RADIATION ONCOLOGY PERSONAL STATEMENT

          It turns out that flat feet and bad toes can teach you a lot.  Despite several years of dedication to ballet my hard work never really paid off in that field.  I never starred in Swan Lake and was never invited to tour with the prestigious American Ballet Company.  Yet, in many ways, those years of lessons, practices, successes and failures provide me with a meaningful context for the dynamics of the patient-oncologist relationship.  The critical juxtaposition of intellect and empathy required of oncologists greatly resembles a balancing act—one in which high levels of scholastic achievement and equally high levels of compassion are necessary to earn the trust of the patient. In Radiation Oncology, I have witnessed these oft-competing character traits and developed a profound respect for those who skillfully achieve that balance and effectively treat the whole patient.

I was initially drawn to oncology through my research at Large University.  As a research intern in molecular virology, I became increasingly interested in the role of proto-oncogenes in cancer. In my first year of medical school, my interests expanded to include the pathophysiology and treatment of human malignancies. Ultimately, however, it has been my work at St. Elsewhere Children’s Research Hospital that solidified my desire to become a radiation oncologist.  While researching late effects of therapy for childhood cancers, I worked with [sounds more active than simply shadowed] many of the oncologists at the hospital.  I was immediately fascinated by the ability of the radiation oncologists to form an individualized treatment plan by blending knowledge of the anatomy, pathology, histology, and stage of the disease with the patient’s treatment history and co-morbidities. As I watched an IMRT planning session for a patient with retinoblastoma, I knew how I wanted to practice medicine.

            Throughout my clinical years, I have continued my research at St. Elsewhere and have taken every opportunity to work with clinicians involved in all aspects of cancer treatment. Participation on Heme/Onc, BMT, and Gyn-Onc teams has allowed me to better appreciate the multi-discipline approach that is necessary for complete patient care.  I particularly valued my time with a pain management team and local hospice organization.  Working with both pediatric and adult hospice patients, I developed a new respect

for end-of-life issues as well as a desire to provide palliative care medicine.  I became comfortable discussing not only treatment plans with patients, but also their anxieties, reservations, and hopes. Through my Radiation Oncology rotations at the Cancer Center and West University, I was exposed to a diversity of patients and diagnoses unmatched by my previous clinical experiences. The rotations provided an opportunity for me to participate in procedures ranging from intraoperative partial breast irradiation to Cyberknife for an AVM.  I left each gratified to be part of a treatment modality that obtained surgeon-like accuracy with a comprehensive knowledge of cancer biology and basic science.
I chose Radiation Oncology because it is a specialty that balances the qualities I value most in a physician. It is an intellectually challenging discipline that requires a high level of independent thought and analysis as well as strong interpersonal skills.  Experiences in both the arts and medicine have helped me develop the ability to think abstractly, pay strict attention to detail, and effectively communicate with both patients and colleagues. A radiation oncologist must integrate a broad base of clinical knowledge across organ systems with the technical innovations of radiation therapy. My academic and clinical performances indicate I am up to that challenge.  Ultimately, both my dedication to intellectual development and warm bedside manner will enable me to be an integral component of a multi-discipline treatment team as well as provide compassionate care to my patients.