and treatment should encompass all aspects of that person including mind, body, and spirit. This holistic approach to medicine allows the physician to create more direct and individualized protocols in treating various patients. It also incorporates the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine, yet another tool to align the body and create the most ideal environment to heal. A defining aspect of osteopathic medicine is the desire to comprehensively assess and treat the underlying cause and not simply attempt to mask the symptoms. Osteopathic physicians treat through a combination of the body's natural ability and desire to heal itself with the

I first discovered osteopathic medicine when my cousin invited me to his medical school graduation. This different aspect of medicine caught my interest as its philosophy of medicine focuses on