I am a well-qualified physician and have considerable experience in practicing general medicine in India and substantial recent exposure to the US medical environment. I now feel ready to undertake an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency in a challenging but supportive environment.
I excelled in science in high school, especially in biology and physics. I also wanted to have a career that involved contact with people and the opportunity to help them, so a medical career seemed an excellent choice. Such a choice involves a great deal of demanding work in any country, especially in India, since only 0.1% of senior secondary students seeking entry to medical school succeed in gaining admission. The medical school entrance examinations are fiercely competitive. I am immensely proud to be part of the small proportion that persevered, which is a good indicator of my determination, intelligence, and diligence.
While still in high school in India, I volunteered to work in a primary care hospital in the countryside. I met a wonderful and inspiring doctor who used to devote half his working time to providing free treatment to needy patients. He showed me that medicine is a vocation and not merely a career choice, and I have always treated my work as such. He also fired an interest in equitable healthcare access and the problems of providing care to the poor and underserved, and my interest in helping to resolve this problem remains with me.
During my undergraduate studies, I took every opportunity to join voluntary projects. Projects in which I was involved included blood donation camps, Aids awareness camps, and ‘Pulse Polio.’ I learned a great deal about the importance of health education and preventative medicine and retained a great interest in these vital aspects of treatment.
My first internal medicine experience came from conducting research at Motilal Nehru Hospital. I was fortunate to observe several excellent internists and immediately felt that this was the specialty that would most suit my skills and characteristics and where I could do the best. I enjoy having substantial direct patient contact; I get on well with patients of all ages and types, especially children whose company I appreciate and who I love putting at ease. I am aware that effective treatment can only follow an accurate diagnosis and that diagnostics is an art requiring patient listening, remarkable observation, and other skills, such as an appreciation of the importance of non-verbal signals. My career has provided me with substantial exposure to various conditions and patient types that will help me to hit the ground running in a Medpeds residency. MedPeds attracts me because of the breadth of experience and exposure, the variety in the working day, and the opportunity to apply the critical diagnostic and bedside skills I have developed in my work. It also provides the opportunity to offer primary care to underserved communities.
I have undertaken some practical medical research in the past, and I regard myself as having the characteristics of determination, curiosity, lateral thinking, and diligence necessary for successful research. I look forward to assisting with research during the residency. I am particularly interested in investigating the potential applications of alternate technologies in providing healthcare to the underserved, especially telemedicine. I am also interested in the effects of the ‘aging population’ and in finding effective ways to deal with this new phenomenon. I hold a US master's degree in health administration and am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in this discipline. These studies have provided me with an excellent understanding of healthcare provision in the US that will serve me well during my residency and beyond. They have also helped to hone my existing research skills.
I am fully aware of the need for exceptional cultural awareness and sensitivity in healthcare provision. Since arriving in the US, I have happily worked and socialized with people of many cultural and social backgrounds, and I look forward to extending this experience during my residency. I come from a rural location and know that country people are friendly, honest, and open. It is my hope to serve in a rural community that is currently underserved in healthcare.
I know that there will be many well-qualified applicants for MedPeds residency positions. However, I am an exceptional candidate. I have a good practical grounding in medicine and am an experienced researcher. Still, my main recommendation is a real passion for this specialty and a determination to acquire the specialist skills and knowledge to become an excellent practitioner.
Med Peds Residency Personal Statement