The motivation to pursue Medicine as a career is frequently presented as a few typical clichés. Some say “I’ve always known that Medicine was the career for me.” While others tout “I was often sick as a child” thus “the hospital was an integral part of my life” while others use the typical “Dr. _______ changed my life and I always wanted to be just like him/ her”. While some these things ring true of my own life experience, there were numerous, sometimes unrelated factors, that have influenced my decision and fueled my desire to pursue Medicine. However, I am particularly drawn to Internal Medicine because of its complex problem solving opportunities, emphasis on team centered care, and the never-ending learning opportunities it affords. …show more content…
Though not for the faint of heart, Internal Medicine allows for a daily dose of these complex diagnostic and treatment problems. During my Internal Medicine rotation, one of my most memorable cases was a 44-year-old who presented with shortness of breath, cough, night sweats, fever, focal neurological deficits, and 45-pound weight loss in 4 months. Subsequent history revealed that he had a kidney transplant and was on immunosuppressive therapy. Imaging showed multiple lung and brain lesions highly suspicious of metastatic cancer. He was told the diagnosis would need to be confirmed by biopsy. Before the biopsy, I decided to do a “head to toe” exam and found two nodules on his scalp (hidden by his hair), a nodule in his axilla, groin, a tiny one on his forearm, and one on his foot. I proposed a diagnosis of Disseminated Nocardiosis, but was told “…when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.” The biopsy later confirmed that I had found my zebra. Yes, some puzzles are easy and many could figure it out with adequate H&P, the “bread and butter” of Internal Medicine. But then there are puzzles that I love to sit and think about. The ostensible “idiopathic” puzzles some people write off as too hard to attempt to solve. Internal Medicine allows me to become acquainted with these puzzles and presents the welcomed challenge of identifying unique, scientifically grounded ways to approach their …show more content…
I would play Point Guard, as the position suited my personality and skill. However, if at any point there was someone better suited for the position, I’d happily play Shooting Guard and do my best to help the Point do a great job. If it was best for the team, it was best to me; although not always best for me. Moreover, recognizing the value and importance of teamwork, I excel clinically because I know (from experience) what it means to be a team player. While I worked as a Registered Nurse, I quickly learned that caring for patients should be a team activity. In the hospital, Internists play Point. Whether it’s getting a Neurology consult on a difficult stroke patient or rallying the Nurses and Residents through a tough patient, an adept Internist can effectively manage their team for the benefit of the
The career path that I want to pursue is in the medical field. I major in psychology and minor in biology because going to medical school has always been my desire. Being a pediatrician is my goal I wish to conquer. I am beyond interested and passionate about this career. It is not just a career, it is my life dreams. I want to be able to enjoy going to work every day knowing I love my job and I am here because I want to. Being a pediatrician I am able to work with children and many people of different cultures. I am thrilled to know that I will be capable of caring for sick children.
As a student that is currently seeking a career in the medical professions, I have had to routinely contemplate my reasons for pursuing such an extensive education program in a field that is constantly demanding excessive time and effort. I know of students—many friends and acquaintances of mine included—that have the most sure-fire, inspirational stories that align with their desire to become doctors, surgeons, physician assistants, etc. They always seemed to have a story that emphasized their desire to “give back” what they have received from the medical community. Because of that, ever since the beginning of high school, I have been trying to find an extraordinary reason, a purpose for my medical pursuits. Perhaps I could justify my passion for
J.P., a 58 year old female, presents to the Emergency Room on March 18th. She has a past medical history of cervical cancer, atheroembolism of the left lower extremity, fistula of the vagina, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, glaucoma, GERD, depression, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and sickle cell anemia. She complains of right lower extremity pain accompanied by fatigue, a decreased appetite, increased work of breathing, burning on urination, and decreased urine output for three days.
Federman DG, Chanko EH. Differential Diagnosis in Internal Medicine: From Symptom to Diagnosis. JAMA.2007;298(17):2070-2075. doi:10.1001/jama.298.17.2072.
My mom always used to say,” Look at the person as a whole to understand the condition.” Even though it made little sense to me as a child, I learned the concept when I was doing my Internal medicine rotation. The passion of knowing that I could improve a person’s quality of life drew me into pursuing medicine. The multitude of different organ systems that one covers while practicing medicine fascinated me to delve into a field that encompasses them all - Internal Medicine. In addition, I enjoyed the challenges that Internal Medicine would provide me with its diversity. Altogether, Internal Medicine was the amalgam of everything I learned in my medical practice and decided to pursue my residency.
Medicine has proven to be an elusive, tempestuous creature. It has appeared to me in visions nightmarish and calm, despairing and joyous. My pursuit has been an odyssey, taking me farther into my heart than I ever dreamed possible. However, before I could even begin to approach the emotional, physical and Intellectual demands of a physician's life, I had to gain a better understanding of myself, my identity and beliefs. Only with this stronger sense of self have I felt the confidence to give my best and my all, and to make my contribution to society.
I want to be a physician because I want to help others through healthcare. I have always wanted to accomplish this through personally interacting with patients and providing them with the treatment they need. I realized early in life that I wanted to be an integral part of a patient’s recovery process. Over the course of my undergraduate studies, I also became increasingly convinced that I wanted to participate in biomedical engineering research. I realized that research could potentially allow me to help people on a much larger scale. I would not be confined to only those patients I interact with- many others would benefit if I produced something of value. The MD program at GW presents me with a caring, supportive community that encourages
I have always looked forward to the day I would begin a residency program in Internal Medicine. Prior to my admission to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria, I was motivated to pursue this path. My early childhood experiences and academic background including a Public Health degree in progress have all contributed to shape and maintain my quest for a career in Internal Medicine. I am confident that I am ready to embark on this journey.
The life of a successful physician is my ultimate pursuit due to its fulfilment of all of my personal desires: a complete knowledge of the human body, a desire to impact the world positively, and a yearning to lead a life dedicated to helping others. My personal drive towards medicine came about-in part -due to the passion both my parents possess for their jobs. This opened the doors of curiosity which led into further personal studies and exploration within the field. I would be an asset to medical school and the medical profession due to my absolute humanitarian motives, the profitable experiences that have helped me grow as an individual, and my passion for the sciences.
My desire to become a physician dates way back into my childhood. My parents migrated to Nigeria in the late 1960's when my father, an academician, decided to help educate children there. This was a country, which then had just gained independence. A person's goals are set by the role models he or she seeks to emulate. My childhood role model is Dr. Raj a physician. I learned from Dr. Raj, that real success and satisfaction is achieved by putting one's beliefs and thoughts into action. Dr. Raj provided quality care to the poor, especially children, alongside his richer clients. This left a lasting impression on me. Later on, when I realized that lots of people actually lacked basic medical care, I always wanted to reach out and help make a difference in the lives of others. Medicine, with its emphasis on service would therefore be the most satisfying career for me.
In order to determine whether or not clinical medicine was the right career for me, I started shadowing Dr. Richard Turner in the ER. Through my experiences with him, I learned that medicine is a problem solving process. As I watched, he would take a patient's history and try to piece together the correct diagnosis by deciding which scenarios were more likely than others. I was attracted by the dynamic nature of each patient's diagnosis and the necessity for an open mind. My hobby of flying has taught me to look at everything in life with a new perspective and to assess the situation from as many angles as possible. Watching Dr. Turner has confirmed my perception of a medical career and the nature of the work involved. Since I love puzzles and problems, the problem solving aspect also increased my desire to become a physician.
I could not believe the still body before me was the vibrant, seemingly healthy woman I had seen days before. As I mourned her, my resolve to specialize in Internal Medicine was set in stone. The second event was watching a neonate twitch to death from Neonatal tetanus. I reasoned this death would have been avoided with just one shot of tetanus toxoid during the Antenatal visits. These two incidents convinced me that most avoidable deaths could have been either prevented with good Public Health practices or treated with the right clinical skills and resources. Therefore, I set for myself the goals of having expertise in Internal Medicine and Public
Over the last years, attention to public health issues has been increasing as well as aspirations to high health standards. Medical professions are in high demand because of the need of constant improvements of the health care system. The medical field offers a wide range of valued career paths and opportunities that differentiate by their responsibilities, obligations, educational requirements, and salary. When considering a career in health care, it is very important to analyze all the aspects involved and then determine the choice that best fit the person needs.
I started to explore the different fields of medicine by working as a Medical Scribe in the Emergency Department, ER tech in Trauma Centers, getting involved in research, volunteering at hospitals and taking high level science classes. This will enhance my knowledge and experience i...
Throughout my life, I have worked towards one goal which is to become a doctor. Medicine offers the opportunity for me to integrate different scopes of science while trying to improve human life. Medicine has intrigued me throughout all my life because it??s a never ending mystery and every answer has questions, and vice versa. Upon entering my career, I had assumed that professional and financial success would surely bring personal fulfillment. This realization triggered a process of self-searching that led me to medicine. The commitment to provide others with healthcare is a serious decision for anyone. As I examined my interests and goals, however, I underwent a process of personal growth that has propelled me towards a career as a physician. A career in medicine will allow me to integrate thoroughly my passion for science into a public-service framework. Since childhood, I have loved acquiring scientific knowledge, particularly involving biological processes. During my undergraduate studies, I displayed my ability to juggle competing demands while still maintaining my academic focus; I have succeeded at school while volunteering part time, spending time with family and friends, and working part-time. To better serve my expected patient population, I worked over my English and Korean language skills. I have come to discover that a job and even a good income, without another significant purpose, will not bring satisfaction. I planed to utilize my assets, namely my problem- solving affinity, strong work ethic, and interpersonal commitment, to craft a stimulating, personally rewarding career in medicine. I have taken stock of myself, considering my skills, experiences, and goals. I have looked to family and friends, some of whom are doctors, for advice. Because of this self-examination, I have decided to pursue a career in health care. The process has been difficult at times but always illuminating. Throughout it all, I have never lost confidence - the confidence that I will actively absorb all available medical knowledge, forge friendships with fellow students, and emerge from my training as a skilful and caring physician.