When beginning my internship, naturally, I was apprehensive. However, I found myself, almost immediately, helping to handle a dengue fever epidemic. I had no time to be nervous. I was responsible for monitoring and transfusion of platelets for a packed ward. We worked hard for long hours with normal duty demarcations being ignored because there was so much to do for so many people. This is not the introduction that I would have chosen to my working life, but I now believe that this was a very positive experience. It taught me to apply my initiative, how to work under pressure, how to prioritize quickly and effectively, and how to be a helpful team member.
During my internship, I always sought to ‘go the extra mile,’ arriving early, finishing late, and doing everything promptly and to the very best of my ability. My efforts did not go unnoticed. I was nominated by the Residents as ‘Best Intern.’ On completion of my ENT rotation, my report read, ‘Posted to us as an Intern but did the work of a Resident.’
From my earliest years, I wanted to ‘make a difference rather than merely ‘make a living, and medicine seemed to be the perfect way to combine these goals. I have never regretted my decision and feel privileged to be a physician. I was taught by some wonderful people who emphasized that patients are not ‘bundles of symptoms’ but unique individuals worthy of respect and consideration and our professional care. I have always sought to put this concept into action.
Following my internship, I worked in a missionary hospital for nearly two years. The work was highly varied, and I had the autonomy to prioritize time between clinics, wards, and emergencies. This independence at such an early stage in my career has given me confidence in my decision-making. During this time, I came to love solving diagnostic ‘puzzles’ and believe that I have developed excellent skills in doing so. I also became very aware of the significance of non-verbal signals when dealing with patients.
Internal Medicine is a beautiful specialty to me because of the variety of the work, the direct interaction with patients of all ages, and the importance of diagnostic skills. I believe that my professional experience to date provides an excellent basis for a residency in internal medicine. I have special interests in cardiology and nephrology and hope to assist in research in one or both of these areas in the future.
I am not widely traveled internationally but come from a country that contains people of widely different cultures and religions. I am fully aware of the particular need for cultural sensitivity in a medical environment. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people from various cultural and social backgrounds and look forward to doing so in the future. I have familiarized myself, as an observer, with the medical environment and culture in the US since my arrival and am now ready to take an active part in it.
I am aware that there will be many well-qualified applicants for residencies in this specialty. However, I believe that I am an exceptional candidate. I have an excellent academic record demonstrating my diligence, intelligence, and work capacity; I have substantial and successful experience in providing medical care in a hospital setting; I have carefully prepared myself for the program has been an ‘observer’ in hospitals since my arrival in the US. However my main recommendation is my single minded passion for Internal Medicine which I can hardly wait to demonstrate.
