A formative experience initially prompted my interest in pediatrics during my rotation in the specialty. I was involved in a complex case of a newborn with multiple congenital anomalies and a cyanotic attack. Because of her critical condition, she was referred to most pediatric subspecialties, such as neurology, G.I., cardiovascular, and genetics. This exposed me to all pediatric fields over a brief period. I did a great deal of personal research on this case and made a primary diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18. I was delighted when the results of the chromosomal analysis of the blood sample matched for trisomy thirteen. Unfortunately, my little patient died at 44 days. Treating her, however, fired in me a passion for pediatric medicine involving as it does the most vulnerable of patients. During the past year, I have worked as a pediatric resident in one of the finest hospitals in Saudi Arabia. I have worked with children in inpatient wards, E.R., and clinics, and I have realized that I not only enjoy communicating with and reassuring children and their families but also have a particular facility for doing so. These experiences have strongly confirmed my decision to pursue this specialty. So, I'm now looking for exposure to a larger population than that currently available to me to broaden my experience. I recently spent a month in Canada and immensely enjoyed my visit, which exposed me to people from a wide variety of ethnic and social backgrounds. I have also had the good fortune to work with alums of Canadian universities who have an excellent work ethic and broad, up-to-date knowledge. So, I would like to ask for more training, specifically in Canada. My academic results and professional experience will help me to excel and distinguish myself in a residency program and, more importantly, provide excellent professional care. I work happily in a team and seek to share my knowledge and skill and aim to profit from colleagues' experiences. I am aware that I shall be required to adapt very quickly to a new working environment in a culture to which I have had only limited exposure. However, I am adaptable and friendly, working happily in teams with people of different ethnicities and social backgrounds in my home country. I'm excited to extend such exposure in Canada. I plan to undertake research in pulmonology. I volunteered in this area for a campaign to control H1N1 and TB. As I have worked in an academic hospital, I have had the opportunity to teach; I have enjoyed doing so and have been remarkably effective in this role. I plan to continue to combine teaching with practice throughout my career. A residency providing a broad and varied patient base will assist me in achieving my goals and enable me to share the knowledge acquired with new generations of pediatric specialists. I know there will be competition from many well-qualified applicants. Still, my professional experience and, most importantly, my passion for this specialty make me an exceptional candidate. Thank you for considering my application for a residency position in Pediatrics in Canada. Residency Pediatrics Personal Statement, Canada, CARMS

I was raised in a small town in Russia, but my education took me away to the big city from the age of fifteen forward to work and study. I studied hard and eventually became a practicing ophthalmologist. For years, I was a teenager alone in Moscow, independent, self-supporting, and giving everything to my career in medicine. My decision to enter medicine was a coalescence of several driving forces, especially my admiration and respect for the noble work of doctors and my keen appreciation for advances in medicine. The ability to cure disease has long been my primary fascination. As a child living through the illnesses of my grandparents, I wanted to be able to do something to help them. Later, as a medical student, my interest in surgery took flight when my grandfather needed vitreoretinal surgery in the hospital due to his diabetic retinopathy. I went with him and supported him and even made connections: my grandfather’s ophthalmologist would later introduce me to Professor XXXX at Moscow’s Institute of Eye Disease, and he went on to become a significant mentor, introducing me to primary texts and guiding the continuing complexity of my reading. I attended clinics with him, watched him in the operating room, and felt at home with his procedures and the scientific method. As I entered my third year of medical studies, I knew I wanted to find a specialty that would allow me to work directly with patients. I tried to master a field that would facilitate my in-depth exploration of innovative technologies. I became a member of the Students Ophthalmology Society, which led to my making a presentation at a regional conference that helped to illustrate many of the opportunities presented by careers in Ophthalmology. My fourth-year Ophthalmology rotation confirmed my commitment to this extraordinary window of medicine. I chose Ophthalmology because of its intimate relationships with internal medicine, rheumatology, endocrinology, neurology, surgery, pediatrics, and genetics. While small, the visual system is extraordinarily complex, with a vast spectrum of disease processes and abnormalities. I earned a Ph.D. in Ophthalmology in Russia, in addition to the M.D., primarily because I hoped to stay engaged on some level with research opportunities throughout my career. Frankly, I long for the exciting days of my residency at the Moscow Eye Disease Institute, doing extensive research into proliferative diseases of the eye, such as PDR, ROP, and post-traumatic retinopathy. We were looking for the initial (crucial) path mechanism of all these proliferative diseases. I also studied the effects of various rates of oxygen administration on the cell proliferative activity of retinal cells. During my international internship in Germany at the Eye Clinic of XXXX University, I had a rotation in general ophthalmology under Professor XXXX and another in the Vitreoretinal Department with Professor XXXX. Everything I learned -- from optics and anterior segment to glaucoma, plastics, retina, and neuro-ophthalmology -- fascinated me. I experienced the day-to-day activities of an ophthalmologist in a prominent academic center for two years. It was here that I became a fully accredited eye doctor. I have not worked as a medical doctor since I finished my internship in Germany with the Eye Clinic of Cologne University three years ago. Since then, I have made my home in Brooklyn after marrying an American man; I have a wonderful family and now feel very strongly that it is time for me to fully return to my professional aspirations in America after having distinguished myself professionally in Russia, Iceland, and Germany. I now have my family affairs arranged in such a way to be able to give my all to my professional position. I have made solid progress with my USMLE; while I have not attained scores as high as I would have liked, this has much to do with the fact that my education was in Russian, and my latest position as a medical doctor was in German. However, I have made an enormous stride in my English ability and feel qualified for a residency position. Being very friendly is one of my significant assets, and I am a highly self-motivated person with a great passion for my work. I hope to be interviewed for your outstanding program. Residency in Ophthalmology Personal Statement

I focused my life early on becoming the finest surgeon possible. It is the most intellectually exciting avenue of medical inquiry. Surgery, for me, is the practice of medicine at its full fruition. I shall always take delight in constant improvement. I love general surgery because it keeps my curiosity constantly engaged, coupled with the profound satisfaction of making such a critical difference for the better in someone’s life. As a Saudi Arabian who went to medical school in Jordan, I look forward to contributing to the diversity of your program and having the honor of giving my all to your institution. Arduous work for long hours under pressure is my first love. With two years of experience in general surgery in Saudi Arabia and now in Toronto, I have sufficient knowledge to make essential contributions to your medical team. I will always be highly conscious of his duty to society as a medical professional. This is why I dedicated countless hours to providing medical care for needy people in Saudi Arabia and in Jordan: through my participation in campaigns against TB and breast cancer. I participated in the Free Health Care Day for the community in Jordan. I am a highly disciplined physician who loves challenges very much. I am incredibly determined to reach my goals and never give up on what I have committed to. I find it extremely rewarding to step into a patient’s room and see them regaining their life. I seek to minimize patients’ discomfort when this is not the case. I distinguish myself by my attention to detail in the care of my patients. Perhaps being raised by a father who was an officer in the Saudi Air Force helped me grow up quickly and become an earnest and disciplined young man dedicated to social service through medicine. I am also pleased to have had the experience of spending so much time in Jordan, with such a rich cultural tapestry. This increased my sensitivity to cultural diversity and helped me better understand the need to adapt to new social norms and surroundings. I performed well in Medical School, so I was awarded a scholarship from the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education to cover all my educational expenses. During my last year in Medical School, I had the chance to do a rotation in Pediatric Surgery at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Here, I found myself as a professional, a member of this Canadian surgical team with such an elevated level of expertise. This experience helped to establish my addiction to surgery, and I now crave long hours in the operating room. I want the adrenaline rush that I get every time I scrub up. I live for the satisfaction I feel after seeing my patient doing well in post-operative, the sense of camaraderie. I have now been doing general surgery for 18 months and have participated in a broad diversity of surgical procedures, from complex Whipple procedures to delicate parathyroidectomy, and even robotic laparoscopic hemicolectomies. Going into surgery is a rich and novel experience. I thrive on learning something new and enhancing my operative skills, which has helped me to receive excellent evaluations as a surgeon. I am primarily engaged with the vascular aspects of general surgery, specifically endovascular intervention, as I find this to be the single most challenging issue on both technical and psychological levels. The miracle of bringing dead limbs to life is the center of my research curiosity. And I am particularly enthused about the prospect of using new advances in vascular surgery to assist people with diabetes who are at risk for amputation. I see myself as a health advocate, a researcher, and a teacher. In addition to medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, and in my spare time, I sometimes scuba dive. This burns off any stress I might accrue. I also enjoy cooking and continuing culinary traditions I carry with me from my youth on the coast of the Red Sea. I want to become part of a dynamic residency program that will tax me to the fullest. At the same time, providing me with the highest level of professional advancement that I most thrive on, the opportunity to become a better surgeon every day. I met my lovely wife while doing her surgical rotation with our team. She’s now applying for a position in Diagnostic Radiology at your respected institute. We would be incredibly honored to join. I hope to meet you and speak at length about how I can contribute to your surgical team. Residency Personal Statement General Surgery

I was born and raised in Uzbekistan and now reside in California. I hold an M.D. degree awarded by Tashkent Medical University in 1992 and later earned a Ph.D. from the Scientific Research Institute of Pulmonology and Physiology both in Uzbekistan. I am a highly experienced physician and researcher, and I now seek the opportunity to practice family medicine in the U.S. My early goals were: to become a highly qualified physician so that I could help people, especially the poor, or to become a medical scientist so that I could advance medical knowledge assisting many people, as did my hero, the Persian physician Avicenna , and, finally, to become the Minister of Health of Uzbekistan so that I could oversee an improvement in the availability of health services. I qualified as a physician and became involved in successful medical research. While it is most unlikely that I will ever be selected to serve as Uzbekistan's Minister of Health, I could share some thoughts about sinology with the Minister of Health in Uzbekistan. So, my childhood dreams are becoming reality. I have acquired vast experience in various branches of medicine and research since finishing medical school and have served in several settings. I am also published in several areas. However, I can best apply my talents and satisfy my vocational aspirations most fully by treating patients directly and especially as a family doctor. I love dealing directly with patients and treating patients of every generation and of different social backgrounds. My goal is to become a family practitioner in a rural area of the United States. As a newly qualified physician, I treated country people in my homeland and admired their honesty, kindness, and openness; I have always felt a particular affinity with rural people. I am wary of physicians who regard patients as ‘bundles of symptoms' rather than as individuals who have been committed to their care. I will always seek to develop positive and friendly relationships with patients, which is often easier in rural communities. I am also aware that such communities sometimes lack the facilities and expertise available in the cities, and I would hope to be part of the solution to the gap in rural health services. As the population ages, there is a growing need for physicians interested in the medical problems of aging. This has always been my passion; I have worked with elderly patients and have enjoyed doing so. I come from a culture where the aged are well-respected and cherished, and specializing in family medicine will allow me to care for patients in this age group. I did most of my medical studies in St. Petersburg, Russia. I have also lived in Canada and the United States and have traveled to various parts of Europe. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people from many cultural and social backgrounds. I enjoy sharing knowledge about my own culture and acquiring such knowledge from others. I know the importance of exercising cultural sensitivity in family medicine and will always seek to do so. I am aware that family medicine residency programs attract many well-qualified applicants. However, I am an exceptional candidate; I am highly qualified, I have undertaken significant amounts of both practice and research that relates directly to the area of family medicine, and I am enthusiastically committed to a lifetime career in this specialty. Residency Personal Statement in Family Medicine

In my experience, only some people find a profession that enables them to apply their natural skills and satisfies their highest aspirations. Pediatric cardiology has provided me with this combination, and I feel blessed. Since the first time I used a stethoscope during clinical rotations, I have been especially fascinated with those subtle sounds of the heart that allow us to discern and identify structural pathologies. I quickly developed a perfect ‘ear’ for the clues those sounds provide and knew I would seek a future in cardiology. My interest in treating child heart patients was fired towards the end of my training and matured during the internship. A sick, dependent, and vulnerable little patient with parents wearing anxiety-filled faces provides a uniquely heart-rending scene. I know that not every physician can handle the substantial emotional component that is involved in exclusively treating extremely sick children. However, I was confident that I could and could not see a better way to live my life than to do so. Because of my exceptional results, I was given a choice scholarship and had no hesitation in choosing pediatric cardiology. In 2007, I began work in the Pediatrics Department of the King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah and subsequently joined the Saudi Training Board of Pediatrics. I was the only one in my class to pass the MRC Pech final exam in 2010, one year ahead of schedule. The setting was a busy teaching hospital near the entry port for thousands of Hajj pilgrims. Consequently, my residency exposed me to an astonishing variety of cases and provided an ideal learning environment. I discovered, to my delight, that ‘preterm’ in exceptional care units do not break if touched. I also learned to quietly absorb the angry bewilderment of a father who knew that one of the side effects of chemotherapy for leukemia was a cardio-toxic one that resulted in an ejection fraction of 13% in a country where cardiac transplant programs are not available. This experience has been of enormous value in my professional and personal development. I have also been involved in teaching and enjoy sharing my knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm. The look of a student who has finally understood the point is uniquely satisfying. My research interests are pulmonary hypertension and molecular cardiology. I am very aware of the need for cultural sensitivity in healthcare. Though born in Saudi Arabia, I lived in the United States for eight years during my childhood and look forward to returning. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. My goals are to broaden my knowledge and skills in a highly challenging program, undertake meaningful research and return to my country and launch a comprehensive cardiology program that includes electrophysiology service and cardiac transplant. Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology Personal Statement

My deep interest in Biology stems from the first class I attended in college, and I became increasingly fascinated as my studies progressed. I became aware of the complexity of chemical reactions in the human body. From there, I became interested in disease and its treatment and decided to become a physician. I now regard this more as a vocation than a career choice. I am passionate about medicine and extending the availability of healthcare, having witnessed sad results where it is lacking or insufficiently accessible. I chose Internal medicine because of the intellectual challenge and exposure to various patients and diseases. I was particularly inspired by the work required of us in my Internal medicine rotation, which called for students to provide solutions to initially very puzzling diagnostic problems and to apply a 'whole-body' approach to patient care. My choice also arises because of an interest in the sophisticated mechanisms of the body. I have since come to a deep appreciation that humans are more than the sum of their physical mechanisms. I understand the need for a ‘holistic’ approach to patients and that each person is unique and worthy of dignified and individual understanding. I have also begun to realize that a version of non-verbal communication is an essential element in judging a patient’s needs and feelings. A career in Internal medicine represents a decision to apply scientific knowledge to advance the care and wellness of other human beings. I am committed in a personal way to this humanitarian tradition. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. Because of my knowledge and experiences, I am culturally sensitive and aware of how important this is in medicine. I have received many appreciative letters from patients I have helped to treat. I have participated in various volunteer activities related to medicine in the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. These included providing palliative care to geriatric patients and assisting in their recreational activities, free ‘health screening,’ and education about the risk of heart disease. I have thoroughly enjoyed these activities, and I hope to undertake other volunteer activities during my residency program. I have served as an officer in various college societies. This has provided me with experience in practical teamwork, prioritization, organization, leadership, and delegation. I was also selected to assist in teaching at my medical school, which demonstrates the confidence of my teachers in my ability to communicate facts and concepts effectively and in writing, and this teaching experience has extended that ability – a skill that I seek to channel into a career in Internal medicine. As demonstrated by the results and honors awarded throughout my academic career, I am a diligent worker. My goal is to become an effective and highly qualified physician and assist in reducing healthcare access barriers in underserved areas. I intend to apply myself fully and enthusiastically to the residency program, and I am confident I will be an asset to my class. My Caribbean background will enable me to provide valuable insights into the healthcare needs of those from less well-developed countries. I am aware that the residency program will attract many well-qualified applicants. However, I am a suitable candidate. I have the personal qualities necessary to become a first-class Internist, the academic ability not merely to succeed but to excel, and, most importantly, a passionate interest in the ever advancing and developing field of Internal medicine and in spreading the benefits of those advances and developments as widely as possible throughout the world. Pursuing my residency at your institution would give me access to renowned faculty and academic resources that would allow me to maximize my potential and base my chosen career on an excellent foundation. Internal Medicine Residency IMG Personal Statement

Call 911! The young Caucasian male had been thrown fifteen yards from the site of impact and, surprisingly, was still conscious upon my arrival. Flail chest", I thought to myself as I unbuttoned his shirt and placed my backpack on his right side. "Pulse 98, respiration 28 short and quick; help is on the way. Hang in there, friend!" I urged. After assessing the patient, the gravity of the situation struck me. His right leg was mangled with a compound fracture, and his left leg was also obviously broken. The tow truck that had hit him looked like it had run into a telephone pole. The patient was no longer conscious; his pulse and respiration were faint. "Stay with me, man!" I yelled. "15 to 1, 15 to 1", I thought as I rehearsed CPR in my mind. Suddenly he stopped breathing. Without hesitation, I removed my T-shirt and created a makeshift barrier between his mouth and mine, through which I proceeded to administer two breaths: no response and no pulse. I began CPR again and continued for approximately five minutes until the paramedics arrived, but it was too late. I had lost my first patient. When I decided to be a nurse, I imagined that I would be saving lives, curing ailments, and alleviating pain; however, as the paramedics pulled the sheets over that man’s head, I trembled and learned a very harsh lesson concerning my limitations. I also demonstrated then that I know how to cope with a life-and-death emergency with confidence, a confidence instilled in me by my diploma as an RN, a belief that I could take charge of a desperate situation and help someone in critical need. I became increasingly, even painfully, aware that I needed more education to make a significant impact on patient care. This pivotal incident confirmed my decision to pursue medicine as a career. The knowledge base and practical experience acquired during nursing and medical school in Russia and then later at ROSS University have helped me to become familiar with many medical perspectives in a wide range of specialties and given me a solid foundation which I intend to apply and build upon effectively during my clinical rotations. I found every patient interaction to be something new and enjoyable. I will never forget a 40-year-old diabetic patient who suddenly became unconscious in the ward. My initial diagnosis of hypoglycemia was correct, and the IV dextrose administered to the patient helped him recover immediately. I experienced tremendous satisfaction when with the power of my knowledge I was able to heal. I thrived on the broad diversity of the ages and illnesses of my patients and the treatments utilized. I am enthralled by the broad spectrum of diseases, diagnoses, and treatments encompassed by Internal Medicine. I love the diagnostic challenge that each patient poses and the thrill of seeing a patient improve with treatment. Each patient taught me something new, and I was most engaged by how even one sign or symptom could help establish or refute a diagnosis. When my father was diagnosed with gastritis and coronary ischemia, the fear and uncertainty were an emotionally draining experience for my family. Each visit to the doctor’s office made me realize how a genuinely compassionate doctor can go a long way to relieve the patient’s anxieties and that of their family members. I am dedicated to struggling every day to enhance my compassion further. This physician educated my father about healthy lifestyle choices so that patients and their families can sometimes avoid chronic diseases entirely. Disease prevention, the primary management of common diseases, and long-term relationships with patients of all ages are the aspects of internal medicine that I most enjoy. My dedication to Internal Medicine grew even stronger after the invaluable opportunity of working with Dr. Cadet, who has been an IM physician for more than 30 years. I admire the long-term relationship he has built with his patients and their families; many of them were first seen by him as young adults and are now retired. I am encouraged by his style of practicing medicine, with a heavy dose of education. I have incorporated this style of practice in my clerkships by educating patients to participate in improving their health. Throughout my clinical years, I have learned to adapt to many different situations, staying up to date and learning about other cultures and belief systems. In this way, I can provide more holistic care for my patients. I have also kept up my clinical skills by performing central lines, suturing wounds, intubating, performing CPR, and casting and splinting fractures. I have been involved in many research and other academic projects; this has helped me to polish my techniques and to understand experimental data better. I now keenly look forward to clinical practice and participating in research as part of your residency team. I want to join a residency program that will provide me with a broad clinical education and the skills necessary to become a knowledgeable, caring, and deductive physician. I look forward to sharing my experiences with the faculty, the program, the hospital, and our patients. The program I am looking for fosters a team atmosphere of close contact between faculty and residents, working together for the patient's welfare. I’m confident I will harness my full potential in a program that provides opportunities for community involvement and encourages clinical research. I am convinced that my determination, resilience, and strength of character will enable me to successfully handle the many challenges I will face during my residency training and make me an asset to your program. Residency Personal Statement IMG, Internal Medicine

My path to becoming a doctor was not easy. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a physician, but, in the Philippines, the costs involved are beyond the means of most families, and this was so in my case. I had been a straight ‘A’ student throughout school, thanks to my parents, both teachers, who had achieved their own professional goals in the face of many obstacles. My parents instilled in me an uncompromising work ethic that has served me well in life and continues to do so. As medical studies were beyond my parents’ means, I decided to study nursing as a financially viable alternative. I loved my studies and did very well (missing graduating with honors by only 0.03). Having graduated from Nursing School, my vocation in healthcare was fully confirmed, but I still yearned to be a doctor. By this point, all my four elder siblings were successfully employed, and they agreed to help with the costs; my parents sold an asset, and, to my boundless joy, my medical studies began. I was determined to repay the sacrifices made on my behalf by excelling and not merely qualifying. Life was still difficult. books often meant missing a meal or two. However, I still managed to finish in the top 7% of my medical school class. My diligence was rewarded, and my relations’ financial burden was lightened, by the award of a highly competitive scholarship that entirely funded the final year of my studies. I graduated with honors to the delight of myself and my family. Unlike most of my classmates, I made no attempt to focus on any future specialty in medicine as a student. However, this changed when I participated in the first of many medical missions in rural areas of my country. Each morning, I was tasked to assist Internal Medicine consultants and residents with pre-operative evaluations and clearance of patients scheduled for surgery; in the afternoon, my tasks were to diagnose and treat various medical conditions among out-patients; in the evening I attended to postoperative patients. I loved the diversity of the patient population involved in the work and the variety of conditions treated. I learned so much and so quickly that after four weeks of working in medical missions, I felt ready to hit the wards in my clerkship year. I joined further medical missions in my second year and my preferred specialty was fully confirmed. I was awarded high grades in Internal Medicine during my clinical rotations and, whenever an opportunity arose, I volunteered to discuss my patients’ cases in admitting conferences and ward rounds. I was incredibly pleased to be invited to present a case along with a resident during ‘grand rounds’ while still in my clerkship in Internal Medicine. Following graduation, I undertook a year of post-graduate internship at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital where I was awarded the Outstanding Intern Award by the Internship Committee. I was also the leader of an internship group that won the annual Post-graduate Interns’ Best Scientific Paper award. The group proved that the antimicrobial properties of electro-activated water were superior to common antiseptics such as povidone, iodine, and chlorohexidine. Since my arrival in the US five years ago, I have been working as a cardiac/open-heart-surgery/medical/surgical nurse while studying to complete my licensure examinations. This has certainly not been easy, but I believe that this will confirm my work ethic and determination to succeed in medicine; it will also provide reassurance about my ability to work long hours where necessary. My substantial nursing experience has been enormously valuable to me and to my future patients. I have treated a diverse population suffering a very wide range of conditions and have cultivated an ability to remain calm and focused on potentially stressful situations, I have enhanced my decision-making abilities and have acquired a high degree of ‘bedside skills’. As a critical care nurse, I am responsible for coordinating the various aspects of patient care e.g., pharmacy, physical therapy, nutrition, ancillary procedures, case management, and home health. This has made me fully aware of the value of an effective team and how they are organized and motivated and I always strive to be an excellent team player. I am fully aware of the special need to be culturally sensitive and aware in the provision of healthcare. I came to the US without any friends, relatives, or contacts and consequently understand the feelings of those who are making cultural adjustments. I have happily worked, studied, and socialized with people of many cultural and social backgrounds since arriving in the US and consider it an immense pleasure to do so. I have had many opportunities to observe and understand the medical environment in the US through my nursing experience. I have also been able to observe many doctors at work, from the adequate to the excellent. It seems to me that the excellent physician distinguishes him/herself by an attitude of not only caring 'for' the patient but also caring 'about' them, and patients seem to intuitively realize when this is the case. I am determined to be an excellent doctor and Internal Medicine specialist. My goals are to successfully complete a challenging residency in Internal Medicine and become a cardiologist and faculty member in a teaching hospital here in the US. I also intend to assist aspiring Filipino doctors by sharing my knowledge and skills as a visiting cardiology lecturer. I also hope, when possible, to provide some direct financial assistance to Filipino students with potential who cannot fully fund their medical studies. I know that there will be many well-qualified applicants for residency in this popular specialty. However, I am an exceptional candidate. I have an excellent academic background, achieved in the face of many obstacles and I have substantial and relevant nursing experience. Still, I see my greatest give to be my passion and ability in internal medicine. I look forward to fully demonstrating my capacity and resolve during my residency. Internal Medicine Residency IMG Personal Statement

I knew I would plan on a career in otolaryngology after I treated a 65-year-old African American man diagnosed with base tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The patient reminded me of my grandfather, who died at 85 from gastrointestinal problems. I did not want to see this patient die during surgery. I felt sympathy for the patient, and I wanted to do whatever was possible to remove his tumor. The patient was elderly, conversational, and energetic, a married gentleman with a pack-a-day tobacco history spanning decades. The patient was anxiously awaiting his turn to be seen by anesthesia before going to the operating room. This was my first case involving a hemi glossectomy with neck dissection. I was unsure of some of the technical aspects of the procedure and felt comfortable after reviewing the anatomy the night before the surgery. In the operating room, I had a flashback of my gross anatomy days when I dissected the oral cavity and found the lingual and hypoglossal nerve with success. After the first incision, I soon became comfortable with the ambiance of the operating room. I felt sure of myself as I assisted the attending and residents in the operation. During the surgery, I reflected on the fragility of life. As an Otolaryngologist, I extract malignant tumors that immediately prolong my patients’ lives. I most enjoy my role, informing my patients with sympathy and compassion, regardless of their chosen lifestyles. My experience at Medical University was challenging and demanding. My academic success at the graduate level indicated my potential success at the University School of Medicine. My clinical clerkships have prepared me to be an efficient, hardworking, and knowledgeable resident in Otolaryngology. My experience in general surgery and surgical subspecialties has contributed to my metamorphosis from a medical student to a competent resident. Whether it was dressing changes, suture removal, checking Jackson-Pratt drains or percutaneous intravenous central catheters, writing prescriptions, or filling out discharge forms – all were fulfilling experiences. In addition, taking entire history and physicals in my clerkship helped me hone the particulars necessary to provide a differential diagnosis and efficiently attend to the patient. I am seeking a residency program with a diverse patient population that presents with common and uncommon head and neck pathologies. My bilingual fluency in English and Spanish has helped me in the community and hospital setting. I have translated and interviewed patients in Spanish in the clinical setting, which resulted in more comfortable patient-physician interaction. I also hope to be selected by a program that allows for research during residency training on new innovative modalities for providing innovative care to prevent head and neck cancers. I am looking for a program that will give me large numbers of patients and extended hours so that I will be allowed to gain the experience that I need and crave to become a top-notch surgeon. My future goals include service to an underserved Hispanic community to continue my care for the largest growing immigrant community in the United States. Moreover, I hope to continue to advance in my career by completing a fellowship in facial plastic surgery to learn to provide optimal care for those patients that have been victims of trauma to the face. Residency Personal Statement Otolaryngology

In the summers of 95 and 96, I assisted at a clinic for a group of orthopedic surgeons in private practice in Nashville, Tennessee. I was dedicated to becoming a physician but had not yet selected the specialization in medicine that I hoped to pursue. At the time, I was unaware of the indelible influence those summers would have in guiding me through the years that followed. The experience introduced me to the arts of physical diagnosis and conservative, surgical patient management. The ability to diagnose patients' particular problems, educate them regarding the mechanisms of injuries, intervention alternatives, and correct pathology in the operating room was especially appealing to me. While in medical school, I continued to explore my interest in orthopedics. In the summer of ninety-seven, I investigated the growth of pluripotential marrow stem cells on the bone graft substitute calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The project allowed me to apply clinical questions at the basic science level. This fall, I would like very much to return to the laboratory to study the influence of mechanical forces on gene expression in developing synovial joints. During my third year, I served as a member of the Trauma-Hand orthopedics team. The intricacies of hand and microvascular surgery were fascinating and challenging. The trauma service provided an opportunity to see various orthopedic cases where each presented a puzzle with several solutions to achieve the correct fix. These experiences also solidified my interest in the field of orthopedic surgery. Though there are no physicians in my family, my parents have played an essential role in developing many of the attributes I believe are crucial to being the person, student, resident, and physician I strive to be. I was taught the importance of teamwork at an early age when I first began competitive athletics. The value of arduous work was instilled in me as well, and I worked at the local furniture factory while I was in high school. During that time, I also remained an active member of my community and high school, where I served as President of the Student Body during my senior year. For three summers of my undergraduate years, I worked in the garage of a local tire store. I recognize that the team concept, leadership, and hard work are the foundations for success in any endeavor. In addition, my parents taught me the value of teaching others by encouraging me to tutor family members struggling with school. While in high school, I tutored many of my classmates and came to appreciate the rewards of sharing knowledge and how teaching was vital to my learning process. In my Senior year at the University of Alabama, I was asked to be a teaching assistant for Nursing Microbiology and Pathological Microbiology Laboratory courses. Teaching has provided me with the opportunity to both solidify and test the limits of my knowledge. In contrast, I strive to find the best way to present information to others in meaningful ways. I feel strongly that my experiences and background have prepared me well for a residency in orthopedic surgery. I look forward to working with a team of orthopedists who are excited and passionate about their work as well as educating others. I intend to continue teaching others the art of orthopedics when I finish my residency, whether in academics or the private sector. I thank you for considering my application for a residency position in Orthopedic Surgery. Residency Personal Statement for Orthopedic Surgery

Over the past seven years, my academic and professional careers have maintained a consistent path toward the practice of ENT Medicine. Interspersed between and in support and preparation for my degree programs, I have actively sought and participated in voluntary externships, internships, and research assistant positions, increasing my real-world experiences in diverse settings and experiences in multidisciplinary team situations. While the path of one's life may seem linear on paper, fate and life always play their hand against your own. Determination, my gifts, and my emotional growth have kept the roadblocks of financial difficulties, relocation, and the death of a loved one from crushing my spirit. The real turning point in my life was during my time with the Medical Examiner's Office in New York. Watching and learning as the Chief Examiner worked, his approachable nature, his desire to impart his experiences, and his willingness to help others impressed me with what it truly meant to be a well-rounded and effective physician, in addition to his staggering medical diagnostic abilities and knowledge. I have given my time to numerous voluntary activities within and outside the medical field. The emotional and psychological return on these investments of time and energy pays off in many ways. For example, the respect of not only your peers but also members of your community, who may someday be your next patient. Who better serves their community's medical needs than a familiar and friendly face? Also, I think beyond the community and give back in the form of medical missions to developing nations. No other work has proven to be more difficult or rewarding than this, and I look forward to my next trip. At the same time, I believe this work has increased my cultural competency as I have been exposed to many diverse cultures, practices, and belief systems. This exposure will prove invaluable as I work with patients and medical professionals from diverse backgrounds. I am looking for a challenging residency program in ENT Medicine that will allow me exposure to a great diversity of cases. It is understood that what one takes away from a residency assignment is key to the type of practice I seek, exposure to as many advanced cases as possible. But I also thrive on less complicated issues, such as tonsils, septums, sinuses, thyroglossal duct cysts, and LN biopsies, all of which are delicate and require my most developed finesse. To serve my ENT and surgical goals, I look beyond simply the name and NIH research rankings of a school and instead examine the training program's breadth, volume, and autonomy. A residency assignment is to train a surgeon, not teach a post-doctorate student. Patients rarely ask how many publications you have to your name, preferring to ask just how many cases like this you have handled in the past. I look forward to my residency assignment in ENT Medicine as no other field has ever brought me so many challenges or more personal satisfaction, especially the ability to touch and positively affect lives with such highly positive outcomes. I thank you for considering my application to your program. Residency Personal Statement ENT, Ear Nose and Throat

As I sat under the Saharan sun during my Peace Corps service in West Africa, I dreamed about what it would be like to be a doctor one day. That dream recently came to fruition as I stared at my first suppurative appendix in a patient’s abdomen. I had teased out the culprit, and here we stood looking at each other. The many years encompassing premedical studies, medical school, and now internship had prepared me as I had diagnosed my patient with acute appendicitis, and now I had resolved the problem. My satisfaction was unsurpassable –I was well on my way to becoming a surgeon. My parents like to say they could sense my determination from the first cry I let out like a newborn. At age five, I coaxed my father into letting me, instead of him, administer the vaccinations to the pigs he was raising. From there, my aspirations of becoming a doctor thrived. However, as a college senior, I was disappointed when I was not accepted to medical school. My ambition never wavered; I just adjusted my course and set off to learn new skills as a public health worker in West Africa. This flexibility and passion for life have allowed me never to let go of my dreams – and here I stand today: Dr. Jones. During my fourth year of medical school, intent on becoming a surgeon, I was disappointed not to obtain a position in general surgery. As I reach for that now, however, my work as an intern at XXXX Health Care has colorfully illustrated that general surgery is indeed my career destination. I enjoy taking care of perioperative patients, learning about surgical cases and complications, and participating in the operating room as often as possible. As an essential part of the resident team, I can communicate effectively with patients and peers, manage problems, and adhere to surgical duties even after long hours because of my adaptability and determination to do my best. I will never forget the first midline celiotomy I assisted on as a third-year medical student during my trauma rotation at Large Hospital. I watched as my female chief resident opened the gunshot victim’s abdomen with finesse and stamina akin to a sculptor shaping his most delicate art. While I have been told that great surgeons master their skills through training, I feel drawn to surgery because I love using my hands to create. Such is evident in the jewelry-making entrepreneurship I managed while in medical school. I would craft jewelry pieces with beads from all over the world in my spare time between studies, each a puzzle that unfolded like the mosaic of my life. For in my pursuit of medicine, I have been able to travel much of the world and further my education in public health, all because I have endured my trials into tribulations by heeding the challenges that have presented themselves. As such, I will bring a wealth of life experience to a residency program, and the ability to communicate on many cultural levels, especially necessary when encountering patients that are especially challenging to care for. I aspire to participate in a training program that optimizes the attainment of surgical knowledge and skill while promoting communication and total care of the patient. I am most intrigued by the bowel and therefore leaning toward a future in colorectal surgery. Still, I favor a program with a broad patient population and diverse medical teams. Given my public health background, I am interested in pursuing clinical and epidemiological research as a part of my graduate medical education. Further, I would like to find a program that embraces the less fortunate in other countries by providing opportunities for surgical staff and residents abroad. My goal is to one day be a general surgeon who knows no boundaries in caring for her patients. Colorectal Surgery Residency Personal Statement