MEDICINE RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT

“ BEEP!, BEEP!, BEEP!,” cried the annoying pager. I looked around in a half conscious state, blinking and disoriented, not recognizing my surroundings. This wasn’t my bedroom? It was my last medicine call of my medicine clerkship. I climbed out of bed, rubbing my head, trying to remember why I wasn’t in my own bedroom at this moment. As my feet pulled me towards the intensive care unit, I remembered the purpose for this. It was to assist the ill while being respected as a physician and a person.

I remembered entering medical school with the intention of pursuing internal medicine, a specialty that would satisfy my desire to be a strong advocate for adults as well as associate physicians. I remember the enjoyment of seeing patients improve after methodically figuring out how to nurse them back to health. Internal medicine allows one to use their knowledge and the resources provided to them to figure out the problematic nature of diseases. The exercise of treating a challenging array of diseases and working with adults is the reason I am fond of internal medicine.

Continuing down the hall, I passed the rooms where I had spent teaching patients about improving their health, and avoiding the long term complications of many diseases. Teaching is a passion I developed in my undergraduate years, which is continued as a medical student through patient instruction. This enthusiasm will carry forward, through residency to include medical student training.

I now pushed through the doors. The patient was positioned on his back and his head ready for intubation. I was surprised at the quickness with which I entered the equation and helped start the peripheral intravenous site and monitor the patient’s vital signs [want to add more than simply an IV—which is often a nursing task]. It was at this moment I felt confident and ready for a future in internal medicine. My goal is to train at a large academically oriented institution with a rich and challenging environment in which to learn. Furthermore internal medicine allows one to be exposed to a diverse amount of patients and diseases, and to be at the dynamic forefront of new medicines and treatments.

I look forward to bringing a true sense of commitment, enthusiasm, integrity, and ability to my residency program. My clerkship in internal medicine has taught me through patient feedback how important it is to have a good relationship with them in order for them to comply and improve their well being. I have proven myself of compassionate, competent care during my clinical years.

My eyes now were wide open, from that night, and my mind and body were now one and I was no longer disoriented. A residency in internal medicine will allow me to be an advocate, a teacher, and especially a competent physician. Now it is not uncertainty with which I move forward, but with the excitement and anticipation for the challenges and rewards of a successful career in internal medicine.