All humans seek a happy, healthy life; however, the reality is that life is a series of gains and struggles and we must learn to do the best we can in the face of adversity. One of the most difficult experiences I have ever faced is when my brother was diagnosed with a brain vascular anomaly that presented with severe headaches, to the point where he was no longer able to continue his studies at a university far from our city. He needed to undergo surgery at a hospital with facilities unavailable in our country. I remember clearly all that my father went through to cover the needed expenses. I felt so desperate, seeing him suffering, unable to do anything but hope for his recovery and that impacted my life leading me to pursue Medicine
I believe that, as human paths cross, we can affect others, both for good and for ill. It is this belief, combined with my brother’s experience, that led me to dedicate my path to the good of others. My desire to help people inspired me to contact a doctor in my neighborhood, who taught me first aid protocols and how to deal with minor accidents at home. Eager to learn more I read simple books about the human body and biographies of doctors, and soon, my passion towards medicine started to increase over time and it became my heartfelt dream to become a doctor.
To achieve that goal, I worked hard and got excellent grades in high school, gaining entry to the best school of medicine in my country where I learned how to be humble and competent in my work, and to maintain professionalism. Ever eager to improve my practice, I started to attend the ward rounds with my seniors during my basic science years; I also joined many medical missions to rural areas, organized by my seniors, to help poor communities in my country. Thinking of the smiles on the faces of the people we helped always gives me a warm feeling and encourages me to press on when things get difficult.
Additionally, I attended charity clinics, organized by doctors in my country, to help those who cannot afford to pay for medical advice; here, I built my confidence, care, and communication skills, liaising with patients and colleagues. This experience helped me a lot in terms of my understanding of the concerns and feelings of sick people.
I developed an admiration for Internal Medicine very early during my medical school years. I enjoy solving buzzles and detective stories; I also find myself attracted to challenging situations that needs critical thinking. These traits, in addition to my affinity for helping others, made internal medicine the specialty that appeals to me most. IM is the only specialty that will make me competent in terms of dealing perfectly with a broad spectrum of conditions ranging from mild to deadly ones; cancers, heart, renal, Gl, and others, thus making me helpful for a high percentage of patients.
During and after my Internship I focused on improving my skills in Internal Medicine by working in both inpatient and outpatient settings at different hospitals, and to be involved in active learning and education, I joined my school as a tutor after my graduation. I am currently a Tutor at St. George’s University; Grenada and I facilitate small group learning for basic science medical students. Research is another tool of learning; I did my first research during medical school then I attended workshops to advance my research abilities after which I conducted a study about AIDS-related stigma and another one about anatomical variations of the common carotid artery bifurcation levels, both of them have been submitted for publication.
From the very beginning of my career, I wanted to train well, seeking out settings that would offer me the maximum opportunity to improve my skills in Internal Medicine. I believe that US residency provides exceptional educational opportunities for me to learn. I had the opportunity to do hands on experience at Michigan, Flint for 3 months during which I added a lot to my clinical sense and skills. I’ve become familiar with how the system works, and how the whole organization functions in harmony to serve the patients. This experience made me more determined to continue my Internal Medicine education in the US. I am very thankful for the opportunity to apply for your program and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
