Demo

"The education of the doctor which goes on after he has his degree is, after all, the most important part of his education." - John Shaw Billings, M.D.

As Dr. Billings suggests, I also strongly believe that my education as a doctor did not finish when I completed my medical school years but rather, it is just beginning now as I embark on this life long journey in my chosen field of medicine.

From the very start of my clinical years, I decided to dedicate my study to the complex discipline of Internal Medicine. Through this clerkship, I was given the unique opportunity to establish valuable relationships with patients while taking detailed medical histories and performing physical examinations. Also, during my clinical rounds, I was able to distinguish myself by reaching logically formulated differentials and establishing effective disease management plans for my patients. Furthermore, the experience in Internal medicine did not only teach me the pathology of diseases, but it also taught me the importance of special bonds that develop between physicians and their patients. Attending to the emotional and psychological aspects of my patients' illnesses was a commitment in each of my encounters. One case which stuck with me was during my last two weeks in Gastroenterology when I cared for a young patient suffering from complications of Ulcerative Colitis. Every morning I would wake her to inquire about her condition and perform a physical exam. Instead of being annoyed at the disturbance, she came to see me as an integral component of her care and looked to me for decisions in her care.

Aside from working well with patients, one of my greatest strengths as emphasized by my preceptor, is the ability to get along with colleagues. The patience, love and care I displayed when working with my team members and patients alike has been a strength in my character which was rewarded by the trust of those around me. By listening without interruption and offering advice when the need arose, I got to inspire the best out of all people whose lives I was able to touch. For most of my two years in clinical rotations, I walked new students around the hospital for orientation; I helped them prepare for a good history/physical examination; and I taught them how write thorough patient notes. As a result for my hard work and effort, I was appointed to organize most of the case presentations for students in my group.

Moreover, considering my strength in interpersonal relationships, Internal Medicine is ideal for me because it offers interactions with patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Internal Medicine is the perfect medium through which I can develop the clinical skills and judgment that requires a more thorough knowledge than other primary care specialties. As a future resident in this field, I intend to build upon the foundation laid in medical school and become a skilled physician in my field of choice. The past four years have taught me much; as I have successfully been able to balance my family life with the rigors of medical school and acquiring the attributes required to function effectively under stress. Needless to say, I have found myself extremely busy with studies and responsibilities, but my love of medicine and my desire to achieve my professional goals provided me with the willingness to overcome any challenge placed in the way to achieving my goal.

My plan for the future is to join a residency program where academics, research, and solid clinical training are well balanced. My hope is to become a member of a diligent and enthusiastic team that stresses collaboration while encouraging a pursuit towards excellence. It is through the rigorous challenges of such a program that I desire to be trained to become a competent and compassionate physician in internal medicine. I look forward to the next phase of my training with great excitement and strong commitment.

Dr. Doe, overall this Personal Statement was a very well composed one with a lot of ideas which were nicely explained with supporting information. While I have reported the large significant changes, I might have made some grammatical, spelling, or technical changes which are not necessarily marked due to their insignificance in comparison to the rest. There are few things that await your input. Lastly, I would like to remind you that any and all changes are subject to your review and you are free to accept/reject them as you see fit. In the end, this is your Personal Statement and only you know best what you would like to have in it and how you want to phrase it. Thank you and good luck!!!